Full details of Tate Reeves’ executive order on COVID rules in 13 Mississippi counties
A day after Gov. Tate Reeves announced guidelines to curb the spread of COVID-19 in 13 Mississippi counties, the full details of his executive order were revealed on Friday.
The new coronavirus measures say people in those counties should wear masks or face coverings at public gatherings or while shopping in stores.
Also, social gatherings should be limited to no more than 10 indoors and 20 outdoors.
Two counties in South Mississippi, Harrison and Jackson, are joined on the list by Claiborne, Desoto, Grenada, Hinds, Jefferson, Madison, Quitman, Rankin, Sunflower, Washington, and Wayne.
The order is in effect from 8 a.m. Monday, July 13, until 8 a.m. July 20.
Reeves said in Friday’s email releasing the order that Mississippians in those counties “must” wear face coverings and practice social distancing. However, the order uses the word “shall” which the Supreme Court has ruled can mean “may” and is not the same as “must” or “mandatory.”
Enforcement of the governor’s order is left up to local law enforcement with potential punishment including a $500 fine and six months in jail.
Requirements under Executive Order No. 1507 include:
For all businesses
▪ All businesses “shall attempt in good faith” to take every step necessary to implement the regulations, orders and guidance from the Mississippi State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control, including social distancing and encouraging sick employees to stay home.
▪ Employees should be screened daily at the beginning of their shifts, including asking whether they have been in contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and if they have they had a fever in the last 48 hours.
▪ Employees who are unable to maintain at least 6 feet from others shall wear a face covering throughout their shift, such as a face mask. Their face coverings must be cleaned or replaced daily.
▪ Hand sanitizer shall be provided to all employees, which can include soap.
For retail businesses
▪ Face coverings shall be provided to all employees who come in direct contact with customers. Employees shall be required to wear that face covering throughout their shift and clean or replace daily.
▪ Customers shall wear a face covering while inside the retail business.
▪ Hand sanitizer shall be placed at all entrances, in or near bathrooms, and at cashier stations.
▪ Retail businesses are expected to make all efforts to maintain a 6 feet of distance between customers at all times.
▪ Carts, baskets and other similar surfaces touched by customers shall be sanitized after each use. Other high-touch areas must be sanitized at least once every two hours.
For people out in public
▪ People shall wear face coverings when at public gatherings or in a shopping environment.
▪ People shall maintain 6 feet of distance between themselves and others.
▪ Social gatherings shall be limited to no more than 10 people indoors and 20 outdoors.
News editor Lauren Walck contributed to this report.
This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 5:00 PM.
