City of Columbia to consider requiring masks be worn.

The city of Columbia is considering an emergency ordinance that would require masks or face coverings to be worn in public inside city limits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Members of the public can provide feedback during Tuesday's online meeting by dialing 855-925-2801. When prompted, enter the meeting code 9299. Press 1 to listen, 2 to leave a message or 3 to join the speaker queue.

To address the council, callers should state their name and address. Each caller will have three minutes to speak, after which each line will be muted. Callers may remain on the line until the meeting adjourns.

The ordinance (.pdf) notes that as of June 15, 2,215 of S.C.'s confirmed 18,795 COVID-19 cases were in Richland County, where 72 of the state's 600 deaths had occurred.

The ordinance would require a mask or face covering to be worn by every person above the age of 10 when inside a public building, waiting to enter a public building, interacting with others in outdoor spaces...