Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry extended his proclamation for another 30 days requiring face masks in an effort to slow transmission of COVID-19.
Curry issued the executive proclamation Sept. 27, which mandates every person over 6 years old to wear a face mask in a public place or inside a business if not able to socially distance by 6 feet or more.
He said in the proclamation he extended it “because the emergency threat to the public’s health, safety and welfare associated with the COVID-19 pandemic continues to endanger” Duval County.
The city posted the mayor’s proclamation to the city’s JaxReady.com website and it took effect at 5 p.m. Sept 27. It will expire Oct. 27 unless Curry extends the order.
This is the third time Curry has reissued the proclamation since he first put it in place June 29.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order Sept. 25 lifting statewide capacity restrictions for bars and restaurants, moving the state into Phase 3 of reopening.
He also took away the ability of local government to fine businesses and individuals who don’t follow local COVID-19-related mandates.
DeSantis’s order did not prohibit cities like Jacksonville from issuing face mask orders.
Curry’s proclamation leaves it to businesses and commercial property owners to ensure operators, employees and customers wear face coverings.
DeSantis’s order prohibits cities and counties from closing businesses or keeping people from working because of the pandemic and it blocks local governments from restricting occupant capacity to below 50%.
There is no statewide mask requirement, but many local governments have them in place and businesses can require them.