CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Tuesday night, Mecklenburg County commissioners unanimously approved stricter rules for the county’s mask mandate. Masks will now be required to be worn in county parks.
The county already requires residents to wear face masks when they are out in public, but there are some exceptions, like exercising.
Gov. Roy Cooper did not require masks in government, city or town-owned or leased buildings in his executive order, County Manager Dena Diorio said. Matthews, Charlotte and Mecklenburg County will require them.
Masks will not be required in Huntersville, Davidson, Cornelius, Pineville and Mint Hill owned and leased buildings. Those municipalities chose not to sign on, the county attorney said.
Mecklenburg County has reported a record number of hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients.
New data shows 185 people are in the hospital with the virus, which is a record. The last seven days of data indicate a trend in increasing hospitalizations.
The two-week average of positive test percentage is also increasing -- up to 11.4%, which is more than twice as high as officials would like to see it.
Commissioner @susanrodmcd says she is "profoundly disappointed in the towns that did not join this proclamation." #MeckBOCC
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) July 8, 2020
The trends are happening despite social distancing remaining stable.
Friday was the start of the first weekend the mask requirement was put into place.
Ariel Apparicio, who was not donning a mask, was gearing up for a run at Little Sugar Creek Greenway.
“To have a mask on while running? Heck no!” Apparicio said. “We’re going to die immediately. It’s not possible.”
People, who are doing strenuous exercise, are not required to wear a mask at parks in the county, according to the new rule.
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Most people at Freedom Park Friday morning were not working out and not wearing masks either.
Melissa Wilson and her sons were at the park for a bike ride.
“I don’t know, now I’m kind of confused,” Wilson said. “I don’t know if I should put my mask on or not.”
If they stay socially distanced, they would qualify for another exemption to the county's mandate and not have to wear masks.
That is why the mask rule may be tough to enforce.
Paula Wambeke and her friend were out for a walk and she was a little upset that few people were masked up.
“In fact, a lot of times when we encounter folks, we just kind of turn to the side and distance as much as possible,” Wambeke said.
Mecklenburg County hospitalizations expected to increase, health director says
County Commissioner Mark Jerrell asked Health Director Gibbie Harris to put her thumb on the scale and warn people about where we could be heading.
“If the trends continue and we don’t have any signs we are getting better, we are heading back to a lockdown,” Jerrell said.
Harris said at this rate, the hospitalizations can be expected to continue to rise. Mecklenburg County hospitals are at about 80% capacity and about 400 ventilators are available.
“I think there is reason for concern, and I think we’ve got to step up as a community to really get this under control before we start looking like a Houston or a San Antonio,” Harris said.
Harris said she was alarmed by how many people tested positive during the county’s testing event last month. More than 2,200 were tested and 14.6% had COVID-19.
The health director is asking people to take precautions, such as wearing a mask and social distancing.
People voice concerns Tuesday at Freedom Park
Many residents we spoke with Tuesday said people just need to use common sense when they’re around other people. Others were worried about access, saying the county should provide masks at parks if they do make it a requirement.
At Freedom Park on Tuesday, Channel 9 saw some people were wearing masks, but others were not. Alice Mackay said she keeps a face-covering with her, even if she doesn’t use it.
“I think for me, it would be a little bit difficult (to wear one) because my purpose is to walk fast enough to do cardio. To be breathing hard,” she said. “I understand it if the park is crowded, which is why I bring a mask.”
Under the governor’s order, you’d still be exempt from wearing a mask if you have a medical condition. Children under the age of 11 would also not be required to wear a mask.
“I have a lot of concerns,” county resident Angela Ambroise said. “So, first of all, I think anything you mandate, you have to make sure that people have access. And that they can comply with the mandate.”
Ambroise believes the county should provide masks at public parks if it becomes a requirement to wear them there. She also doesn't see how people will be able to wear one while working out, espeically since the statewide mask mandate makes an exception for people who are exercising.
“Keep in mind, people come out here for walking, to get exercise,” she told Channel 9. “As you know, it’s hard to exercise with a mask. But you know, I typically stay 15 or 20 feet away from people. I can’t wear a mask and work out and come out here and walk. I think that if you’re having a conversation, you probably do need a mask on. But most folks who I see out here are just walking. They are not in groups, they are not sitting and talking with people.”
Some people said they thought it would be OK to remove the mask if you're social distancing.
“If you want to remove to, just when you are walking by yourself, if you don’t have a lot people around that is fine,” said Hibah Suleiman. “If you are going to be around a lot of people, or talking with a of people, you should wear it.”
Doctors with the CDC said people performing high-intensity activities like running may not be able to wear masks if they cause difficulty breathing. The CDC recommends that people run in a place they can social distance instead. It’s worth noting as well, since we are in the heart of July, for people working outdoors, face masks can increase the risk of heat-related illnesses.
Since there is another national shortage on personal protective equipment, Channel 9 checked resources in both states. In North Carolina, the state's getting requests for over 23,000 procedural masks per day. At that rate, the state has about 180 days in the stockpile.
As far as those special N-95 respirators, North Carolina is in even better shape, with almost 500 days stocked up.
South Carolina reports its findings a bit differently in terms of its supply on hand. The state told us it is far better off than a few months ago. When you look at both procedural masks and the N-95 respirators, they have 1.5 million of each in the state stockpile.
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