Note: This story has been updated to reflect Orange County’s changes to its mask requirement that adopt the many of same regulations as issued by the latest executive order from the state.
The Orange County government updated its existing mask requirement to align with the statewide requirement before it went into effect on Friday.
Governor Roy Cooper’s newest executive order went into effect at 5 p.m. The county and town governments issued releases beforehand with the updates to the language in its order, like requiring masks when indoors other than private homes and issuing citations to businesses that fail to require employees or patrons to wear face coverings. The updated order also drops minimum age for the mask requirement from 12 years old to 11.
Despite these changes, Orange County continued its requirements of gatherings to be less than 10 people and no more than six people at restaurant tables, which are exceptions to the state’s order. It also is slated to run through the end of August, compared to when the extension of Phase 2 ends on July 17.
Orange County, in cooperation with the towns, issued a face covering requirement for residents in cooperation with the towns on June 10. But since then, positive COVID-19 cases have only increased at quicker rates.
Total case numbers have risen by more than 100 over the past two weeks, with Orange County reporting almost 580 positive cases on Thursday.
Chair of the Board of Orange County Commissioners Penny Rich said the rate of the increases pointed to a need for further action. She said to 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck she’s glad it came from state leadership on Wednesday.
“We were concerned,” Rich said of her and the three mayors of the county. “We actually were hoping [Cooper] would do this and if he didn’t, we were going to see we needed to strengthen our order. Like the rest of the state, our numbers continue to go up. When we’re hitting 20 or 22 [positive cases] a day, it’s really concerning.”
Like the county mandate, Cooper’s executive order requires all businesses to have employees wear masks and requests customers do so too. There are exceptions to the rule, like if you’re eating, exercising or able to stay more than six feet away from others.
Orange County leaders have stressed local law enforcement is not playing a role in enforcing the mask requirement through issuing citations. The state’s mandate says if patrons refuse to wear a mask while in a business and are being asked to leave, they could be cited for trespassing. The order does not authorize arrests for non-compliance of the mask requirement.
Rich explained why the county government is focused more on an education approach instead of an enforcement approach that punishes those who don’t wear masks.
“It’s not something we want to arrest people for,” she said. “We want people to use common sense and their best judgement, and we want to educate people why it’s important. We don’t want to put people in jail or give citations.”
Shortly after the statewide order was announced, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office issued an update on its Facebook page. It confirmed that its deputies plan to continue educating residents instead of issuing citations or making arrests over the mask requirement. The office also provided clarity on concealed carry permits, saying wearing a mask to prevent COVID-19’s spread does not break laws against wearing face coverings while having a gun.
Rich said, ultimately, residents should simply make a habit of wearing a mask when out in public or unable to social distance. She said the pandemic’s unknown length makes it difficult to tell when the need for masks will end, and complying with the statewide and county order should be additional motivation.
“Find a mask that suits you the best, wear it when you can,” said Rich. “If you’re exercising or biking, you do not have to wear it. If you have asthma or breathing problems you don’t have to either. But it’s a good move and [the requirement] is the right move. County by county or city by city just doesn’t work and it’s important that we are following the same guidelines throughout the state.”
The amendment to Orange County’s state of emergency declaration, which includes the mask requirement, can be found here. To learn more about the local response to COVID-19, visit the Orange County coronavirus web page.
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