Mecklenburg Co. officials vote to change guidelines for when mask mandate can be lifted

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Mecklenburg County commissioners voted Wednesday to change guidelines and lift the mask mandate if the county’s percent positivity rate drops below 5% for 7 straight days. Previous rules required the rate to be below 5% for 30 straight days before it could be lifted.

The county’s mask mandate has been in place since late August.

More: Indoor mask mandate begins across Mecklenburg County

According to the NCDHHS website, Mecklenburg County has had a 5.6% positivity rate over the past 14 days.

Related: Indoor mask mandate begins in Charlotte, countywide mandate approved for all remaining towns in Mecklenburg

Commissioners are also expected to about using updated research from local and national health leaders in possibly making the changes.

There are exceptions to the face-covering mandate. Face coverings do not need to be worn by someone who:

• Is under 5 years of age;
• Should not wear a face covering due to any medical or behavioral condition or disability (including, but not limited to, any person who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious or incapacitated, or is otherwise unable to put on or remove the face covering without assistance);
• Is actively eating or drinking;
• Is seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing-impaired in a way that requires the mouth to be visible;
• Is giving a speech or performance for a broadcast, or to an audience, where they maintain a distance of at least 20 feet from the audience (the audience is still required to wear a face covering if indoors);
• Is temporarily removing their face covering at work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulations or workplace safety guidelines;
• Has found their face covering is impeding visibility to operate equipment or a vehicle.

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