[Note: The mask requirement has not been lifted in the city of Fernandina Beach.]
At today’s special meeting, the Board voted 3-2 to end the mandatory mask mandate, effective at noon tomorrow. Health Director, Dr. Seidel, spoke at the meeting and credited several mitigation efforts to the recent low case counts including use of masks, social distancing and frequent hand washing.
Though the mandate has been lifted, residents are still strongly encouraged to wear masks when unable to socially distance. Further, businesses can still implement their own mask mandates should they choose. Please note that masks will still be required in all County facilities.
A Executive Order outlining the new guidelines will be issued tomorrow.
The Board will continue to meet weekly and hear updates from Dr. Seidel. Should cases begin to spike again, the Board could consider reinstating the mandate in the future.
In a separate email dated this morning — September 24, 2020 — Fernandina Beach City Attorney Tammi Back has confirmed that the mandatory face mask order remains in effect for the City of Fernandina Beach. In an email to City Commissioners and media she wrote:
The City of Fernandina Beach currently has a mandatory face mask order in place effective through October 6, 2020. The City Commission is expected to consider an extension to the City’s mandatory mask order at its regular City Commission public meeting on October 6, 2020. I believe that the City Commission will unanimously extend the City’s mandatory mask order through November 6, 2020. The City Commission will base an extension of the mandatory mask order on the testimony of experts in public health, such as Dr. Ngo-Seidel, the Director for the Florida Department of Health Nassau County. In fact, Dr. Ngo-Seidel testified to the Board of County Commissioners of Nassau County on September 23, 2020 that, “Our key message for today is to continue the mitigation measures, it is important we consider the mitigation measures [face masks and social distancing] working together like legs on a table, they all work together whether its wearing a mask or social distancing…and it’s important to sustain those measures to keep our community healthy.” The City expects that Dr. Ngo-Seidel’s advice will not change by October 6, 2020.
FB needs to follow the county lead on this one….of course, as we all know, the FB commissioners are not exactly the brightest bulbs in the government chandelier…
How about we just follow the science and not just the talking heads. I still see folks walking on the beach, driving in their car “alone* and walking their dogs “alone” and still wearing a mask. Are folks really that stupid. Come on commissioners, we the people are smart enough to figure this out. Well, most of us.
Fix the send button and this would not happen.
Sheer madness to end the mask regulations when the disease is still far from under control.
I give credit to the Dept of Health Director for standing her ground on the face mask mandate for Fernandina Beach, as well as the city commissioners for upholding the mandate on face masks. Three county commissioners voted to stop the mandate, instead of listening to health professionals like our Health Dept Director, shame on you.
Mask for the coronavirus is like a chain-link fence put up to stop a sandstorm. It’s not about our health, it’s about compliant subjugation and tyrannical control of the Sheeple. Wake up folks this was a test and we failed!
The blatant disregard for the health and safety of Nassau County residents by Commissioners Taylor, Ford and Bell is abominable. They have totally shirked their responsibility to protect us and have violated our civil rights for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our very lives are threatened by this virus, we are no longer at liberty to safely enter closed spaces in our county – circumstances which totally thwart our opportunity to pursue happiness. How ridiculously pompous of Ford, Taylor and Bell to ignore the advice of medical authorities. I call upon the citizens of Nassau county to voice outrage at the actions of those commissioners, to make every effort to unseat them from their posts at the earliest opportunity and to boycott any business that does not require masks indoors.
So good to hear that the FB City Commissioners are planning to take good care of FB citizens and visitors.
i cannot believe this vote. The virus increases daily in this county. Wearing a mask is a must. I will not support any business with employees not wearing a mask. Shame on the County.
I am appalled by this decision. This vote endangers my health and goes against all indications of the virus in the county. We eat out at restaurants about 3 times a week that we consider safe. Without a mask mandate, that stops for us and most of our friends. This change will significantly reduce all retail trade outside the city limits as local seniors modify their shopping patterns. THIS ABSURD DECISION SHOULD BE REVERSED.
It is time to follow the science…of economics. For those insanely paranoid folks who believe in endless restrictions, please encase yourself in bubble wrap, lock yourself deep in the back of a closet…and stay there until 2030.