Wearing a Mask is a Must

Hattiesburg, MS---

May 3, 2020

Mayor Toby Barker signed executive order 2020-4 on Wednesday, stating that all customers and essential workers in Hattiesburg must wear masks inside of businesses. Masks can be any face covering from a bandana to a homemade mask.

Barker says,"the benefit of a mask is if everyone wears them we protect each other." Which is exactly what Dr. Lachel Story, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions at USM advises.

According to the MS State Department of Health, the number of new cases of COVID-19 continues to rise daily. Along with the CDC, they recommend wearing masks if you have to leave your home.

If you do not have a mask, consider using an old t-shirt, or branching out to try sewing.

Many Hattiesburg residents including my mother, Dr. Heather Houston, have started to make handmade masks for the community. Dr. Houston says the tutorial videos and patterns for the masks she makes can be found online at Joann Fabrics.

Monday, April 27, Governor Tate Reeves' new executive order for a "Safer at Home" plan went into effect, expected to stay in place until Monday, May 11.

On Friday, Reeves prepared to announce the reopening of some businesses, but decided against it because of the steady increase of new COVID-19 cases.

To keep up to date on COVID-19 cases in Mississippi, visit the state's health department's interactive map here.

Even though some state governors are attempting to reopen businesses, health precautions like wearing masks are still a must to keep ourselves and our neighbors safe.

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Hannah Houston