Lowndes County mask mandate begins

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- Out of all of the states, Mississippi has the highest rate of positive COVID-19 tests in the country.

In the past two weeks, data confirms the number of people in Mississippi testing positive is almost at 22%.

In his most recent executive order, Governor Tate Reeves issued a mask mandate to eight additional counties; one of them being Lowndes County.

There are nearly 70,000 people in Lowndes County.

County leaders say it’s going to take everyone to help flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases. Businesses must make sure they’re in compliance with the Mississippi State Department of health.

“Whenever customers come in, I make sure to check to see if they got a mask on,” said Assistant Manager of Sunflower Food Store, John Kemp.

As dozens of customers enter to shop, he makes sure no one goes unmasked.

“If they don’t, I ask them to go put a mask on or we tell them we have some for sale upfront. I just make sure everyone is complying by state and federal rules and stuff,” said Kemp.

Kemp says they must sanitize all areas every two hours and keep a six feet distance between customers.

“Most people just don’t feel really comfortable right now with people getting really close and coming into a store without a mask on. If they don’t want to put on one, I’ll just ask them to leave the store. If they decide they don’t want to leave the store then I’ll just pull my phone out and call somebody like the police to come and handle it,” said Kemp.

However, Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins says this will be a difficult task for his department.

“That puts a big strain on my deputies to enforce this. We have five deputies working on a shift at a time, answering calls back to back. We’re going to answer these calls and doing what we can when we see a violation,” said Hawkins.

Hawkins says under the Mississippi Code Statue 33-15-43, those who don’t mask up will be fined.

“That penalty can be up to $500 dollars in fines and up to six months in jail if you’re convicted of these ordinances,” said Hawkins.

That’s why he’s hoping citizens will abide by the rules to help protect those in the community.

“It’s going to left up to the sheriff’s department to go out and actively enforce these that are set in place by the governor. We’re asking everyone to use common sense. Put on a mask. Wear it when you’re out in public and around other people to stop the spread of this virus and maybe we can get a handle on things,” said Hawkins.

The order limits social gatherings to 10 people indoors and 20 people outdoors.

Lowndes County will be under the mask mandate until August 17th, unless Governor Reeves extends it.