Mississippi ends statewide mask mandate, eases other coronavirus restrictions
Published 3:17 pm Wednesday, September 30, 2020
- Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves shows off his mask as he announces new restrictions for seven counties in the state in an attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus cases.
Gov. Tate Reeves announced Wednesday the easing of many of the pandemic restrictions, including allowing the state’s mask mandate to expire.
In his new executive order Wednesday, Reeves combined all social distancing measures into one executive order to ensure better understanding.
“I have always tried to stress the important balance of this time: we cannot allow our system to collapse, and we should not use the heavy-hand of government more than it is justified,” Reeves said. “We have to tailor our actions to the current threat, and make sure that they do not go beyond what is reasonable.”
Under the new executive order, some social distancing restrictions have been eased as the state’s COVD-19 case numbers improve.
A few of the relaxed restrictions include increasing attendance at outdoor K-12 extracurricular events such as football games to 50 percent of seating capacity, limiting group gatherings when social distancing is not possible to no more than 20 indoors and 100 outdoors, and requiring masks for schools and close contact businesses like salons and barbershops.
The order is in effect until Nov. 11 at 5 p.m.
