Leesburg commissioners approved a mask resolution Monday night seeking “voluntary compliance” – even though it says residents are “required” to wear face coverings consistent with guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The resolution was based on a similar one that already had been passed by Mount Dora and it made Leesburg only the second municipality in Lake County to approve such a measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Commission voted 3-1 in favor of the resolution, with Mayor Pro-Tem Jay Hurley adamantly opposing the measure. Commissioner Mike Pederson wasn’t at the meeting.
The resolution calls for “every person working, living, visiting or doing business in the City of Leesburg” to wear a face covering in public places as set forth by CDC guidelines. That also includes those using or operating public transit vehicles. And it calls for everyone in the city to practice safe social distancing when applicable.
The resolution, which will be in effect throughout the local state of emergency that was declared on March 18, states that face coverings aren’t required outdoors. It also says they won’t be necessary for:
- Those under the age of two;
- Persons for whom a face covering would cause impairment due to an existing health condition or disability;
- Those working in a business or profession who are not interacting with the public and who are able to maintain social distancing from co-workers;
- Those working in businesses or professions where they don’t have face to face interaction with others; and
- Those who are exercising while maintaining social distancing.
No one from the public, who mostly were wearing masks, spoke about the resolution, which followed an order two weeks ago requiring anyone in city-owned buildings to use face coverings. But Hurley had plenty to say about it, going so far as to suggest it was a “waste” of paper.
The mayor pro-tem made it quite clear that he doesn’t wear a mask when he’s out in public unless a business requires him to do so. He labeled such a decision as a personal choice and questioned the use of the words “required” and “must” in a voluntary resolution.
Mayor Elise Dennison fired back at Hurley, saying the ordinance would be a help to local businesses owners who are enforcing their own mask ordinances. She said that with the COVID-19 numbers continuing to climb in the city – 632 cases were reported Monday by the Florida Department of Health – that it just made good sense to pass such a measure. She added that the resolution hopefully would increase mask wearing throughout the city.
Hurley grumbled that businesses owners already are able to require masks. He added that the voluntary resolution won’t help them in any way.
Commissioners John Christian and Dan Robuck III, both of whom were wearing masks at the meeting, also supported the resolution. Robuck said he had spoken with local medical officials who told him that masks can “probably” slow the spread of COVID-19. But he quickly added that he would be hesitant to support any resolution that wasn’t voluntary and would never back a measure that made it OK for someone not wearing a mask to be arrested.
COVID-19 cases have been on the rise at an alarming rate since Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on June 3 that Florida would enter into Phase Two of his plan to reopen the state. In fact, on the day that he made that announcement, there were 58,764 cases of the deadly virus being reported in the Sunshine State. On Monday, that number had ballooned to 432,747 – a 636.4 percent increase in less than two months.
Locally speaking, Leesburg was reporting just 47 cases on June 3. On Monday, 585 more cases were being reported in the municipality – a number that has continued to climb rapidly and has caused the cancellation of many events, including the annual Fourth of July fireworks show, and has left serious doubt about the possibility of the rescheduled Bikefest taking place in November.
