The city of Roanoke Rapids is requiring that face masks be worn indoors at all city-owned buildings by both employees and visitors regardless of vaccination status due to the recent surge in positive COVID-19 cases throughout Halifax County and the state.
The requirement goes into effect at 5 p.m. today, according to a press release by interim City Manager Kelly Traynham.
Masks will be made available for those entering without one.
“The city of Roanoke Rapids encourages all its employees, residents, and visitors to wear face masks and consider vaccinations, if not already done so,” she said. “You can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and its Delta Variant by wearing masks, maintaining social distance, getting vaccinations, practicing good hand hygiene when possible, and encouraging one another to do the same.”
Exceptions to the face mask requirement are as follows:
People who have 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
People under five years of age
People actively eating or drinking
People seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing-impaired in a way that requires the mouth to be visible
People giving a speech for a broadcast or to an audience
People working at home or in a personal vehicle
People temporarily removing their face covering to secure government or medical services or for identification purposes
People who would be at risk from wearing a face covering at work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulations or workplace safety guidelines
People who have found their face covering is impeding visibility to operate equipment or a vehicle; or is a child whose parent, guardian, or responsible person has been unable to place the face covering safely on the child's face.
Anyone who declines to wear a face covering for these reasons should not be required to produce documentation or any other proof of a condition.
Children under 2 years of age should not wear a face covering.
More information on facial coverings can be found at this link or by calling the state Department of Health and Human Services at 1-888-675-4567
Traynham provided the following links:
Halifax County Health Department
