BOISE, Idaho — On Tuesday night, the City of Boise reissued its face mask mandate, requiring all residents to wear a face covering, physical distance when possible and limit social gatherings to under 50 people.
The renewed mandate went into effect at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday.
Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said the city reissued the public health order in an effort to keep Boise businesses open.
"As a community that's the economic engine to this valley, that's made up of hundreds of thousands of people, that we care deeply about the drive of the economy of this community, we want to do everything we can to keep each other safe, because that keeps business open, " she said.
McLean said on Wednesday morning that she met the Downtown Boise Association to review sales data. She said in retail establishments, restaurants, and bars, there were no net loss businesses downtown.
According to McLean, Boise businesses don't mind the mask mandate.
"I have heard from throughout the city that businesses appreciate having clarity so they can let their customers know that this is how we operate in safe ways to keep businesses open and it's clear and expected of somebody arriving in advance to that business," she explained.
Exemptions for the mandate include children under the age of two, people with medical or mental conditions that prevent them from wearing one, people eating out if physical distancing is followed, people receiving a service and need to remove it for it and first responders whose jobs would be impacted by a face mask.
In the order, the City of Boise states that "as of March 22, 2021, test results at both Boise City wastewater treatment facilities show 181,932.19 units per liter, indicating an upward trend in the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in City wastewater."
The city added that two COVID-19 variant strains have been found in the city's wastewater, raising the need to help prevent community spread of the coronavirus, which has killed nearly 2,000 Idahoans since last year.
"We want to do everything and we remain consistent in wanting to do everything that protects the health of our residents because we believe that that protects our businesses and allows us as an economy to recover and be more resilient in the long run," McLean said.
McLean will work with and discuss the state of the pandemic in the City of Trees moving forward with local leaders and healthcare experts and will determine if the public health order needs to be modified, ended or extended.