A Pinellas County emergency ordinance requiring face coverings in businesses will take effect Wed. June 24, at 5 p.m.
The Pinellas County Board of Commissioners passed the emergency ordinance Tuesday in a 6-1 vote; Kathleen Peters was the single dissenter.
The ordinance will last through the Pinellas County State of Local Emergency, which was extended to July 3 by the board of commissioners. After July 3, the board will make a weekly decision to renew it.
Violators of the ordinance could face civil citations beginning at $100 for the first offense, $250 for a second offense and $500 for a third offense, according to The Tampa Bay Times.
While the ordinance affects bars, restaurants and “most indoor public places,” it does not apply to government entities like schools, courthouses or city halls, according to a Pinellas County press release. The ordinance also does not apply “if a person is strictly adhering to social distancing and there are 10 or fewer people in the location who are also maintaining social distancing.”
Currently, the total number of coronavirus cases in Pinellas County is 4,387; in addition, hospitalizations are at 575 and the total number of deaths is 132, according to The Florida Department of Health.
The mandate comes a day after St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman’s order requiring masks to be worn in all indoor, enclosed businesses throughout the city, which he signed as to not presume the outcome of the county meeting. His order is now rendered moot, as the county-wide order takes precedence.
Pinellas County now joins Hillsborough County, whose Emergency Policy Group voted in favor of requiring the use of face masks throughout the county starting Wednesday at 5 p.m. The Hillsborough County order will need to be renewed on a weekly basis.
At a Tuesday news conference, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis rejected a statewide mask mandate, claiming, “You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” While he did acknowledge Florida’s seeming “escalation in transmission,” DeSantis does not find a statewide requirement appropriate. He told reporters he believes when people are ordered to do something, they are less likely to do it.
Also during the conference, DeSantis issued a warning to bars and clubs to follow state COVID-19 guidelines or they risk having their licenses suspended.
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This article appears in Jun 18-24, 2020.