Watch Live: City of Sarasota Commissioners are meeting to decide on a possible mask mandate
City of Sarasota
The City Commission on Monday approved an ordinance requiring that face coverings be worn in indoor and outdoor public locations and businesses in Sarasota in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Face masks are not required within residences or places of lodging, or when proper physical or social distancing, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines , can be observed.
The face mask requirement begins at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, and will be in effect for 60 days.
Other exceptions include:
Children under the age of 18
Schools, daycares and non-City government agencies
People for whom a face covering would cause impairment due to an existing health condition
Those working in a business or profession who do not interact with others, who maintain physical or social distancing from others or where a face covering would prevent them from performing their duties
Those who are outdoors or exercising while maintaining physical distancing
Those who are eating or drinking
The requirement also doesn’t apply when a hearing-impaired person needs to see the mouth of someone wearing a face covering in order to communicate.
The City’s enforcement efforts will focus on compliance and education. Violations of the mask requirement could result in a civil, non-criminal infraction with penalties up to a $500 fine. An email and phone line for concerns, questions and more information will be available soon.
Complimentary face masks will be available for pickup outside City Hall from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, June 30, and Wednesday, July 1.
The City has already distributed thousands of traditional paper masks and cloth masks for free to residents, visitors and local businesses.
Masks or face covering would be required both indoors and outdoors with exceptions. This is based on the direction to use the Tampa ordinance as a discussion. @fox13news #Sarasota #Covid19
— Kim Kuizon FOX 13 (@kkuizon) June 29, 2020
$100 fine if you are caught without a mask outside or inside in the City of Sarasota if this passes………. It can be up to a $500 fine. Can we drug test the cities commissioners?
— The Suncoast News and Scoop (@UncensoredRprt) June 29, 2020
Mask outdoors would be if social distancing is not possible. Still is a concern for Brody and me too………. 🙂
— The Suncoast News and Scoop (@UncensoredRprt) June 29, 2020
"I think the outdoor is too much and too far for us. I think we need to focus indoors. That's where we are focusing on contact." said commissioner Brody @Fox13news #Sarasota #Covid19
— Kim Kuizon FOX 13 (@kkuizon) June 29, 2020
Albert. Brings up protest and the lack of distancing. Wants the ordinance to include something for outdoors to cover events like this………………….
— The Suncoast News and Scoop (@UncensoredRprt) June 29, 2020
Barwin states that the overwhelming number of calls want mask. Says strong conscientious to move forward. Looks like Barwins fear campaign is working.
— The Suncoast News and Scoop (@UncensoredRprt) June 29, 2020
A few residents are questioning the data the city is was providing by the liberal progressive City Manager. They are providing actual data, which conflicts with Barwin's fear campaign and the ineffectiveness of mask. Martin Hyde was great again.
— The Suncoast News and Scoop (@UncensoredRprt) June 29, 2020
A lot of concern about enforcement, litigation, and cost to the tax payers. The @CityofSarasota is being driven down a messy road, following this liberal agenda that is based up fear.
— The Suncoast News and Scoop (@UncensoredRprt) June 29, 2020
"Masks are destroying the very foundation that this City was built on," says one public comment speaker. She opposes the ordinance @fox13news #Sarasota #Covid19
— Kim Kuizon FOX 13 (@kkuizon) June 29, 2020
Another public speaker: "I never thought I'd see the day where they try to control what you wear, how you act and your behavior…You wear a mask it's just another way for them to try and split us up to divide and conquer." @Fox13news #Sarasota #Covid19
— Kim Kuizon FOX 13 (@kkuizon) June 29, 2020
Same speaker: "It's never going to end. Pretty soon you will wake up and it will be mandatory to wear a mask from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed. It doesn't make sense to quarantine the healthy." @fox13news #Sarasota #Covid19
— Kim Kuizon FOX 13 (@kkuizon) June 29, 2020
So far every speaker has been against mandating mask. It makes me wonder if Barwin's phone stats are accurate. Just like one individual states, go outside and you will not see over 80% of the people wearing mask. What about people with health issues too?
— The Suncoast News and Scoop (@UncensoredRprt) June 29, 2020
OK. It looks like one of the several speakers is for mandating mask. A recent Pineview graduate. Says listen to the science, if we did that we would not be mandating mask. What are they teaching at Pineveiw? pic.twitter.com/xKSad1itw9
— The Suncoast News and Scoop (@UncensoredRprt) June 29, 2020
Exemptions for exercise and health related issues will be in play for the outdoor aspect of the mandate.
— The Suncoast News and Scoop (@UncensoredRprt) June 29, 2020
Brody:"To me this is ass backwards on how to do this. Why would be vote on the ordinance before making the details. I can't lend my vote to something that I don't know what will be. This is the silliest way to do this." @fox13news #Sarasota #covid19
— Kim Kuizon FOX 13 (@kkuizon) June 29, 2020
Brody is really against the outdoor mandate. Feels more comfortable suggesting people wear mask outdoors.
— The Suncoast News and Scoop (@UncensoredRprt) June 29, 2020