Weakley County Mask Mandate Rescinded

WEAKLEY COUNTY MASK MANDATE LIFTED:
FACE COVERINGS STILL STRONGLY RECOMMENDED

FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 2021 – DRESDEN, TENN. – While face coverings remain still strongly recommended, Weakley County Mayor Jake Bynum has issued Executive Order No. 7, rescinding the previous Executive Orders that required face coverings countywide. Effective Friday, April 9, 2021, at 11:59 PM, Weakley Countians will no longer be required but are still urged to continue wearing a mask or face covering inside public places along with practicing safety measures relative to COVID-19 prevention. County Mayor Bynum made the decision to rescind the mask requirement based upon consideration of several factors, including the decrease in the daily positivity rate of COVID-19 active cases in Weakley County, reduction in the number of hospitalizations, increase in availability of the vaccine, and the daily uptick in the number of individuals who have been vaccinated.

With respect to lifting the mask requirement, Mayor Bynum said, “Thankfully, today, any citizen in Weakley County who wants to receive the vaccine has the availability to get it. Due to the vigilance, care, and sacrifices made by the citizens of Weakley County, our active case count numbers have entered us into a territory that is more manageable. We are where we are today because of the patience, persistence, and hard work of every person, business, organization, and local leader who adhered to safety measures in a united effort to control the spread of the virus – we thank you. That said, we are not out of the woods with COVID-19. Every single Coronavirus case is extremely serious and has the potential to create a detrimental impact on the lives of the people in our communities. The virus is still claiming the lives of our friends and loved ones. In honor of the Weakley Countians we have lost and with the purpose to diminish this virus as quickly as possible, I strongly recommend every individual to wear a face covering inside public places, wash your hands, practice social distancing, and stay home when you feel ill.”

Be advised that Weakley County Schools System, Weakley County’s Office of the Courts, and other state and federal entities located throughout the county may have existing governing guidelines and safety measures that are independent of this order and may not apply.

The Tennessee Department of Health [TDOH] mapped out their plan for the vaccination process in phases of eligibility. An individual’s phase was determined based upon the person’s high risk of exposure to the virus as well as high risk of having critical complications upon contracting the virus. Recently, TDOH announced that they have opened eligibility to include every individual in all phases, and every adult Tennessean is now eligible to receive the vaccine.

If you or someone you know would like to receive the vaccine for COVID-19, please make an appointment today by calling (731) 364-2258, or 866-442-5301, or by registering for an appointment at vaccinate.tn.gov.