WILLIAMSBURG — The Board of Health unanimously voted Thursday afternoon to enact a townwide mask mandate for all indoor public places.
“We’re having the town administrator put out a robocall,” said Donna Gibson, chairwoman of the Board of Health.
She also said that signs will be made for businesses to put on their doors.
The ban, effective immediately, applies to all indoor public places in Williamsburg. There is an exception, however, for people to remove their mask while eating and drinking at a bar or restaurant while sitting down.
“And then they need to put it back on after they’re done,” said Gibson, who noted that she didn’t want to see people unmasked sitting down after a meal where the mandate applies.
Gibson also encouraged people to wear effective masks properly, and to fully cover their nose and mouth while wearing a mask.
Currently, Williamsburg has 21 active cases of COVID-19, the highest the town has had at one time. Gibson noted, however, that this number could be higher, as it doesn’t factor in the results of at-home rapid tests.
She also said that while most of these cases are mild, one Williamsburg case does remain in the hospital.
Gibson said that the board has not yet considered whether or not to institute vaccine mandates for patronizing certain businesses.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.