COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) - Columbus officers are enforcing the state wide mask mandate.

Police Chief Fred Shelton said if someone isn't wearing a mask, businesses need to call the police.

"When we get a complaint about someone not in compliance, we go in and investigate. If we need to issue a citation, we will issue a citation," he said.

If it's a person's first offense, officers will give him or her a warning.

Any time after that, the police will give a citation from $300 to $1000.

Chief Shelton said officers haven't had many people who didn't listen to them the first time.

People have put their masks on once officers reminded them of the ordinance.

City leaders issued a mask mandate because the total number of coronavirus cases rose to 1,023 in Lowndes County.

Now that mandate is statewide, Chief Shelton said it is crucial because it can help slow down the spread of the coronavirus.

"When we are out in public, if we can reduce our chance of people getting positive cases by simply wearing a mask then I think it is well worth the fight," he said.