CAPE GIRARDEAU (WSIL) -- A significant increase in COVID-19 cases prompted Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center to act.
"For the month of June we had a positivity rate of 6.2%. For the first 11 days of July we doubled up to 12.6% positivity rate," said director Jane Wernsman.
The emergency face covering order went into effect Monday and requires anyone above nine-years old to wear coverings at public spaces or businesses. Those include employees or visitors.
Some residents told News 3 off-camera that they don't feel the mandate was necessary and that it wouldn't help slow the disease's spread. But others feel differently.
"It definitely will make a difference. It was definitely something that we were hoping would happen," said Laly Martinez, a manager at Muy Bueno Mexican Restaurant.
Martinez put up signs last Thursday that requires to wear masks if they enter the building. The restaurant closed its dining room and only serves customers on its patio area.
Martinez thinks the mandate was the right move and understands why people may still be frustrated over wearing masks.
""The way that we respect your opinion we would hope that you would respect our wishes as a small business to try to maintain an open business and still care for the safety of those people around us," Martinez said.
Wernsman doesn't have a timetable for when the mandate will end, but isn't ruling out the possibility of extending it.
"We would like to leave it fluid and open for evaluation, continual evaluation and if we see a trend going downward, then it could be addressed again and perhaps relaxed," Wernsman said.
Wernsman says the mandate is not enforceable by police. Anyone who wishes to report a violator can call the public health department or complete a survey .
