Macon-Bibb Mask Mandate PKG

Macon-Bibb Mask Mandate PKG

The statement goes on to say... there's concern because a majority of those testing positive are younger people.

Two macon-bibb county commissioners say they're working with the county health department to make sure all residents wear a mask.

41nbc's peyton lewis tells us more.

0:13 0:33 "it is not political.

Death is not political."

As the number of positive covid-19 cases increases in bibb county, commissioners, joe allen and elaine lucas say-- the county needs to take action.

"over the past week the numbers have just shoot through the roof, and we were just very concerned so we decided that we would push for a mask ordinance."

District 6 commissioner, joe allen has drafted a seven-page ordinance and presented it to macon-bibb mayor robert reichert.

"i got a mask right here that i wear.

The reason i wear it is because i wanna save not just my life but my family's lives, and other people's lives."

Allen says the ordinance will not make masks mandatory, but strongly encouraged.

"i was a firefighter for 33 years, and my job was saving people's lives.

That's my job now as commissioner is to save lives, and that's what i'm gonna do."

District 3 commissioner elaine lucas would prefer a stronger approach.

"we are going to ask them to mandate that all citizens would be required to use a face covering at least until we get past this crisis that we are in."

Commissioner allen says enforcement of a local mask requirement would be difficult.

"the president didn't make it mandatory.

The governor did not c1 3 b13 make it mandatory.

So how can we supersede what those two individuals have, and what the federal government if the mayor doesn't call an emergency meeting to approve the ordinance,