Guilford County reinstates mask mandate through executive proclamation

Guilford County has declared an emergency proclamation reinstating a mask mandate.

Guilford County Commission Chair Skip Alston made the announcement after meeting with local mayors and health leaders. The mandate addresses the recent rise in COVID-19 cases and the county's daily percent positive rate – which started the year above 30 percent.

The new mandate takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on January 5. Alston says this applies to the unincorporated parts of Guilford County and that several mayors are also participating.

“Under state of emergency powers, I have formally asked the mayors of each municipality to sign on to this mandate for their jurisdiction," he says. "So far we have the town of Gibsonville, the town of Sedalia, Pleasant Garden, and Jamestown.”

The executive proclamation will be in place until the official board of health meeting on January 13. Guilford County had previously rescinded its mask mandate in November.