Muskogee City Council Votes To End Mask Mandate

The City of Muskogee is loosening its mask requirements after the Muskogee City Council voted 5-4 to no longer require masks in city limits.

Councilors said masks are still suggested and encouraged in city limits, but there's no longer a mask mandate.

This resolution allows business owners to come up with their own mask requirements if they so choose and will also give them support from the police department if needed.

They said there is no longer a requirement that masks must be worn at outdoor facilities like city parks and city owned areas, however masks are still required inside all city and county buildings.

City officials say nearly 12 percent of people in Muskogee have been vaccinated already and positive cases are now down below five percent. Muskogee Mayor Marlon Coleman said is a step in the right direction.

“We're still pushing the fact that we want people to get their vaccinations and still encouraging people that wherever necessary and possible to wear their face coverings because it's not about us as individuals, it is about all of us as community. While our numbers are down, but we still want to remain vigilant under an advisory capacity to keep those numbers down,” said Coleman.

The mask mandate was set to expire April 26, but because this resolution passed, the mandate has expired on March 22.