Mask requirement back at City Hall
![Article Image Alt Text](https://www.rustonleader.com/sites/rustonleader.etypegoogle12.com/files/styles/article600/public/field/image/page_one_city_covid_masks.jpg?itok=_xSAUssW)
Leader photo by NANCY BERGERON
The city of Ruston offices have posted a sign requiring masks to be worn in the building, due to a recent surge in COVID cases.
Masks are back at Ruston’s City Hall.
Mayor Ronny Walker reinstated the mask policy late Friday in the wake of the fourth surge of COVID-19 gripping Louisiana. Everyone entering any city facility is now required to mask up, the mayor said.
“I don’t like masks, but I’ll be wearing one,” Walker said.
Walker is recovering from a breakthrough case of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Parish Administrator Doug Postel said signs are now up in the Lincoln Parish Courthouse, its annexes and the parish complexes on Alabama Avenue and Texas Avenue encouraging — but not mandating — unvaccinated people who enter the buildings to wear masks.
Postel said parish officials will continue to monitor state and federal guidance insofar as any future mitigation measures.
As of Monday, the Louisiana Department of Health reported an additional 30 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lincoln Parish since Friday. That brings the total number of confirmed cases since the count began in March 2020 to 3,605.
Thus far, 87 parish residents have died of COVID-19, with eight more deaths likely attributable to the virus, according to LDH.