For the first time since June, the residents will no longer have to wear masks around the city while they are indoors. | Pixabay
For the first time since June, the residents will no longer have to wear masks around the city while they are indoors. | Pixabay
As COVID-19 cases keep declining steadily, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is lifting the indoor mask mandate across the city.
"Atlanta is officially in the Green Zone for #COVID19. While it makes me personally anxious, I've always said we'd follow the science. Thus, we are lifting the city-wide mask mandate, but will continue to require masks in all city facilities. Please get vaccinated." the mayor tweeted.
Over 10 days, a test positivity rate between 1 and 5 percent, with cases averaging 20 to 75 per day, is required for Atlanta to enter the green zone, according to the city's color-coded system, Atlanta Eater reported.
Due to a high number of COVID-19 cases, Bottoms signed an executive order in July requiring masks in all indoor public spaces, according to WSB-TV.
The daily positivity rate was just 2.9% compared to 20.4% when the last wave of cases spiked at the end of August, WSB-TV reported.
"We have a decrease in cases, but its largely because of the mask mandate so lifting a mandate may prompt a surge," nephrologist Dr. Frita Fisher told 11 Alive.
As of the latest reports on Nov. 9, 50% of Georgia residents are fully vaccinated, 11 Alive reported.
More than 1.2 million people in Georgia have contracted the virus since the beginning of the pandemic, according to WSB-TV. As of Nov. 8, only 700 new cases of had been reported.
Despite the lifting of the indoor mask mandate, some residents want to continue following it. "I just have gotten so use to wearing it every day. You see signs that say 'put your mask on,' it's mandatory," one resident told 11 Alive.
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