WATAUGA COUNTY, N.C. — Blowing Rock voted, 3-2, Wednesday night to lift the city’s mask mandate.
The mandate was reestablished in August after the rise of the COVID-19 cases over the summer and the arrival of the delta variant.
Blowing Rock sees thousands of tourists each fall.
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Earlier, Blowing Rock mayor Charlie Sellers told Channel 9 one of the big factors in the decision is the improving COVID-19 positivity rate.
On Wednesday, town leaders said the positivity rate was 3.3%. If it climbs above 5% for seven straight days, the mandate will go back in effect.
People can still wear masks if they want to.
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Sellers said he believes lifting the mask mandate is the right move going forward, and he thinks that’s the decision the town will make.
“We’ve had a lot of businesses and citizens lately request that we lift the mandate, and the general consensus from the majority of council is they want to pull the mandate and monitor the levels,” Sellers said.
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