Seminole County issuing mask mandate
Seminole County has joined the growing list of places that require facial masks. That order goes into effect on Wednesday.
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Florida – Seminole County announced Monday that it will require face masks or covers in meeting places, businesses and other places open to the public. An executive order establishing the mask’s mandate comes into effect on Wednesday.
“A lot of people think this is politically driven, a lot of people think this is some kind of conspiracy, they think it’s the flu,” said Seminole County Commission Chairman Jay Zembower. “I tell you, it is not the flu, it is not a conspiracy theory and it is not politically driven.”
Zembower said “you don’t need a medical degree” to look at historical data to see that working at home and limited interaction helped flatten the curve to inhibit new infections.
“We don’t want to go back to a situation where our state or the federal government is forcing us to close deals. We cannot afford that.”
Seminole County has reported 2,506 total positive cases of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. As of Monday, 1,886 were identified as active cases with 92 currently hospitalized.
The county released responses to possible questions from residents and visitors about the executive order:
WHEN DO INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO SUBTRACT 6 ‘FROM OTHERS? When you are in a meeting place, business or other places open to the public in Seminole County, people are required to maintain social distance. Members of the same household do not have to keep a distance of six (6) feet from each other.
WHAT MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN BY COMPANIES? Checkpoints, waiting areas, queues for the public, and other areas to which the public has access should be adequately controlled to determine social distancing through floor markings or similar techniques to assist customers and employees to maintain a distance of six (6) feet from each other.
WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR PERSONAL SERVICES OR BUSINESSES WHERE THE SOCIAL DISTANCE CANNOT BE MADE? In addition to the social distancing requirements included in the Seminole County Order, personal services businesses such as salons and hair salons are subject to regulations established by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations. Massage therapy and estheticians must comply with the guidance of the Florida Department of Health. The client does not require a mask or facial covering when services cannot be performed while wearing a mask; the service provider must wear a mask. The user is required to wear a mask or face covering if services are not provided.
ARE RESTAURANT PATTERNS REQUIRED TO USE FACE MASKS / COVERS? When queuing to order or before sitting at a table, masks should be worn. Once seated and appropriately socially estranged, customers can remove their mask for dinner.
IS RESTAURANT STAFF REQUIRED TO USE FACE MASKS / COVERS? Seminole County requires the use of masks for individuals in a business, including restaurants. This is applicable to servers, hostesses, kitchen staff, and any employees or contractors in the business.
WHAT IF I’M OUT? If social distancing can be achieved by maintaining at least six (6) feet of distance between people in an outdoor business, gathering place, or public place in Seminole County, a mask is not required. If people from different households are less than six (6) feet away, masks must be worn.
WHO MUST COMPLY WITH THIS ORDER? Any person who works, lives, visits, or does business in Seminole County is subject to the Executive Order.
WHO IS EXEMPTED FROM USING A MASK OR COVERING THE FACE?
- People under 2 years old.
- People for whom facial coverage would cause impairment due to an existing health condition or disability
- People who work in a business or profession who do not interact with the public and who can maintain social distance from their coworkers.
- People who work or are sponsors of a company or profession where the use of a facial covering would prevent them from performing the tasks or receiving the services of the company or profession.
- People exercising, maintaining social distance.
- People eating or drinking
- Public safety, fire, and other safety and health personnel, such as your personal protective equipment requirements, will be governed by their respective agencies.
- People who communicate with someone who is hard of hearing and must see someone’s mouth with a face covering in order to communicate.
Read the full Executive Order at PrepareSeminole.org.
