Bellefonte Borough, Centre County commissioners approve resolutions to endorse mandatory masking
Councilwoman Deborah Cleeton said she’s noticed relaxed COVID-19 mitigation efforts in downtown Bellefonte, but she hopes that will change following unanimous approval of a resolution that endorses mandatory masking.
The Bellefonte Borough Council approved its resolution Monday and the Centre County board of commissioners approved a similar resolution, which had been introduced last week, on Tuesday. Both resolutions aim to slow the spread of the coronavirus, a disease that is transmitted through respiratory droplets.
The decisions follow last week’s expansion of the Pennsylvania business safety order from Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine and Gov. Tom Wolf, which requires masks be worn when leaving home.
The commissioners hope more municipalities will follow suit and adopt similar resolutions and if possible, ordinances.
The statewide shutdown and strict mitigation efforts have helped slow the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, but state officials and health experts say “complacency cannot be the norm” as every Pennsylvania county has now entered into the “green” and least restrictive reopening phase.
Citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for social distancing and evidence that shows the coronavirus spreads through respiratory droplets, Council President Joanne Tosti-Vasey said the resolution aims to mitigate the spread of germs and keep Centre County residents safe.
Though county and borough officials do not have legal power to enforce the resolution, Tosti-Vasey said borough police will help educate the public through social policing.
Commissioner Michael Pipe said Tuesday that the county is waiting for guidance from Wolf on how to enforce the statewide order at a local level.
Individuals with a medical condition, those who are in a situation where wearing a mask poses a threat, people who cannot remove a mask without assistance and children younger than 2 are not required to wear a mask.
People are not required to show official documentation that excludes them from the order.
This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
