Starting Monday, August 23, 2021, at 8:00 a.m., masks will be required for employees and visitors in all Wayne County facilities. CDC guidance recommends that masks be worn, regardless of vaccination status, in areas with substantial or high community transmission of COVID-19. Wayne County, as well as the rest of North Carolina, is currently experiencing high community transmission, according to CDC data.

During the Wayne County Board of Commissioner meeting on Tuesday, Commissioner Bevan Foster made a motion to require masks in all county-owned facilities, and the motion passed. This order will remain in effect until further notice.

The COVID-19 vaccine is available at the Wayne County Health Department, and appointments are available at www.waynegov.com/vaccine. Residents who receive the first dose of their vaccine are eligible to receive a $100 gift card, and anyone who drives someone to receive their vaccine can receive $25.