Face coverings are required in Rutherford County as of July 22, 2020 at 12 AM (Wednesday morning) until the date of August 3, 2020 at 11:59 PM - unless extended by the county mayor.
According to the document entitled, “Declaration of Public Health Emergency by Rutherford County Mayor,” the numbers of those testing positive for COVID-19 have significantly increased in the last thirty days. The increase is why Mayor Bill Ketron is now requiring residents to wear a face covering.
On June 21, 2020 a total of 2,060 COVID-19 cases were recorded in Rutherford County, TN. By July 21, 2020 that number grew by almost 130% to 4,716 total COVID-19 cases.
The order requiring Rutherford County residents to wear a face covering is for everyone over the age of 12.
Facemasks are to be worn in all public areas including outdoor spaces where social distancing of at least six feet cannot be maintained. Masks are required in all commercial establishments as well as sports and entertainment venues.
Those who have an underlying health condition that will not allow for them to safely wear a face covering are exempt from the order.
There are no requirements to wear a mask in a private residence.
The order in Rutherford County does not require residents in a place of worship to wear a mask, but strongly encourages them to do so. However, churches can rule that worshipers wear a mask while in their facility and in those cases visitors will have to follow the rules set by the organization they are visiting.
Masks do not have to be worn in private vehicles unless the vehicle is used as a taxi or to transport others for pay.
Executive Order 54 that was introduced by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on July 3, 2020 is what delegated the authority to county mayors to impose the rule requiring facemask. The Rutherford County Mayor utilized that order to impose the new facemask rule in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Statewide Growth of COVID-19:
On June 21, 2020, a total of 35,553 confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Volunteer State. On July 21, 2020, that number climbed to 81,944 confirmed COVID-19 cases throughout Tennessee.
Below (Continued Order from Above Photo):
