Yesterday, Nov. 19, 2020, Mayor Skip Henderson announced that the city of Columbus, Georgia would be reinstating a previous ordinance that required the wearing of face coverings or masks in public, effective noon today.

   According to Henderson, the Muscogee county area has had 100 or more COVID cases per 100,000 people in the past 14 days. The Mayor states that this is why he decided to reinstate the mask requirement.

   The ordinance requires that masks be worn in public, and a $50 penalty for those who violate it. Private businesses that don’t consent to enforcing this policy must put a sign outside their door saying as much. 

   The ordinance clarified that masks were not required in these circumstances. This list is not the finite version. 

• In personal vehicles or on residential property
• In enclosed spaces with other household members
• Religious objections to wearing a mask
• While eating or drinking
• Due to genuine medical reasons
• When complying with the directions of a police officer or in instances of verifying identity
• Children under 10 years of age
• At any polling place
• When a person has difficulty wearing or removing a face mask without help
• When outdoors and maintaining social distancing from anyone other than individuals they live with

   The ordinance was passed with nine affirmative votes from the members of the City Council. Councilor Charmaine Crabb voted negative.

   Yesterday, CSU sent an email to students informing them that there are 11 active positive, self-reported cases of students and employees, and that the university “has experienced a significant increase since last week regarding the number of active exposure cases.” 

   The university strongly recommends that students follow health guidelines from the CDC and for them to monitor their own health during the pandemic.