The Franklin County Commission approved a mask mandate for the county last Thursday, Nov. 19. The mandate took effect at midnight, Friday, Nov. 20 and will be in effect until noon Dec. 20.

The order applies to all persons age 10 and up and requires a clean face mask be worn any time in contact with other people in indoor spaces who are not family members.

Masks can be made of cloth, fabric or other soft or permeable material, without holes that covers the nose, mouth and surrounding areas of the lower face. The mask can be homemade or factory made.

The commission order noted that mask wearing by both patrons and employees may help businesses to remain open and keep the local economy strong until COVID-19 can be brought under control. The order notes, “Face masks are an appropriate and necessary method of reducing the spread of COVID-19 and will be the least restrictive means imposed with the greatest benefit to reduce community spread.”

The exponential spread of the virus has the potential to overwhelm the community’s medical resources, the order warned.

Any individual convicted of violation of the order could be fined $15.

Any business, government or non-profit entity convicted of a violation could be fined $100.

Employers are ordered to make face masks available for each employee.

People are not required to wear masks if they can maintain a distance of six feet from others outdoors, seated in a restaurant or bar, or while sitting in an office setting; at home, except in common areas of a multi-family building; when requested by a police officer or medical provider; while in a vehicle or while engaged in a sporting activity.

Read the full order by commission here.