Boone Town Council Reverses Decision on Masks
As of Saturday, masks will be mandatory inside businesses
BOONE-If you enter any businesses in Boone after Friday, you’ll have to wear a mask. During their meeting Tuesday night, the Boone Town Council reversed an earlier decision, voting 3–2 to make it mandatory for people to wear a mask inside any “establishments open to the public.”
The vote came after a request from council member Sam Furgiuele, who argued that the town was at risk, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. Furgiuele pointed to the fact cases in Watauga went from 14 to 37 since May 26, with Wilkes County increasing to 504 and Caldwell to 183. Burke County recorded one of the largest increases in that period, going from 337 to 508. With the number of cases growing, Furgiuele argued, the town needs to take precautions.
“As I have observed in the last week, there are very few people who are wearing masks and many who are ignoring social distancing,” Furgiuele said in his request to the council. “I had occasion to enter two stores last weekend which had posted signs advising customers that they were not welcome to enter without wearing a mask, yet in both, there were people without them, including a sheriff’s deputy in uniform.”
Furgiuele also pointed to the death toll. As of June 16, the state reported 1,109 COVID-19 related deaths in NC. That’s up from 794 on May 26.
“Masks have been shown to be effective in reducing the transmission of the virus, and we should take this small step to try to protect the employees in Boone businesses, Boone residents and our visitors,” he wrote in his request.
Who Has To Follow The Rule?
Not everyone has to follow the rule at all times. First, all children under 10 are exempt. Second, anyone eating and drinking at a restaurant won’t have to wear a mask. Finally, anyone who may have health issues related to wearing a mask can go without one. That last exemption is part of the reason why state lawmakers have avoided a mandatory mask requirement. Under state and federal law, you can’t ask someone what their health issue is. As a result, anyone could claim to have health issues to avoid wearing a mask. Now there are penalties involved with not following the order, but even after Tuesday’s meeting it’s unclear how they would be enforced, as someone would simply have to claim a health issue.
Under the guidelines approved by the council, the first time someone is caught inside without a mask, they would simply be told they need to put one on. The second time, they would be given a warning and anytime after that, they would be given a citation. This vote reverses a decision made by the council in their May 26 meeting, where council members Dustin Hicks, Nancy LaPlaca and Connie Ulmer all voted against a mandatory requirement. All three raised questions on Tuesday as well, wondering how it would be enforced. They asked for a delay, to give more time for discussion on how this should be put into practice. In the end, however, Furgiuele called for a vote and Ulmer joined him and council member Loretta Clawson to push it through.
Draft Still to Be Written
Now this could still be revised, much like the quarantine order given out last month. While this rule is set to take effect Saturday at 9 a.m., the actual language of the order hasn’t been fully written. Council members asked town attorney Allison Meade to put it together by Thursday, so members can review it during their scheduled meeting. That meeting is set for 6 p.m. in Town Hall, located at 1500 Blowing Rock Road.
Brian Carlton is the editor for NWNC. He can be reached at brian.carlton38@gmail.com.
