CORONAVIRUS

Local officials confident in Augusta mask order

Susan McCord
smccord@augustachronicle.com
Augusta Mayor Hardie Davis, left, is accompanied by Commissioner Dennis Williams as he speaks during a press conference at the Municipal Building in Augusta, Ga., Friday afternoon July 10, 2020.

Augusta officials are confident in Mayor Hardie Davis’ mask order, even after Gov. Brian Kemp stated it is unenforceable.

Davis signed an order Friday requiring masks be worn in all public places, businesses and facilities where workers are in contact with the public or each other. Churches were encouraged, but not mandated to require them.

Davis said the mandate will begin with “soft enforcement” encouraging the wearing of masks, but within 10 days the city will begin to impose $25 fines.

Davis joined leaders of other Georgia cities — Savannah, Athens, East Point, Atlanta, Brookhaven, South Fulton, College Park, Decatur, Fairburn and Hinesville — in requiring face masks to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Georgia added 3,643 new cases Monday, bringing the state’s total to 120,569 since the pandemic reached the state. Richmond County added 148 cases for a total of 1,759.

Kemp said Augusta’s mask order is unenforceable because it goes beyond his order, which does not mandate wearing masks.

“The Augusta mayor’s local mask mandate is unenforceable because it is more restrictive than the governor’s executive order,” according to a statement. “The governor has strongly encouraged Georgians to wear masks for months now, and he will continue to do so.”

Kemp’s June 29 executive order says local governments cannot enforce local ordinances or orders that go beyond his.

“Enforcement of any county or municipal ordinance or order that is more or less restrictive than this order is hereby suspended,” it states.

By contrast, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster is encouraging cities to do what they feel is best, and at least 50 local governments have enacted mask orders or ordinances.

“It goes back to the attitude of the leadership,” Augusta Commissioner Dennis Williams said. “We just made a decision that people in our community need to wear the mask.”

Commissioner Ben Hasan said Augusta has time to address any concerns before local enforcement begins.

“For the first 10 days, it’s not going to be enforced anyway. We’ve got until then to work out those things,” Hasan said. “As leadership, you have to do something different if you want different results.”

Augusta had no intent to be “defiant or disrespectful” of Kemp, he said. “We’re hoping the governor will begin to consider what Gov. McMaster has done for South Carolina.”

McMaster blocked bars and restaurants from serving alcohol after 11 p.m. as an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. He said a statewide mask mandate is unenforceable, but welcomed cities’ enacting requirements.

“I encourage them,” he told The Rock Hill Herald. “They know their local situation. They know their local customers. They know their people. They know the business establishments. A careful consideration of restrictions is entirely appropriate.”

Commissioner Marion Williams said the mixed city and state messages cause people not to wear masks.

“People find out it’s not enforceable. We confuse people with ’it’s the law,’ then they find out it’s not the law,” he said. “If people hear it’s not enforceable, they’re not going to do it.”

Commissioner Bill Fennoy said he is confident in Davis’ order.

“I’m quite sure the mayor has vetted the ordinance. If you look at our ordinance and look at the ones in Savannah, Athens and Atlanta, a lot of them mirror each others,” he said.

“There are businesses and restaurants that say if you don’t have a mask, you can’t come in here. So we can do the same thing,” he said.

Commissioner John Clarke, who has opposed a mask mandate so far, said he was unaware of new information about the order.

“The word on the mask is the mayor made a mandate, and the governor says it’s unenforceable,” he said.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's "Wear a Mask" Fly-Around Tour made a stop at the Georgia Cancer Center in Augusta, Ga., Wednesday morning July 2, 2020, to promote the wearing of masks as COVID numbers rise in Georgia.