The City of Greenville’s city-wide mask mandate will now carry immediate consequences for violations.
During a special called meeting of the city council, an order was entered which states individuals who violate the city’s mask mandate while in public places and private establishments will be subject to a warning and must sign an attestation of compliance with the city-wide mask mandate for the first offense; every subsequent violation of the mandate will result in a $250 fine.
Businesses and establishments who violate the city-wide mask mandate will be subject to a warning for the first offense; second offense will result in a $500 fine; third offense will result in a $1,000 fine and a 24-hour shutdown pending the owner or operator’s signature on an attestation of compliance with the city-wide mask mandate. Should the attestation not be signed, the shutdown will continue.
The council voted in favor of the mandate 5 to 1 as Ward 1 councilman Al Brock was the dissenting vote.
The mandate will go into effect at noon Wednesday, Nov. 25.
In addition to the Mayor Errick Simmons and council, Police Chief Delando Wilson, Sheriff Milton Gaston and Washington County Board of Supervisors attorney Willie Griffin were in attendance.
Council members and the mayor discussed the lack of established uniformity throughout the county as it pertains to ordinances in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
The mayor, council and other local officials will convene again next week to decide if and what additional action should be taken to prevent a rampant spread of COVID-19 with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays looming.
