Manatee County Commission votes 4-3 to approve COVID-19 face-covering requirement
The Manatee County Commission voted 4-3 Monday evening to approve a resolution that requires face masks to be worn in private businesses.
Wearing a mask is “key” to battling the coronavirus pandemic because an estimated 48 percent of the positive COVID-19 cases in Manatee County are asymptomatic, according to the county’s top health official.
“The evidence is clear that masks help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the more people wearing masks, the better,” said Dr. Jennifer Bencie, the head of the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County.
The Board of County Commissioners met Monday afternoon to consider approving a countywide mask mandate that requires businesses to post signs and individuals to wear masks while inside. The resolution goes into effect immediately.
Commissioners Betsy Benac, Misty Servia, Reggie Bellamy and Carol Whitmore voted in favor of the resolution. Commissioners Vanessa Baugh, Stephen Jonsson and Priscilla Whisenant Trace voted against the resolution.
Exceptions are included for children under the age of 6, those with “documented or demonstrable” medical conditions, restaurant customers and instances where social distancing is taking place.
Businesses will also be required to post signs encouraging the use of a face mask. Example signs will be available to print directly from the county’s website.
While a mandate isn’t something she would normally approve of, Benac said she felt the county had to approve the measure to help keep the community safe.
“I certainly agree that we shouldn’t have to mandate this, but the reality is we do because people aren’t wearing masks. It is about public safety,” Benac said. “We have so few tools to try to address the situation and this one has been proven to help, so why wouldn’t we do this?”
In a presentation to the board, Bencie explained that any face covering over the nose and mouth helps to prevent transmission of the novel coronavirus, which is transmitted through droplets that enter the air when talking, sneezing or coughing.
“The mask is key,” Bencie said. “This is not an infection that’s going to go away anytime soon. Until we get a vaccine, the cloth masks are the best way to do that for the general public.”
Bencie pointed to recent studies that highlight the effectiveness of mask mandates throughout the United States. According to the science, she said, a mandate is proven to reduce the number of new cases.
Residents on either side of what has become a political debate told commissioners how they felt about the proposed mask mandate during the public comment section of Monday’s meeting.
Some felt that a temporary government rule would be a violation of the Constitution, and vowed to disregard the resolution.
“You do not need a resolution or ordinance for compliance,” said Kevin Wright. “I would submit the resolution is largely symbolic. We’ve done a lot for symbolic reasons that do absolutely nothing.”
“We’ve heard a lot of emotional appeals today, but we do not make law based on emotion,” said Michelle Martin. “We’re going to shake our heads that seven little local commissioners went along with the flow.”
Other residents and medical professionals said they welcome the mandate. The Manatee County Medical Society recently sent a letter to the board urging commissioners to adopt a mask mandate.
“Things are dire in the hospital, and I’m not sure you all appreciate that,” said Dr. Cassandra Hafner, one of the 100 practicing physicians who signed the medical society’s letter. “We feel like (this mandate) will have a significant impact.”
“Wearing a mask is a simple thing. People will resist, but it must be required to preserve public safety and the economy,” said David Klement, a former editorial page editor for the Bradenton Herald.
The surge in recent cases is also straining local medical facilities, Bencie said. All three of the county’s hospitals have requested additional nursing staff and ventilators from the state. As of Monday, 7,982 people have tested positive in Manatee County.
How will the mask requirement be enforced?
The county’s resolution purposefully explains that a non-criminal citation would be given to a person who refuses to comply with the resolution. The resolution gives law enforcement the responsibility to enforce the rules.
Servia said she spoke with Sheriff Rick Wells, who said he would instruct his deputies to respond to mask-related complaints.
“He really doesn’t like law enforcement officers getting involved in health mandates because of the required manpower,” Servia said, noting that the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office is already understaffed. “They don’t want to write tickets,” Servia said. “They just want to be helpful and comply.”
“It’s not the intent for someone to be cited and arrested,” Bellamy added.
An individual’s first citation will come in the form of a written warning. The second warning comes with a $50 fine and a third citation comes with a $125 fine. In other local municipalities, citations have not had to be written.
County officials previously declined to approve a mask ordinance in June before leaving for their monthlong summer recess. Since then, an additional 5,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19.
This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 4:12 PM.
