Monroe County’s mask mandate is set to expire at the end of this month, after being implemented in August to counter rising COVID-19 cases.
The County Board of Health will meet September 22nd to decide whether the mandate will remain in place.
Penny Caudill is the County Health Administrator. She said factors such as hospitalizations, testing availability, and positivity rates will play a part in the board’s decision.
“I’d like to see that transmission rate coming down," she said. "Lots of testing but fewer cases, and then we would really have a good picture that transmission rates are coming down.”
Caudill said they’ll also consider the effect on local businesses and if a mandate is a help or hindrance to them.
She added that people aren’t isolating as they did last winter, and that remains necessary to suppress virus spread.
