Clay County Mask Ordinance Lifts; Board of Health Reminds Health Mitigation Remains Necessary

posted on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 in COVID-19

In accordance with the COVID-19 positivity rate parameters established in the Clay County mask resolution last December, the mask ordinance has been lifted.

“The resolution the board of health recommended, which was approved by the board of supervisors on December 1, stated that once the 14-day positivity rate was under five percent for two consecutive Sundays, the mask resolution would be lifted,” explained Dr. Janessa Mechler, chairman of the Clay County Board of Health. “It also states that if the 14-day positivity rate reaches 10 percent, it would be reinstated.”

As of Monday, March 1, the Clay County 14-day positivity rate for COVID-19 is 1.7 percent.

“We advise citizens to remember that many businesses and organizations required masks to be worn prior to the county-wide mask mandate and may continue to require masks within their facilities,” Mechler said.

Mechler noted that positivity rates have fluctuated throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency and emphasized that mitigation precautions remain important.

“The lower positivity rates are encouraging as are the weekly vaccination clinics,” Mechler added. “However, the vaccine allocation locally remains limited and a low percentage of our local population has been immunized. Because of this, we encourage the public to still be vigilant in practicing the health mitigation techniques of social distancing, thorough hand washing, and when social distancing isn’t possible, wearing masks over their mouths and noses when in public spaces.”