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1. What are the differences between TCHD’s Face Covering Order and the Statewide Masking Order?

• The TCHD Face Covering Order continues to prioritize the safety of all residents by requiring a mask in all indoor public spaces while the Statewide Masking Order allows counties with one-week disease incidence rates of 35 or fewer cases per 100,000 to opt-out of most masking requirements.
• The TCHD Face Covering Order also protects individuals by requiring all individuals, regardless of vaccination status or group size, to continue to wear masks when in public indoor spaces while the Statewide Masking Order allows groups smaller than 10, regardless of vaccination status, and groups of vaccinated individuals of any size to gather indoors without masks in several public settings. 
• All individuals, employers and employees are required to comply with the requirements of the Statewide Masking Order. Counties and municipalities were permitted to opt-out of TCHD’s Face Covering Order when first issued. 
  • Several jurisdictions opted-out of TCHD’s local Order and are no longer subject to its requirements. All individuals, employers and employees must continue complying with all Statewide Masking Order requirements. See Appendix A of TCHD’s Face Covering Order for a complete list of jurisdictions that opted out.  
  • Jurisdictions that did not opt out remain under TCHD’s Face Covering Order and the Statewide Masking Order and the strictest requirements of both must be followed.

2. Why do I need to continue wearing a mask if I have been vaccinated? Doesn’t the vaccine protect me?

The COVID-19 vaccines currently available greatly reduce your chance of getting sick or hospitalized from COVID-19 but no vaccine, including these vaccines is 100% effective. Hence, continuing to wear a mask even if you have been vaccinated will eliminate the small risk that a vaccinated person could still spread COVID-19.

3. Does TCHD’s Face Covering Order have exceptions to mask wearing if individuals have been vaccinated?

At this time, the order requires individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask in all public indoor spaces. However, it does allow individuals to follow CDC’s Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People. While we expect this guidance to continue to evolve, it is currently limited to personal settings only and fully vaccinated people should continue to take precautions in public like wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distancing.