As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to climb in Georgia and across the nation, City of South Fulton officials today adopted an emergency ordinance requiring people – regardless of vaccination status – to wear masks in public places, including stores, schools, restaurants and other buildings and public spaces.
The temporary mandate is effective immediately.
The emergency measure – which is not applicable on private property or in private vehicles – provides some key exceptions. It excludes children 10 years old and younger as well as those unable to safely wear face coverings because of age, underlying medical conditions or an inability to remove masks without the assistance of others. The order also does not apply to times when people are eating or drinking in public businesses. Those with conditions where licensed healthcare providers have determined wearing facial coverings aggravates the conditions are exempt as are those with bona fide religious objections to wearing a mask. Penalties for violating the ordinance include fines of $25 for a first offense and a $50 for each subsequent violation.