Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
December 2, 2020
The Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) on December 1, 2020 amended and extended its emergency order mandating face masks to January 6, 2021. This action, supported by all 5 Commissioners, was deemed prudent in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and widespread fears that rates of infection will surge further during the upcoming holiday season.
The chart (right) was prepared by Commissioner Mike Lednovich and presented during the December 1, 2020 FBCC meeting to show the rise in local cases over the past month.
The text of the approved Resolution (2020-180) follows:
WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, in response to the World Health Organization’s declaration of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order Number 20-51, declaring a State of Florida Public Health Emergency associated with the threat to Florida residents associated with COVID-19 and invoking the State of Florida emergency response actions by the Florida Department of Health and the State Health Officer; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2020, in response to eight counties in Florida with positive COVID-19 cases, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order Number 20-52, directing the Director of the Division of Emergency Management, as the State Coordinating Officer, to execute State of Florida’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and other response, recover, and mitigation plans necessary to cope with the emergency; and
WHEREAS, Governor DeSantis’ Executive Orders 20-51 and 20-52 are hereby incorporated and adopted into this Emergency Order to the extent City of Fernandina Beach is obligated to respond thereto; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, President Donald J. Trump declared a national emergency to combat COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 19, 2020, the City Manager and Mayor John A. Miller declared a local state of emergency via Resolution 2020-48 pursuant to the City of Fernandina Beach Emergency Management Plan; and
WHEREAS, the CDC advises that, while a significant portion of individuals with COVID-
19 are asymptomatic, the virus can still spread between people interacting in close proximity— for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms; and
WHEREAS, the CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain or are not being followed in order to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others; and
WHEREAS, the CDC defines “social distancing” as limiting close contact (less than 6 feet of separation) with others outside your household in indoor and outdoor spaces; and
WHEREAS, the CDC does not recommend wearing cloth face covering for children under the age of 6, or anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance; and
WHEREAS, cloth face coverings are relatively inexpensive and readily available as the CDC states they can be made from household items and provides online guidance for making “do-it- yourself” coverings for people that cannot or do not want to buy one from the increasing sources producing and selling coverings; and
WHEREAS, an increasing number of state and local governments throughout the United States and Florida are requiring facial coverings to be worn in public; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida has not completely preempted local governments from regulating in the field of minimum health requirements with respect to COVID19; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to invoke the City’s Home Rule Powers under the Florida Constitution and the City’s Emergency Management Plan in order to enable the City of Fernandina Beach to appropriately respond to the health and safety needs of the City of Fernandina Beach and its citizens.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FERNANDINA BEACH, THAT:
(1) Every person over the age of six (6) who is in a public indoor space must wear a face mask or covering.
(2) Every operator, employee, customer or patron of a business establishment must wear a face mask or covering at all times while indoors at that business establishment unless wearing a face mask or covering significantly interferes with the provision or receipt of goods or services offered or received at that establishment (i.e. patrons at a restaurant, patrons at fitness centers and yoga studios, clients at a barber shop or hair salon, patients at a dentist’s office).
(3) Public safety, fire, law enforcement, and other life safety personnel are exempted from this requirement, as their personal protective equipment requirements will be governed by their respective agencies.
(4) Due to the continuing public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 virus, the City Commission hereby extends the local state of emergency declared via Resolution 2020-48 to January 6, 2021, pursuant to Section 252.38, Florida Statutes.
(5) The City Commission authorizes the City Manager to extend the local state of emergency in 7-day increments as necessary for up to 30 days, and such authority shall expire on January 6, 2021.
ADA ACCOMODATION. When a customer of a business establishment asserts that he or she has a disability that prevents the individual from wearing a face mask or covering, the owner, manager, or employee of the business establishment may exclude the individual, even if they have a disability, as they pose a direct threat to the health and safety of employees and other customers, even if asymptomatic, and must accommodate the disabled individual in a manner that does not fundamentally alter the operations of the business establishment nor jeopardize the health of that business’s employees and other customers, such as providing curb service or delivery or other reasonable accommodation.