Curry’s emergency executive proclamations last one month at a time so the mandate would have ended Sunday if not for the extension.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla — Mayor Lenny Curry extended a mask mandate for another 30 days to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, his office said Monday.
Curry’s emergency executive proclamations last one month at a time so the mandate would have ended Sunday if not for the extension. The requirement applies to wearing masks in indoor spaces that are open to the public when it’s not possible to practice social distancing.
When Gov. Ron DeSantis moved the state Friday into the next phase of reopening, he suspended the ability of local governments to collect fines for violations of their mask mandates. But DeSantis’s executive order does not prevent emergency local governments from requiring masks.
In Jacksonville’s case, it does not impose any penalties in connection with the mask requirements. But the existence of the proclamation means businesses can point to a government requirement when posting signs about wearing masks in their buildings.
The extension by Curry will continue the mask mandate through 5 p.m. Oct. 27 when it will expire unless he keeps it for another month at that point. Curry has joined area hospital executives in promoting the use of masks and appeared in a videos touting the public health benefits.
The executive proclamation requires every “operator, employee, customer or patron” of a business establishment to wear a face mask or covering at all times unless they can do social distancing, which is staying six feet apart.
The proclamation also makes an exception in cases where wearing a mask interferes with the services provided by the business such as restaurants, barber shops and hair salons, or dentist offices.
The proclamation says the operator and employees of the business is responsible for ensuring compliance.
The requirement does not apply to children 6 years old and younger.
Read the original version of this story from our news partners, the Florida Times-Union.
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