Due to rise in COVID cases, Dougherty County reverts to 'mask-required' policy

Jul. 29—ALBANY — Given the current increase in COVID-19 cases in Dougherty County, county officials are reverting back to a mask-required policy for all county buildings and facilities, effective immediately.

Vaccinated or not, all employees and citizens entering county buildings and facilities will be required to wear a mask, the county said in a news release Thursday.

Nationally, there is a 300 percent increase in the number of coronavirus cases. Locally, Dougherty County is seeing a 50 percent increase in the number of cases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new masking guidance recommending that all people wear masks indoors if COVID is spreading rapidly in the community, and that all kids wear masks in schools.

"In reverting back to this policy, we are considering the rise in the number of positive cases in our community and taking every precaution to protect our employees and everyone entering our county buildings and facilities," Dougherty County Administrator Michael McCoy said in the news release.

For the latest CDC recommendations, citizens are encouraged to visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html.

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