COVID-19

Vicksburg face mask mandate begins Saturday

Published

3 years ago

July 15, 2020

Ronni Mott

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In response to the surge of new COVID-19 cases in Mississippi, Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. has mandated face coverings/masks in the city.

The new order, announced Wednesday during a live news conference, goes into effect Saturday, July 18, at 8 a.m. and remain through Aug. 3 at 8 a.m.

Summary of the new order:

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:

Face coverings / masks for employees and customers
Hand sanitizer for employees and customers
Social distance – 6 feet between customers in line
Sanitize carts and baskets after each use
Post notification that face covering/mask is required

For all other businesses or organizations, including governmental offces, the owner or manager of the business shall require:

All persons who enter the premises to wear a face covering
Post a sign notifying persons who enter that they are required to wear a face covering.
Businesses shall screen employees
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.

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.

Exceptions to the face covering requirements (Face coverings do not apply to the following):

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 6 feet apart from any other individual (outside of immediate household);
Any child under the age of 8; however, all children between the ages of 2 and 7 years old are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering as set forth in Sec. 2, 3 and 4;
Any individual with a medical condition that prevents the wearing of a face covering;
Any individual who is consuming food or drinks;
Any individual seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing impaired;
Any individual giving a speech for broadcast or to an audience; and
Any individual temporarily removing his or her face covering for identification purposes.

Any business that sells alcohol or allows alcohol for on-premises consumption, other than those under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi 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.

Special Law Enforcement Task Force: In order to prevent, reduce and respond to crime during this time, police patrols shall be increased Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., during this time.

There shall be a minimum of 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, thru Sunday, July 19.
Contact number: (601) 831-1168
Deputy Chief Jones is working Thursday, July 23, thru Sunday, July 26.
Contact number: (601) 218-4379
Deputy Chief Paymon is working Thursday, July 30 thru Sunday Aug. 2.
Contact number: (601) 218-1495

Concession stands at outdoor sports complexes are allowed to open with restrictions.

Violations of the face covering regulations, including the failure of a business owner or manager to enforce 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:

Violations for individuals:
- first offense – warning
- second offense – $100.00 fine
- third offense and up – $300.00 fine per each separate violation

Violations for businesses: