Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger on Thursday declined to say whether he will renew the local mask mandate when it expires at the end of this month, as pressure from some residents builds to revoke the requirements that health experts say are key to maintaining progress against the COVID-19 pandemic.
During a Thursday afternoon livestream about COVID-19, Coppinger said he has been getting calls and emails about the mandate after states like Texas and Mississippi revoked their statewide requirements this week. Residents should continue to follow precautions, he said.
Tennessee has never had a statewide mandate but counties have been allowed to impose their own restrictions. Coppinger established the mandate in July and has renewed it several times since. If not renewed, the current mandate will expire on March 31.
Coppinger said people want to end the mandate because of the recent downward trend in new cases and hospitalizations in the county. People need to continue following the precautions, Coppinger said, and he will do what’s best for the county with the advice of local medical professionals and business owners.
“We’re all anxious to get out of masks because of the progress we’re seeing,” Coppinger said. “But, again, we just need to bear with it, get these shots in the arms, give opportunities for people to be vaccinated so that we can have a safe community.”