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Gadsden County will keep curfew, mask policy after safer-at-home order ends

Nightly curfew hours changed to 10 p.m. - 5 a.m.
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GADSDEN COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) — As Gadsden County plans to reopen, commissioners say it's too soon to relax many of the ordinances put in place to keep the community safe.

The county also continuing to enforce its mask policy which requires everyone to wear a mask while in public.

Commissioners say Gadsden County is seeing an upward trend in cases, and that's why they want to continue to protect the community.

"If you take away the masks and it is an airborne virus, then you take away your defense," said commissioner Brenda Holt. "So even though everyone is not following that mandate, they're starting to encourage people to wear the masks."

Commissioners also voted extend the curfew, this time altering the hours. Now, you may be cited if you're caught out between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Commissioners say as they continue to see cases rise, they feel it's important to make sure everyone knows COVID-19 is still a threat.

"We have a very, very high positive test rate," said chairman Anthony Viegbesie. "We need to know what we must do to eventually level off our curve before we begin to take other actions. Just because other counties are, doesn't mean we should."

These ordinances are in effect for 7 days. Commissioners will continue to assess the ordinances, weekly.