Gov. Tate Reeves at a press briefing Wednesday allowed the executive order issuing a statewide mask mandate to expire.
Reeves still stressed the importance of wearing a mask when out in public but said it no longer should be mandated.
“We should not use the heavy-hand of government more than it is justified,” he said at the briefing as to why he is allowing the mandate to expire.
Under the Safe Recovery Order, which began at 5 p.m. Wednesday and is effective through 5 p.m. on Nov. 11, he is strongly urging everyone to continue to wear face masks when out in public.
However, it does not mean mask mandates are being disregarded entirely. Reeves announced that masks will still need to be worn at school.
In Executive Order 1525 Reeves stated: “Every person in Mississippi shall wear a face covering, covering the nose and mouth, while inside a school building or classroom, or when outdoors on a school campus whenever it is not possible to maintain a minimum of six feet of social distancing from another person not in the same household.”
Reeves did stress the need for all schools to reopen to allow traditional learning.
“In fact, I would urge schools that have been closed to open back up. It can be done safely. That’s been proven. There is no excuse to continue forcing parents to be full-time teachers,” Reeves said.
He said in his order that attendance to outdoor events at school activities can increase to 50%, but people still need to wear masks and social distancing must be maintained.
Other changes set out in the new mandate include allowing businesses to allow up to 75% capacity as long as social distancing guidelines can still be adhered.
Movie theaters may have up to 50% capacity while maintaining social distancing.
The beloved college football tradition of tailgating is still prohibited.
On Thursday the total number of cases since March was 98,886, and the total number of cases in Marion County was 883 with a total of 37 deaths in the county.
There are no current cases in either the county or city schools, according to the Mississippi Department of Health website.
