Laserfiche WebLink
ORDINANCE NO. 2020- 010 <br />WHEREAS, based on advice from medical professionals, the number of <br />confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Indian River County will increase exponentially if <br />additional measures to stop or slow the spread of COVID-19 are not instituted; and <br />WHEREAS, the County's hospitals and doctors in our community have <br />expressed concern that over the past month, hospital admittance for COVID-19 has had <br />a significant increase; and <br />WHEREAS, the CDC and Florida Department of Health continue to remind <br />residents that by wearing a face covering, the resident protects others from exposure as <br />well as themselves; and <br />WHEREAS, additional steps are needed to minimize the spread of COVID- 19 in <br />response to the recent spike in positive COVID-19 cases and hospital admittances; and <br />WHEREAS, per CDC guidance, persons working in restaurants and businesses <br />frequently come into close contact with members of the public and thus have a greater <br />risk of spreading COVID- 19. Wearing face coverings will significantly help reduce the <br />spread of COVID-19 in Indian River County; and <br />WHEREAS, on June 26, 2020, the County Administrator issued Emergency <br />Order No. 20-15 concerning face coverings; and <br />WHEREAS, in determining whether to enact this Ordinance, the Indian River <br />County Board of County Commissioners considered information received from the <br />Department of Health, the University of Florida, the State Surgeon General, the CDC <br />and other health care providers and medical professionals regarding challenges raised <br />at this point in time by COVID-19; and <br />WHEREAS, on July 7, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20- <br />166 extending the state of emergency declared in Executive Order 20-52, as extended <br />by Executive Order 20-114, for an additional 60 days; and <br />WHEREAS, Indian River County is still under a local state of emergency due to <br />the COVID-19 pandemic; <br />WHEREAS, the number of COVID-19 cases in Indian River County have <br />increased from 1,259 cases on July 13, 2020 to 2,766 cases on August 25, 2020; and <br />WHEREAS, the number of deaths related to COVID-19 in Indian River County as <br />of July 13, 2020 was 21 and 87 as of August 25, 2020; and <br />WHEREAS, adopting face covering requirements via ordinance, as opposed to <br />local emergency powers, would permit enforcement through civil citations and fines <br />instead of criminal prosecution as a second-degree misdemeanor; and <br />WHEREAS, on July 14, 2020, the Board enacted Ordinance 2020-09, which <br />established certain face covering requirements and recommendations; and <br />4 <br />