Bland continues Meridian mask mandate

It was announced today that the City of Meridian will remain under a mask mandate. This comes after Governor Tate Reeves signed a new Executive Order yesterday rolling back COVID-19 restrictions for Mississippians. Mayor Bland says COVID-19 numbers have declined over the past few months, but feels residents shouldn’t let their guard down.

“We’re asking everyone we know that these masks work,” said Bland. “We know that the things that we’ve done have worked and even though having these restrictions, our numbers have not gone down enough to lift this mask mandate.”

Bland says Meridian businesses will comply with the same capacity limitations as the governor implemented. Seating capacity of indoor activity is now at 50%.

“We did agree on some of the issues with capacity. So from churches, to businesses--we're not trying to change any of that as far as some of those capacity things," said Bland.

Nine percent of the U.S. population have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Bland says the city is working with health officials to make sure more people are getting vaccinated in Meridian especially for minorities and people with a higher risk.

“We’re going to be working with healthcare providers and other people hopefully so that we can get more people vaccinated, especially those at highest risk," said Bland. "We’re going to make sure that happens.”

The mask mandate for the City of Meridian will be in effect until March 31st.