Local governments should order people to wear masks in public, Florida doctors say
The president of the Florida Medical Association on Friday advised local governments to require the use of masks in public as coronavirus cases continue to rise, putting the organization at odds with the governor, who has declined to issue a statewide order on wearing face coverings.
The recommendation came the same day Betsy Benac, chair of the Manatee County Commission, said she did not expect the county would order residents to wear masks, despite a recent uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases here. On Friday, the Florida Department of Health reported 101 new coronavirus infections in Manatee, the highest daily count so far during the pandemic — until Saturday, when 137 new cases were reported.
The guidelines endorsed by the Florida Medical Association are those of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommend the use of cloth face coverings in public areas “where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain,” such as grocery stores and pharmacies. The American Medical Association, of which the Florida organization is a chapter, also endorses CDC guidelines on masks in public.
It is unclear which “public places” apply under the organization’s recommendation. Asked to clarify, Ronald Giffler, president of the Florida Medical Association, declined to comment beyond the medical association’s released statement.
On Friday, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez reiterated plans for stricter enforcement of the rules, first imposed April 9, as the county’s COVID-19 hospitalizations and infection rates continue to rise.
“We’re seeing too many people not wearing masks, and not social distancing, while they’re out and about,” Gimenez said in an online press conference. “We will offer them a wake-up call.”
Gimenez said Friday none of the current coronavirus case numbers are “alarming.” He said police officers will ensure people wear masks when indoors.
A Miami-Dade business owner is suing the county over the mask policy, saying the rules infringe on constitutional freedoms. The suit takes aim at the “radical” use of criminal penalties to ensure people follow the emergency mask rules.
As the number of local cases continues to rise, Manatee’s Public Safety Director Jake Saur encouraged residents to use a mask or face covering any time they enter the public.
Other municipalities in the Tampa Bay area, such as the city of St. Petersburg and the city of Tampa, have adopted ordinances that require employees at private businesses to wear face masks. A similar ordinance isn’t likely in Manatee, according to Benac.
“I definitely think people need to take personal responsibility,” Benac said. “Whether we could pass an ordinance is unlikely in Manatee County, but private businesses have every right to mandate that people wear a mask before they enter.”
“I’m sure we’ll be watching this,” she continued. “We’ll be hearing from the governor and if we start to have problems in our hospitals, we’ll have to go back to the drawing board. Public safety is our responsibility.”
The Florida Medication said its statement about masks was based on science.
“The science is clear. Asymptomatic infected individuals can release infectious aerosol particles while breathing and speaking,” the Florida Medical Association’s press release reads. “The message is simple: For the sake of your health and the health of everyone around you, Florida’s doctors want you to wear a mask.”
On Saturday, Florida set another daily total record high of new COVID-19 cases with 4,049 additional cases reported, including the 137 in Manatee. That brings the total amount of Florida cases to 93,797 cases.
A Miami Herald investigation found that new cases have been consistently trending up since mid-May and that the increases cannot be solely attributed to an increase in testing.
On Tuesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would not consider re-implementing lockdowns throughout the state despite the rising number of cases.
DeSantis, who is rarely seen wearing a mask himself when out in Tallahassee, said Friday masks should only be worn “when you can’t social distance.”
DeSantis said criminal penalties for violating rules in place “would not necessarily be the right thing to do.” He added that local governments are responsible for the enforcement of their own rules.
In Miami Beach, the city has not been enforcing its own rules mandating face masks or social distancing when people are out with non-family members. But that will soon change, said Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber. Gelber said by Monday, the city will up its enforcement of existing mask and social distancing rules and will issue citations and closures to businesses that don’t comply.
Rules currently require masks indoors, such as at restaurants or stores, and when social distancing is not possible at the beach. Gelber said the city may look into expanding those rules to other outside areas, like Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road Mall.
Gelber is also more open to the idea of rolling back reopening policies than DeSantis.
“If the hospitalizations continue to go upward, then I don’t know how anything is off the table,” Gelber said.
Soledad Cedro, communications director for Mayor Francis Suarez, said the city of Miami will host a press conference on Monday to address questions regarding the coronavirus, including clarifications on mask policies. Masks are currently required at all reopened businesses — except when at the table at a restaurant — and when entering, exiting and walking around the beach. Suarez declined to comment.
Bradenton Herald staff writer Ryan Callihan and Miami Herald staff writer Mary Ellen Klas contributed to this story.
This story was originally published June 20, 2020 at 8:40 AM.