NEW: Sullivan County mask mandate extended until Dec. 31

Sullivan County, Tennessee will keep its mask mandate in effect until the end of the year, according to a statement issued by Mayor Richard Venable Monday evening.

Executive Order Five, which was originally declared in March, requires masks to be worn in all public places with the exception of places of worship through Dec. 31.

The order is extended while healthcare providers run dangerously close to patient capacity in local intensive care units while positive test rates for the coronavirus continue to spike at nearly 17 percent.

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