Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
WASHAKIE COUNTY – A mask mandate has been approved by Washakie County Health Officer Dr. Ed Zimmerman, state health officer Dr. Alexia Harrist as well as the State Attorney General’s Office.
In an article released in tomorrow’s edition of the Northern Wyoming News it is noted that the order may have been in effect until the end of January 2021, but according to a copy of the order received by the NWN it will go into effect on Sunday, Nov. 22, and last until Friday, Dec. 4. Other information from the Washakie County Commissioners discussion with Zimmerman can be found in that article for this week’s edition.
The order will require masks to be worn into all retail and commercial businesses along with county and municipal buildings. They must also be worn when someone is receiving health care services or riding on any form of public transportation.
Face coverings are not required when a person is working in a single office that does not receive regular visits from the public but must be worn when the public enters. Minors aged 2 and younger are not required to wear a face covering. Face coverings are not required if a person has a medical condition, is hearing impaired, creates a risk to their work if a face mask is required, obtaining a service related to the nose or face where temporary removal is necessary, a brief moment for identification purposes and exercising in the gym.
The order states that any person violating the order maybe subject to criminal prosecution under state statute, which states, “Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this act, or any lawful rule or regulation made by the state department of health pursuant to the authority herein granted, or who shall fail or refuse to obey any lawful order issued by any state, county or municipal health officer pursuant to the authority granted in this act shall be deemed guilty of misdemeanor, and shall be punished except as otherwise provided therein by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or by imprisonment for not more than one year or by both such fine and imprisonment.”
There is a provision in statute for a penalty of not more than $100 or six months in jail.