At the June 30 Harnett County Board of Commissioners work session, Commissioners approved a Face Covering Emergency Proclamation in response to Governor Roy Cooper’s statewide requirement for face coverings.
Officials said growing evidence shows that cloth face coverings, when worn consistently, can decrease the spread of COVID-19, especially among people who are not yet showing symptoms of the virus. Until now, face coverings had been strongly recommended. With the announcement of the Face Covering Emergency Proclamation, all members of the public who are present in any Harnett County building or facility will be required to wear a clean face cloth covering.
Harnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman, Howard Penny Jr., announced the proclamation for Harnett County as a “precautionary measure to help stabilize concerning trends of increasing viral spread within the County. We ask that citizens remain calm and continue following the guidelines established by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) during this event.”
Penny continued to encourage citizens to take precautionary actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and practice their 3-Ws. “All residents should continue practicing the 3-Ws to protect themselves and others when leaving home. Wear a cloth face covering if you will be with other people. Wait 6 feet apart and avoid close contact. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer. These guidelines are in place for your safety and those of your fellow residents. The more people that adhere to these guidelines, the sooner the Coronavirus threat will pass.”
County Manager Paula Stewart also implemented a face covering requirement for all Harnett County employees. “All County employees will be required to use face coverings in County facilities when they are in public spaces, such as hallways, meeting rooms and break rooms, and when they are assisting the public,” stated Stewart. “Harnett County’s number of positive cases have increased dramatically in the last month – more than doubling from the total number of cases we had in May. More positive cases mean more opportunities for transmission of COVID-19, which is why I believe we need to do what we can to protect both the public and our employees.”
To learn more about the Harnett County face covering requirements and exemptions, click here.
For more information on COVID-19 from Harnett County Government, visit www.harnett.org.
