Boone approves mask mandate as virus cases continue to rise

BOONE, N.C. — People will be required to wear face coverings in Boone starting this weekend.

In a 3-2 vote on Tuesday, town council decided to amend Boone’s state of emergency declaration to make face masks mandatory with some exceptions.

The amendment requires that people wear face coverings in areas of businesses that are open to the general public, with exceptions for people who may have health issues related to wearing a mask, people at restaurants who are eating and drinking at their tables and children younger than 10 years old.

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The council reconsidered the mask mandate after a request by Councilperson Sam Furgiuele, who first made a motion to require face coverings to be worn by the public at a meeting last month. The motion failed at the time.

Furgiuele said he asked the council to reconsider the restriction because COVID-19 cases have continued to increase locally and across the state, and because he has spotted many people who are not wearing masks in public, even in places where signage asks or directs customers to wear masks.

“I would much rather people be protected as they come in as opposed to coming in nonchalantly,” resident Madison Parrish said.

Anyone caught without wearing a mask can be cited, but not before they are educated and given a verbal warning upon their first offense.

“I feel like it should be up to every individual business on what the requirement for mask and gloves are,” visitor John Norris said.

The restriction takes effect at 9 a.m. Saturday with enforcement of any penalties delayed by three weeks.

Some businesses have already put up signs while offering free masks to anyone who needs one.

“We’ll kindly invite them to wear a mask. We will make sure they have it available. If they really aren’t comfortable, we’ll ask them to step outside and we will bring the meal to them,” said Renee Boughman, manager at Farm Cafe.

Police said if they’re called, they will try to educate people first and told Channel 9 it is not up to a business to enforce the measure.

There are exceptions for people who have health issues from wearing a mask and for people eating and drinking at restaurants. 

“I think it’s absolutely necessary to slow down the spreading of the virus,” resident Ann Williams said.

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