With new COVID-19 infections on the rise locally and statewide, the Orange County government announced a shift back to requiring masks in its facilities.

Effective Thursday, all visitors and employees in county government buildings must wear face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19, regardless of one’s vaccination status.

Additionally, the Orange County government is preparing to require employees to disclose their coronavirus vaccination status. Those who choose not to share their status and those who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 will be required to complete weekly testing.

Chair of the Orange County Commissioners Renee Price spoke with 97.9 The Hill about the policies on Wednesday. She said the county is back to “a scary time” as it reaches a “substantial” level of spread of COVID-19, as defined by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

“This virus continues to mutate, so we have to make all precautions to get this thing behind us,” said Price. “Otherwise, we’ll be in these limbo situations for an indefinite period of time. Even now, we don’t know when the numbers are going to go back down.”

Price said the severity of COVID-19’s impact, both locally and nationally, made this measure an easier decision for government leaders to make with the delta variant leading to renewed spread.

“What’s different now than earlier during the pandemic is people have seen the dangers of the virus,” she said. “In the past, we knew it was out there and it could affect us. But across the United States, million of people have been infected and several had died.

“This is serious,” Price added, “and I had no problem with that decision, and talking to the manger and deputy manager, we had no problem coming up with this plan.”

Price said county employees had already been using an “honor system” where those who choose not to be vaccinated against COVID-19 are tested for the virus regularly to stop the spread. While the county government is encouraging everyone to receive free vaccines to boost long-term protection, the county chair said the existing mask policies for Orange County is a simple method to protect others from getting sick if someone is carrying the virus.”

“That’s why we’re doing this: to try and protect people and get past this pandemic,” said Price. “So for us, it wasn’t that hard [to enact.]”

In July, Orange County began its Transformation Plan. After being closed for more than a year, buildings and facilities like the county library, Register of Deeds office, Orange County Public Transportation and more gradually reopened to the public. As part of the plan, all unvaccinated visitors were requested to wear face coverings. Social distancing, or maintaining six feet of space between individuals, was also still required in waiting areas and other indoor settings.

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