Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
October 7, 2020
At their October 6, 2020 Regular Meeting, the Fernandina Beach City Commission adopted Resolution 2020-143 extending until November 6, 2020, the City’s state of emergency which requiries face coverings or masks in public places.
Commissioner Chip Ross, whose careeer has been in emergency room medicine, said that he has remained healthy among his patients by doing three things: wearing a mask, washing his hands and keeping a distance from others. He emphasized that while these moves don’t guarantee safety, they are in the forefront for prevention of illness.
Commissioner Mike Lednovich said, “Anyone who has been paying attention to the national news over the past week understands the importance of wearing a face mask and how quickly this virus can spread in social circumstances. The County Health Director has said that this is one leg of a 3-legged stool. The other legs, as Commissioner Ross said, are washing your hands and social distancing.”
“We are all protectors of each other’s health,” Lednovich said. “The mask protects someone else, not you. And so that’s why we are doing this. We all realize that this depends on volunteer compliance, because we are not going around writing up violations. But we’re making it mandatory because we want people to wear face masks.”
Vice Mayor Len Kreger added, “This is one of the few actions that has not been preempted by the state where we can still make an effort to protect our population. The responsibility is on individuals, but as a government, we continue to take the position that masks are required.”
Ross said that he would somewhat disagree with Lednovich. “When I go into a room I am wearing a mask for two reasons: to protect myself and to protect others. I think that any emergency room doctor will not go into a room without a mask.”
Lednovich asked that the City take measures to clean the lectern after speakers finish their remarks.
The FBCC will consider another extension of this mandate at their November 4, 2020 meeting.
Nassau County has lifted its mandatory face covering order.
Thanks to the FBCC for doing the right thing to error on the side of health and safety is always a good thing.
My family and I is pleased and reassured by your action for the safety f our community.
Does anyone get the feeling that those who want to push masks on the population are the same ones that will want to push vaccines on the population?
One has to wonder if members of county and city governments have become influenced by “Strong Cities Network.” It is an organization backed by George Soros. Please research “Strong Cities Network.”
Thanks for your comments Ben. I’ve tried to comment multiple times on similar topics only to be censored on this site. Sad
I am fine with a mask mandate but I certainly would appreciate it if it could be enforced. In a store the other day and no less than 4 individuals in the aisles were not wearing masks. Floor plan of store put width between me and them at something less than 2-1/2 grocery carts. Bet that does not qualify as social distancing. When I asked store manager about it I was told Nassau County had ended the mask mandate so they cannot require folks to wear masks anymore. My thought – your in the city limits and your corporate headquarters can set a mask policy for safety of its patrons. Flu season is right around the corner with added expectation of spike in Covid. Why would any corporation, shop owner or manager not do this?
Very strange article, kool-aid drinkers.
As a retired Public Health physician, I am strongly in favor of the City Commission’s decision to continue the indoor mask mandate. I think it common sense to wear the mask when indoors, where ventilation is likely not secure. As Dr. Chip Ross noted, the mask is potential protection for the mask-wearer and for other people who are close by.
Dear Dr. Washburn
Your comment “where ventilation is likely not secure” is curious. Commercial building’s Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems have legal requirements for fresh air. It’s called “makeup air.” If you don’t have enough fresh air introduced into a building it can develop what is called “Sick Building Syndrome” where occupants become sick due to a contaminated breathing environment.
People who wear masks are restricting their fresh air.
One of Europes leading neurologists, Dr. Margareta Griesz-Brisson, MD, PhD, recently gave an interview sharing her opinion that masks are dangerous and should not be mandated. Her interview was removed from YouTube.
It would seem that those Doctors who take the position that masks should be forced upon the public compromise the credibility of the medical profession. Hopefully the pubic will wake up and remove all medical professionals and politicians who advocated for mask mandates