Last Updated on June 17, 2020 3:49 pm
The Boone Town Council voted on Tuesday night to amend its current State of Emergency (SOE) to mandate that mask/face coverings be worn in indoor establishments open to the public.
The new mandate will take effect this Saturday, June 20, at 9 am after it passed by a 3-2 vote. Town Manager John Ward tells WataugaOnline.com that the Town Attorney was asked to draft the language for the mandate so it could be officially adopted on Thursday.
There are some exceptions to the mandate including, those who have health issues tied to wearing a mask, those who are eating and drinking at tables and children younger than 10 years old.
An infraction would be issued to those that violate the mandate, but police would be instructed to educate on the first offense and give a warning before issuing any citations. Enforcement would be delayed by an additional three weeks.
Councilman Sam Furgiuele had requested the item be placed back on the Council's agenda for reconsideration, after being voted down during the May 26th meeting. In the reconsideration agenda remarks Furgiuele noted, “As I have observed in the last week, there are very few people who are wearing masks and many who are ignoring social distancing. I had occasion to enter two stores last weekend which had posted signs advising customers that they were not welcome to enter without wearing a mask, yet in both, there were people without them, including a sheriff’s deputy in uniform.”
A final version of the mandate will be distributed once it is adopted. WataugaOnline.com will update as more information becomes available.
