Hawkins County extends mask mandate through the end of September

Hawkins County Mayor Jim Lee on Monday issued an executive order which extends the county’s mask mandate through the end of September.

The previous length of the mandate allowed it to expire Saturday at midnight, but Mayor Lee extended it along with Gov. Bill Lee’s new executive order, which also runs through Sept. 30. All Hawkins County citizens are required to wear some form of a face covering in public indoor places and outdoor public settings where social distancing cannot be maintained.

Those exempt from the order include anyone under the age of 2, those who have underlying health conditions, individuals in a place of worship, and more. We have the full order available below, and the mandate has been extended through Sept. 30:

DECLARATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY BY
HAWKINS COUNTY MAYOR

Continuation Order/Action to the Mask Mandate in Hawkins County

WHEREAS, the President of the United States, the Governor of the State of Tennessee, and the Mayors of a number of counties and municipalities in the state of Tennessee have made emergency declarations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and have recognized it as a public health emergency; and

WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) advise the use of cloth or other types of face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, immediate action to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities is necessary in order to be able to safely allow governmental operations to continue, businesses to remain open, and schools to reopen in the fall; and

WHEREAS, widespread use of face coverings is believed to be effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19 by reducing the chances of symptomatic and asymptomatic people transmitting the virus to others, especially when used together with other protocols including 6-foot social distancing and hand hygiene; and

WHEREAS, on July 3, 2020, Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order 54, strongly urging all persons to wear cloth face coverings or other similar coverings in public settings where being in close proximity to others is anticipated; and

WHEREAS, Governor Lee, through Executive Order 54 and 59, delegated authority to county mayors in the 89 counties that do not have a locally-run health department (including Williamson County) to issue orders requiring the wearing of face coverings within their jurisdictions, subject to certain limitations, for the purposes of slowing the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the numbers of positive COVID-19 cases in Hawkins County and surrounding counties have significantly increased in the last thirty days; and

WHEREAS, widespread use of face coverings is a preferred alternative to the continued closure of schools and the closure of businesses in our community, which closures would likely become necessary if action is not taken; and

WHEREAS, after consultation with the citizens of Hawkins County and several health organizations, the County Mayor finds that there is a consensus that the wearing of cloth or other face coverings should be required in certain circumstances, and that such a requirement should take effect as soon as possible.

NOW, THEREFORE, PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORITY DELEGATED BY EXECUTIVE ORDER 54 AND PURSUANT TO GOVERNOR LEE’S RECOGNITION OF A CONTINUING STATE OF EMERGENCY AND MAJOR DISASTER RELATED TO COVID-19, the Mayor of Hawkins County, Tennessee, issues a Declaration of Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and

IT IS ORDERED that cloth or other face coverings that cover the nose and mouth of a person to impede the spread of the virus during speaking, coughing, sneezing or other action, shall be required in Hawkins County, Tennessee, within all publicly-accessible areas of commercial business establishments; in public outdoor areas where social distancing of at least six feet cannot be maintained; and within the publicly-accessible areas of business and government offices where there is direct interaction with the public and social distancing of at least six feet cannot be maintained; and

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Order does not apply to:

1. Any person who is under age 2;

2. Any person who cannot safely wear a face covering because he/she has trouble breathing due to an underlying health condition or another bona fide medical or health-related reason for not wearing a face covering;

3. Anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance;

4. Persons in a private residence;

5. Persons who are outdoors, unless the person cannot substantially maintain appropriate 6-foot social distancing from others outside of the person’s household;

6. Persons while eating or drinking;

7. Persons in a place of worship (unless a face covering is required by the place of worship), although persons in places of worship are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19;

8. Persons within private motor vehicles, unless such vehicle is being used for public transportation or a vehicle for hire;

9. Persons working under conditions where appropriate social distancing of at least six feet from others outside the person’s household is substantially maintained;

10. Persons present in government facilities, or on government premises, who shall be subject to the rules and regulations of the governmental entity operating the facility or premises. Persons present in the public areas of all Hawkins County government facilities will wear cloth or other face coverings, subject to the age and health restrictions outlined herein, and subject to number 11, below. Other local governmental entities may issue their own directives regarding their facilities;

11. Persons in a voting site for the purpose of voting or administering an election; although such persons are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings to slow the spread of COVID-19;

12. Persons who are engaging in strenuous exercise and/or physical activity, provided, however, that such persons shall maintain 6-foot social distancing when not wearing a face covering; or

13. Persons for whom wearing a face covering would pose a safety or security risk.

This order does not require businesses, organizations or venues to supply face coverings or masks to the members of the public.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that businesses and facilities subject to this Order shall post signage at public entrances informing patrons of the requirement to wear a mask within the establishment, and shall enforce the requirement within the establishment.

This local Order constitutes an Order promulgated pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 58, Chapter 2, Part 1. While it is the hope and expectation that Hawkins County citizens will comply with this Order out of a sense of civic duty and respect for their fellow citizens, and attempts at education and communication are the preferred methods of obtaining compliance, state law provides for enforcement of this Order if necessary. Pursuant to Executive Order 54 and 59 Tennessee Code Annotated §58-2-120, violation of this Order shall constitute a Class A misdemeanor.

This Order supersedes all previous Orders and shall be effective and enforceable at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on August 30, 2020, and will expire at 11:59 p.m. on September 30, 2020, unless extended or cancelled.

_______________________

Jim Lee, Mayor
Hawkins County, Tennessee