The mask ordinance mandate is continued for the City of Grenada until further notice after a 6-1 vote last week by the city council.
Ward 3 City Councilman Lewis Johnson made the motion and Ward 1 Councilman Warren Cox followed with a second to continue the mask ordinance which was first put in place in July.
Ward 2 Councilman Pete Wilson, Ward 4 Councilman Michael Smith, Ward 5 Councilman Eric Harris and Ward 7 Councilman Ronnie Merriman voted in favor of the motion. Ward 6 Councilman Larry Vance was the lone vote against it.
“I think the mask mandate needed to be extended, they’re still required by health officials,” Mayor Billy Collins said. “I’ve spoken with some of our medical officials and also feel that for public safety masks must be worn.”
Dr. Joseph Messina, chief of staff at the University of Mississippi Medical Center Grenada, said with the numbers of COVID-19 cases on the rise in the state he was glad that the city council extended the mandate.
“As human beings, we want to socialize and we’re grown tired of the mask, but as a community if everyone is wearing a mask, the spread of the virus will be slow.”
The city council passed a mandatory mask ordinance in July following a public medical officials and the general public. The city council passed a ordinance requires masks be worn in businesses by customers and employees while inside business.
According to the ordinance:
- All businesses open to the public shall require all employees and customers to wear a mask or face covering inside the building.
- All businesses shall post signage notifying customers to wear a mask before entering
- Management of each business must provide adequate supervision to ensure compliance of face covering requirements
Coronavirus cases and deaths surged in July when the mask ordinance took affect with more than 1 in 5 COVID-19 tests in Mississippi coming back positive, indicating rampant infection.
