More cities mandating face masks in public — and issuing fines. Is yours on the list?
City leaders in Birmingham, Alabama just made face masks mandatory in all public places starting May 1 in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, according to AL.com.
On Tuesday, the Birmingham City Council unanimously approved an order requiring residents aged 2 and older to wear a face mask when in public. The coverings don’t have to be medical-grade, however, they must be enough to cover “the nose and mouth of a person to impede the spread of saliva or other fluids during speaking, coughing, sneezing or other intentional or involuntary action,” the ordinance states.
Per the mandate, business owners must also require their employees to wear masks at work but are not required to provide them.
Folks exercising outdoors are the only exception to the rule, according to city officials.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin had previously voiced support for a face mask mandate before city council members made it official Tuesday morning.
“I would like to lean on the health experts, that if we have to go from recommendations to requirements, I wouldn’t see a problem with that,” Woodfin said, according to local station WVTM 13.
Those caught violating the order could face a $500 fine and/or up to 30 days in the municipal jail, the new ordinance states.
Other U.S. cities and counties have issued similar mandates in hopes of quelling the spread of the virus, including the following:
- New York City
- Beverly Hills
- Los Angeles
- Riverside County, California
- San Bernardino, California
- Laredo, Texas
- Miami, Florida
- Palm Beach, Florida
- Broward County, Florida
- Miami-Dade County, Florida
On Tuesday, the nation surpassed one million COVID-19 cases with more than 57,500 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University database.
Starkville, Mississippi
As businesses begin to reopen amid the pandemic, Starkville, Mississippi officials are taking steps to ensure they can do so safely. A resolution passed by the board of aldermen on Monday requires all customers and employees over the age of 6 to wear face coverings, The Commercial Dispatch reported.
The order, effective through May 11, also put the onus on businesses to “provide adequate supervision, including door monitors” to prevent those without a mask from coming inside.
“I don’t think a two-week requirement for wearing masks is overly burdensome,” Alderwoman Lynn Spruill told the paper. “It certainly has a definite end in sight, but I think to keep our entire community safe, it’s an infringement that’s worth the risk.”
Failure to comply with the face mask mandate is punishable by a $1,000 fine, according to the ordinance.
Harris County, Texas
In Harris County, Texas, a 30-day rule took effect Monday requiring everyone over the age of 10 to have some type of cloth or garment covering their faces when out in public, KHOU 11 reported.
In a tweet, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo warned that “all private businesses retain the right to refuse entry to those who refuse to wear a mask. Please know you could be given a criminal trespass pursuant to Texas Statute.”
Violators could also face a fine of up to $1,000, authorities said.
Washington, D.C.
The mayor of Washington, D.C. issued a similar order this month mandating that employees, customers, hotel visitors, taxi cab drivers and everyone in between wear a face mask.
“Any individual or entity that knowingly violates this Order may be subject to civil, criminal and administrative penalties, including sanctions or penalties for violating D.C. Official Code 7-2307, including civil fines or summary suspension or revocation of licenses,” the April 15 order reads.
Cambridge, Massachusetts
More than 400 miles away in Cambridge, Massachusetts, residents are required to sport a mask or face a $300 fine, according to MassLive. The mandate was modeled after safety guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month.
“We must all do our part in flattening the curve and make sure we are preventing the further spread of COVID-19,” Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui and City Manager Louis DePasquale said in a joint statement. “This mandate emphasizes the importance of wearing a face covering, not as an option, but as a requirement in our effort to combat this pandemic together.”
The new order takes effect Wednesday, April 29 and applies to all residents over the age of 4.
A similar order is in place in Somerville, Massachusetts, according to MassLive.