WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — Starting at 7 a.m. Friday, most Wake County towns and all unincorporated areas will be back under a mask mandate.

The towns of Garner, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville and Zebulon all signed onto a county mask mandate. The towns join Raleigh and Cary, which already have orders in place requiring masks in indoor public spaces.

“The virus is surging through our community, and it’s our responsibility to take appropriate steps to protect public health and safety,” County Commission Chair Matt Calabria said. “Science shows wearing a mask reduces the risk of spreading COVID-19, making it one of our greatest weapons in the fight against this harmful virus. Prompt action now will prevent the need for further restrictions and enable us to beat the virus more quickly.”

Coronavirus cases have been spiking in Wake County and around North Carolina in recent weeks.

"With COVID-19 cases up 1,370% since June 1, Wake County and five local municipalities made the decision today to enact a mask mandate to help stop the spread of the highly contagious delta variant," the county said.  

As of Friday morning, 83% of the county will be covered by mask mandates, the county said. Fuquay-Varina, Apex, Holly Springs, Wendell and Wake Forest do not require masks indoors.

“With local hospitals reaching critical capacity levels, it’s important that residents do their part to keep our healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed,” said Dr. José Cabañas, Wake County’s Chief Medical Officer. “Wearing a mask is a simple step we can all take to protect the health of our loved ones, especially children who aren’t old enough to get the vaccine.”

Here are some frequently asked questions about the new mask mandates in Wake County:

Where and when are masks required?

Face masks will be required in all public indoor spaces in unincorporated Wake County and the towns of Garner, Knightdale, Morrisville, Rolesville and Zebulon. Raleigh and Cary already have their own mask mandates.

The mandate includes places like grocery stores, gyms, office buildings and restaurants.

What are the exceptions?

The Wake County order has 14 exceptions:

  • Medical or behvioral condition that prevents wearing a mask
  • Children under two years old
  • Children under five years old whose parents can't safely make them wear a mask
  • While actively eating or drinking
  • While communicating with someone who is hearing-impared and requires the mouth to be visible
  • While giving a speech, performance or broadcast to an audience at least 10 feet away
  • While at home or in a personal vehicle
  • While getting medical or dental services, or for identification purposes
  • For workplace safety
  • If the mask gets in the way of seeing while driving or operating equipment
  • While swimming
  • While being photographer by a professional photographer
  • While along in an enclosed space like an office or vehicle
  • During religious or spiritual services and ceremonies, including weddings and funerals

What if I'm vaccinated?

Fully vaccinated people still have to wear a mask.

When does the order expire?

The order is set to expire Nov. 1, but that could change based on how the coronavirus rates change in the coming weeks and months.