Lincoln County in Oregon has exempted non-white residents from a new order mandating mask-wearing in public in an attempt to counter racial profiling.
Last week, health officials declared face coverings would be required in public settings where individuals may come within six feet of someone outside their household after the county saw a spike in coronavirus cases.
On Tuesday, the county said “people of color who have heightened concerns about racial profiling and harassment due to wearing face coverings in public” will be exempt from the order.
Previous exemptions from wearing a face mask in public included those under 12 years of age, those with medical conditions who have difficulty breathing with a mask on and those with disabilities that prevent the wearing of a face covering.
“No person shall intimidate or harass people who do not comply,” health officials said. “This Directive is intended to induce voluntary compliance and compliment education and encouragement of use of face coverings to protect ourselves and our community.”
Lincoln County has reported 292 of Oregon’s 7,201 confirmed cases of coronavirus. As of Tuesday, only one death has occurred in the county.
The surge of face mask requirements has caused debate among activists who argue that masks endanger non-white people due to racial stereotypes that exist.
“For many Black people, deciding whether or not to wear a bandana in public to protect themselves and others from contracting coronavirus is a lose-lose situation that can result in life-threatening consequences either way,” Director of ACLU’s Racial Justice Program ReNika Moore told CNN in April.
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