CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — On July 20th it will be mandated that folks wear masks in Montgomery and Wilson counties.
On Sunday, some people were already wearing masks out and about in downtown Clarksville, while others weren’t.
Dan Scott said, “I just don’t think it’s effective, all the science that I’ve seen, the masks are basically a sop to people’s mental health.”
Scott wears one for work, or when it’s required, but he doesn’t think a mask mandate will do anything. “I don’t think it’s doing anything to slow the virus at all, there’s been no evidence of that.”
However, some people like Ray Reese believe it’s the best thing citizens can do to help end the pandemic. He’s lived in the Clarksville area for 73 years.
“A simple way to do something to curve it, we’ve got to curve it, because it’s spreading too fast. When everything reopened so early that may have caused it to explode,” Reese said.
Other folks were already wearing masks too. “I bought this yesterday at the festival down there so really happy I got this one,” Lisa Martin said.
Martin and Brian G. think it’s the least citizens can do. “I understand it can be a bit of a nuisance to wear it all the time, but I do think it’s a good thing to do to make sure we can kind of control the spike,” Brian G. said.
Under Montgomery County's mandate, people are required to wear face coverings in all public areas of commercial businesses, and outdoor areas where social distancing isn't possible. Businesses have to post signage requiring customers wear masks too.
“You can really just carry it with you and use it when you enter stores and so forth,” Reese said.
Meanwhile, other people think the mask mandate is purely political. Scott said, “I think it’s more of just placation.”
Local mayors are able to issue mask mandates after Governor Bill Lee gave them the jurisdiction to do that through an executive order. The mask mandate in Montgomery County lasts until July 27th for now.
For more information on who is exempt from wearing a mask read here.
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