Carter Giegerich
for The Franklin Press
With COVID-19 case numbers in rapid decline throughout the state, Macon County followed the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation to no longer require masks for schools and local governments effective March 7.
Macon County Public Health Director Kathy McGaha said the Macon County Health Department supported the guidance from the state, which has guided the county’s COVID-19 response since the start of the pandemic.
“From the beginning, we’ve been just following what the state has put out, and that’s based on the CDC’s recommendations,” McGaha said. “Right now, there’s no reason to do anything different. Our numbers are very similar to the rest of the nation, and they’ve come down significantly.”
McGaha said there were only 16 active cases reported in Macon County as of March 7, the day the new guidelines from NCDHHS took effect. However, the Health Department also reported two COVID-related deaths on March 7, bringing the county’s total of COVID-related deaths to 104 since the start of the pandemic.
Despite waning numbers and the lifting of mask mandates, McGaha said the CDC and state agencies will continue to remain vigilant for new variants that could emerge. For now, though, she said things appear to be calm on the horizon.
“Right now, we’re meeting with the state every other week,” she said. “And when we have those conversations, there’s not a variant they’re warning us about at this point in time.”
In certain special circumstances, some residents may want to continue to wear masks for their own safety.
“If you’re immunocompromised, or unvaccinated, and if you’re in a circumstance where it’s close quarters with a lot of people and everyone is inside, you may want to continue masking,” McGaha said. “Everyone has to consider their own health.”
As of March 1, masking is no longer required in Town of Franklin buildings. “Individuals may still choose to wear a mask for their own safety,” said Town Manager Amie Owens. “Town employees are encouraged to wear masks when in larger groups or in smaller spaces where social distancing cannot be easily achieved in town buildings.”
The guidance from NCDHHS pertains mainly to public spaces, like government facilities and schools, but Franklin Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Linda Harbuck said she foresees these new guidelines also having a positive impact in the commercial sector.
“I think this is a sign things are lightening up and getting better,” Harbuck said. “I think we’re all very happy about it – the shoppers and the business owners alike.”
Harbuck said she’s seen businesses in Franklin taking cues from other public guidance issued earlier in the pandemic, and this most recent announcement from the state is likely to be received the same way.
“I believe that our businesses here have been doing a good job of using their discretion for the use of masks and preventive measures throughout the whole pandemic,” Harbuck said. “I feel like the business owners are still going to use their discretion and respond if things get worse.”
At this point, Harbuck said the biggest struggle local businesses will continue to face as a result of the pandemic is a diminished labor force amid a widespread return to normal operations for so many shops and restaurants.
“The pandemic has caused the relaxing of the labor force here because so many people didn’t want to be involved in having to face the public every day in a business atmosphere,” Harbuck said. “Hopefully this is going to help with that part.”