North Alabama has its second law requiring masks to help fight the novel coronavirus. The Decatur City Council on Wednesday approved a masking ordinance in public.
The council voted 3-1 in favor of the ordinance with one council member absent.
The vote means that eight of the state’s 10 largest cities are now covered by a law mandating that face coverings be worn in public as Alabama endures its worst days of the pandemic so far.
Most recently, Huntsville and Madison were covered by an order from the Madison County health officer that went into effect on Tuesday.
The cities of Dothan and Auburn are the exceptions to the state’s 10 largest cities to require a face covering, though Auburn University requires face coverings.
Morgan County, where Decatur is located, has seen a surge in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. Morgan has seen an average of 21 new cases each day over the past 14 days -- a rate classified as “high” by ADPH.
The city council has debated the merits of requiring face coverings for more than a week in a series of public meetings.
The ordinance requires wearing a mask in indoor businesses or venue spaces open to the general public -- including stores, restaurants unless eating or drinking, entertainment venues and public meeting spaces. Also included is public transportation and outdoor settings where 10 or more people are gathered and six-foot social distancing is not feasible.
Exceptions to face covering requirements are children under 2, medical exams or procedures, places of worship, indoor athletic facilities, hair care services where masks may be removed temporarily, private gatherings or in instances of preserving personal safety. Parents may determine if children under 9 must wear a mask. The ordinance also permits schools and daycares to determine their own masking policies.
The ordinance has no established end date, saying that it shall remain in place until the Alabama Department of Public Health and Morgan County Health Department Officer gives guidance that public health conditions in the county warrant discontinuation of or change in the order. The city council will review the policy every 30 days.
Fines for violations can range from $1 to $500, city attorney Herman Marks told the council, and will be assessed at the discretion of the municipal judge.
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“Our biggest goal here is safety,” police Chief Nate Allen told the council on the issue of enforcement. “Our goal is not to compete with those who want to wear a mask and those who don’t want to wear a mask. Our biggest goal is to provide safety for the citizens of Decatur.”
The ordinance could be vetoed by Mayor Tab Bowling, who has said he does not believe an ordinance requiring masking was necessary.
Updated today, July 8, 2020, at 10:31 p.m. with new information throughout.
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