Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island to require face coverings to slow spread of COVID-19

Holmes Beach commissioners have voted 5-0 to require face coverings in businesses and public buildings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Anna Maria Island city is the first municipality in Manatee County to establish a mask mandate.

The Manatee County Commission has repeatedly declined to do so over the past week, differing from neighboring counties of Pinellas and Hillsborough that issued ordinances. Manatee County commissioners have instead discussed issuing guidelines recommending the use of masks.

The Holmes Beach emergency ordinance goes into effect at 5 p.m. Sunday.

It requires people to wear face coverings, defined as any material that covers the nose and mouth, inside of businesses and public buildings, excluding schools. The rule applies to owners, managers and employees as well as customers. It can be enforced by code compliance and law enforcement officers with fines.

First-time violators will be subject to a $250 fine, according to the ordinance, which increases to $500 for each subsequent offense.

Business operators will also be required to enforce the ordinance or face administrative fines.

There are some exceptions to the mask mandate. They include:

▪ Restaurant/bar customers who are eating or drinking while seated.

▪ Gym patrons engaged in a workout or class where at least 6 feet of social distance is maintained between people.

▪ Barbershop or beauty salon customers “when wearing a face covering would reasonably interfere with receiving services.”

▪ Business operators and employees who are in an area of the business not open to the public and who are maintaining at leas 6 feet of social distance between one another (this does not apply to kitchens and food preparation areas).

The ordinance also includes recommendations for mask use, including advice that every person over the age of 6 carry a face covering when outside of the home and be prepared to use it in situations when social distancing is not maintained.

It will expire in 60 days unless it is reenacted.

On the north of the island, Anna Maria City Commission is scheduled to have a discussion regarding face masks on Thursday night.

Anna Maria is without its own police department and patrolled by Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Rick Wells, who was in favor of a coronavirus-related curfew issued by Manatee County commission in April, has said that he would not enforce a mask mandate.

Bradenton Beach mayor John Chappie did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding face covering mandates and whether the city would consider issuing one.

A special meeting of the Bradenton Beach commission is planned for Tuesday to discuss the extension of a local state of emergency due to COVID-19.

This story was originally published June 25, 2020 at 3:34 PM.