The City of Columbia is implanting a face mask ordinance effective Friday at 5 p.m.

The city council says people over the age of 10 in the city of Columbia will be required to wear a clean face mask anytime they are or will be in contact with people who are not household members.

Any time an employee or staff member are required to wear a mask because of the ordinance, the employer will have to make face masks available to assure each employee always has a clean mask.

There are many exceptions to this ordinance.

A person can remove their mask if:

• Outdoors when able to maintain a distance of six feet from others.
• Exercising outdoors or while exercising indoors when able to maintain a distance of six feet from others.
• Engaged in a sport activity.
• At home and exclusively in the presence of member of their own household; a wearing of a face mask is required in common area of multi-family structures.
• In your vehicle
• Eating or drinking on when inside or in the outside dining area of a restaurant or other establishment that offers food or beverage service, provided that person is able to maintain a distance of at least six feet from persons seated at other tables, and provided this distance restriction is enforced by the restaurant or other establishment.
• A person has a medical condition, mental health condition or disability that prevents them from wearing a mask.
• If not wearing a mask is essential to communication such as communicating with people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Obtaining a service that requires the temporary removal of the face mask, such as a dental examination.
• Needing to confirm one’s identity.
• Where federal or state law prohibits a face mask or requires the removal of one.
• Requested by a law enforcement officer
• Requested by a medical provider, including emergency response personnel.
• In a business/commercial/office setting and not within six feet of another person, but if a person is moving around in the office and not able to maintain six feet of distance, they must wear a mask.

If a person doesn’t follow the new ordinance, they could be convicted in violation and pay a fine up to $15.00 and up to $100 for a business, government or non-profit.

You can read the ordinance here.