Vicksburg COVID-19 proclamation mandating masks July 18 to Aug. 3 – full text

Read a summary of this proclamation.

AMENDMENT OF THE PROCLAMATION REGARDING THE RE-OPENING OF VICKSBURG WHILE MINIMIZING THE RISK OF INFECTION AND TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19 EFFECTIVE SATURDAY JULY 18, 2020 AT 8:00 A.M THROUGH 8:00 A.M. ON AUGUST 3, 2020

WHEREAS, pursuant to §§45-17-1 through 45-17-13, and §33-15-17 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, the Mayor is authorized to proclaim that a Civil Emergency exists defined as any natural disaster or man-made calamity resulting in the death or injury of persons to such an extent that extraordinary measures must be taken to protect the public health, safety and welfare; and

WHEREAS, §21-19-3 gives municipalities the authority to make regulations to prevent the spreading of contagious or infectious diseases and to make quarantine laws for that purpose; and

WHEREAS, §33-15-17 authorizes the Mayor to control or restrict egress, ingress and movement within the local emergency area necessary to facilitate the protection of life and property; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to these laws, the Mayor is authorized to issue such orders as he deems necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Vicksburg, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) that has spread across this nation is a worldwide pandemic and as of July 14, 2020, the Mississippi Department of Health has reported 37,542 positive confirmed cases and 1,272 deaths in Mississippi, 22 of which were in Warren County; and

WHEREAS, previous emergency orders have required that persons stay at home and that certain businesses be closed in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of the State of Mississippi has adopted a Safe Return Order in an effort to continue to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while allowing the businesses to open and persons to return to work; and

WHEREAS, it is likewise necessary for Vicksburg businesses to safely open and Vicksburg citizens to safely return to work.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED BY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF VICKSBURG pursuant to §§45-17-1 through 45-17-13, §21-19-3 and §33-15-17 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, the following regulations apply:

1. The Safe Return instituted in Proclamation effective June 1, 2020 and amended effective June 15, 2020, extended effective, July 6, 2020, and extended effective July 13, 2020 and is extended and shall remain in full force and effect until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, August 3, 2020 and is amended as modified herein.
   In addition to previous regulations, the following regulations shall be in effect beginning Saturday, July 18 at 8:00 A.M:
2. FOR RETAIL BUSINESSES such as grocery stores, building supply stores, convenience stores or any other store that sells items to the public, the business owner or manager shall adopt and enforce the following measures:
   1. Employees shall wear a face covering, covering the mouth and nose, and shall be required to wear a face covering while on duty, and such face covering shall be cleaned or replaced at least daily.
   2. customers shall wear a face covering, covering nose and mouth, while inside the retail business.
   3. Hand sanitizer shall be made available to all employees and shall be made available to customers at points of entry and exit, in or near the bathrooms, and at the cashier or payment stations.
   4. Retail businesses shall make all reasonable efforts to maintain 6 feet separation between customers (or parties of customers) at all times, including 6 feet separation while waiting in cashier or payment lines.
   5. Carts and baskets and all other surfaces that are contacted by customers during the course of providing services shall be sanitized after each use by customers. All other high-touch areas, including all door handles, shall be sanitized every two hours at a minimum.
   6. Retail Businesses shall post a sign notifying customers that a face covering is required prior to entering the business and shall monitor and enforce the face covering requirement. Business owners and managers are entitled to rely upon the representations of their customers, patrons and employees regarding whether or not they qualify for an exception from the face covering requirement.
3. FOR ALL OTHER BUSINESSES OR ORGANIZATIONS, including governmental offices, the owner or manager of the business shall require all persons who enter the premises to wear a face covering. Businesses shall post a sign notifying persons who enter that they are required to wear a face covering and shall monitor and enforce the face covering requirement. Business owners and managers are entitled to rely upon the representations of their customers, patrons and employees regarding whether or not they qualify for an exception from the face covering requirement. Businesses shall screen employees before each shift by asking:
   1. Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
   2. Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat?
   3. Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours?
   4. Have you had a new loss of taste or smell?
   5. Have you had vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours?

Employees shall wear a face covering while on duty if they are not able to maintain a minimum of 6 feet of separation from other employees while on duty, and such face coverings shall be cleaned or replaced at least daily.

4. FOR INDOOR GATHERINGS such as indoor worship services, indoor funeral or wedding services, and any other indoor event or gathering, including indoor entertainment venues, all persons must wear a face covering.
5. EXCEPTIONS TO THE FACE COVERING REQUIREMENTS: Face coverings do not apply to the following:
   1. Any individual who will not come in contact with any other individual (outside of their immediate household members) or who will be able to maintain strict social distancing of six (6) feet apart from any other individual (outside of immediate household);
   2. Any child under the age of eight; however, all children between the ages of two (2) and Seven (7) years old are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering.
   3. Any individual with a medical condition that prevents the wearing of a face covering;
   4. Any individual who is consuming food or drinks;
   5. Any individual seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing impaired;
   6. Any individual giving a speech for broadcast or to an audience; and
   7. Any individual temporarily removing his or her face covering for identification purposes.
6. ANY BUSINESS THAT SELLS ALCOHOL OR ALLOWS ALCOHOL FOR ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION, other than those under the jurisdiction of the MS Gaming Commission, shall close by midnight each night. This includes restaurants, bars, BYOB, or other entertainment venues that sell or allow consumption of alcohol on the premises.
7. SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE: In order to prevent, reduce and respond to crime during this time, police patrols shall be increased on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., during this time. There shall be a minimum of eleven (11) patrol officers on duty along with a watch commander and deputy chief. The Deputy Chiefs are scheduled as follows:

• • Deputy Chief Stewart is working Thursday, July 16^th thru Sunday, July 19^th. Contact # 601 831-1168
  • Deputy Chief Jones Thursday, July 23^rd thru Sunday July 26^th.  Contact # 601-218-4379
  • Deputy Chief Paymon Thursday, July 30^th thru Sunday August 2^nd. Contact # 601 218-1495

8. CONCESSION STANDS AT OUTDOOR COMPLEXES are allowed to open as follows:
   1. employees/volunteers operating the concession stand shall be provided a face covering and required to wear the face covering while on duty;
   2. Social distancing (minimum 6 feet) shall be observed by customers waiting in line at the concession stand;
   3. Hand sanitizer must be available;
   4. Customers/guests are not permitted to congregate in the area of the concession stand;
   5. Before beginning their work shift, all concession stand employees and volunteers shall be screened as follows:
      1. Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
      2. Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat?
      3. Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours?
      4. Have you had a new loss of taste or smell?
      5. Have you had vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours?

Individual violations of the face covering regulations will be subject to misdemeanor prosecution pursuant to Sec. 45-17-9 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, Sec. 33-15-7 and Sec. 1-9 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Vicksburg and will be as follows:

1. 1^st offense – warning
2. 2^nd offense – $100.00 fine
3. 3^rd offense and up – $300.00 fine per each separate violation

Business violations of the face covering requirements or any other violations of this EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION will be subject to misdemeanor prosecution pursuant to Sec. 45-17-9 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended, Sec. 33-15-7 and Sec. 1-9 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Vicksburg, including a fine of up to $1,000.00 and 90 days in jail.

THIS PROCLAMATION SHALL BE IN EFFECT BEGINNING SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2020 AT 8:00 A.M. AND SHALL CONTINUE UNTIL 8:00 A.M. ON AUGUST 3, 2020 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED HEREIN OR EXTENDED, MODIFIED OR REPEALED BY A SUBSEQUENT PROCLAMATION.

SO RESOLVED this the ____ day of July 2020.

____________________________

GEORGE FLAGGS, JR., MAYOR

CITY OF VICKSBURG, MS

ATTEST:

_____________________

CITY CLERK