Manatee’s COVID-19 mask mandate is over. Officials still want you to cover your face
Following a Friday afternoon executive order from Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Manatee County Commission voted Tuesday afternoon to get rid of its COVID-19 mask mandate.
DeSantis announced he was suspending any fines and penalties resulting from a local government’s face covering rules. The Manatee Board of County Commissioners voted 4-3 to get rid of the mandate.
Commissioners Vanessa Baugh, Betsy Benac, Stephen Jonsson and Priscilla Whisenant Trace voted in support of ending the mandate. Commissioners Reggie Bellamy, Misty Servia and Carol Whitmore voted against ending the mandate.
Instead, the board approved a new proclamation that “strongly encourages” wearing a mask in situations where social distancing is not possible. That motion was approved unanimously.
“I want it to be clear — just because we’re moving into Phase 3 doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear a mask,” said Benac, who wrote Tuesday’s proclamation.
Commissioners first voted on July 27 to approve a resolution that requires masks in public.
While the county could have chosen to leave its mask mandate in place, Assistant County Attorney Bill Clague advised commissioners to repeal the unenforceable mask mandate resolution. Private businesses are welcome to continue requiring masks, he said.
“Just because it’s unenforceable, that doesn’t prevent public and private facilities from requiring masks in their own properties,” Clague noted.
Some residents speaking during public comment at Tuesday’s meeting said they were pleased to see Manatee end its mask mandate.
“Allow us to make decisions as adults about whether we want to wear masks in public. Let Americans be Americans,” said Kevin Caldwell.
“I believe you did what you thought was best for the physical healing of our community at the time,” said Rev. Joel Tillis, who recently filed a short-lived lawsuit against Manatee County that sought the removal of the face mask requirement within houses of worship.
“Now, I am asking you for emotional healing. This mask mandate has divided us. Today, you have the power to heal,” Tillis told commissioners.
Wearing a mask in public is still the official recommendation of local, state and national public health officials.
Others said the mask mandate made a huge difference in their lives and urged the county to extend the mandate. Medical experts have said wearing masks has slowed the spread of COVID-19.
“Scientific studies have shown that masks work. Not wearing a mask is not kind. Not wearing a mask is not patriotic,” said Bob Slicker, general manager of Swordfish Grill & Tiki Bar. “This is about taking care of people.”
“When a business owner has a customer come in or a principal has a parent come on campus, that person can point to the mandate and say, ‘This is what I’m required to do,’” said Charlie Kennedy, a Manatee School Board member. “It takes pressure off of the community.”
Not a single person had been fined or cited for a COVID-19 mask mandate violation in the past two months, officials said. However, face masks are still required on county buses and other public facilities, such as administration offices and libraries.
This story was originally published September 29, 2020 at 2:48 PM.
