Robertson Co. Mayor Enacts Mask Mandate, Declares Health Emergency
ROBERTSON COUNTY TENNESSEE (Smokey Barn News) – Robertson County is going back under a mask mandate following a recent spike in COVID-19 cases and a declaration of a health emergency by Robertson County mayor Billy Vogle. Click here to read the official declaration.
“As of yesterday, we are averaging 17 positive COVID-19 cases a day, which is 120 people a week in Robertson County. While many of these cases are not hospital stays, some are, and the average stay in the hospital for COVID patients is 9 to 10 days. The Governor reached out to me last week asking me to implement a mask mandate. The middle Tennessee area is a hotbed for the virus with numbers going higher each day.
“While I knew the mandate was not an if, but when situation, I felt a mandate before the election was not the right thing to do. Our hospital has now reached out, asking for a mandate to relieve the pressure and stress that they are facing. Stopping surgeries and procedures would be dangerous for any hospital to survive. This morning, the Tennessee Medical Association is asking all mayors to please mandate masks. Our schools have done a super job keeping the doors open, but they also know we cannot let this get worse or open-door classes and sports will suffer. Our businesses need to be open at a capacity to pay salaries and survive. The Governor does not want to implement another emergency order to hamper these important jobs.
So today I am implementing a mask mandate to start at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, until Nov. 30, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. central time. This order does not apply to those who fall under the 13 excusable reasons to not wear a mask.
The order does not apply to:
1. Any person who is under age 12;
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 Robertson 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;
13. Persons for whom wearing a face covering would pose a safety or security risk.
I am asking for your help so we don’t have to move into the holidays with a sense of fear that will hurt our local businesses in this important season. Thank you for your time and as always it is a privilege and an honor to be your County Mayor.
God bless
Robertson County Mayor Billy Vogle
To See the latest COVID numbers:
COVID-19 DAILY CASE NUMBER REPORT (ROBERTSON)
