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ORDINANCE NO. 2021-004 WHEREAS, the Florida Medical Association President Dr. Ronald Giffler issued a statement saying that "the Florida Medical Association, the state's largest physician organization, encourages local officials to adopt regulations requiring individuals to wear face coverings in public places" and applauded municipalities in Florida that have already adopted mandatory mask use ordinances; and WHEREAS, the. CDC and Florida Department of Health continue to remind residents that by wearing a face covering, the resident protects others from exposure as well as themselves; and WHEREAS, additional steps are needed to minimize the spread of COVID- 19 in response to the recent spike in positive COVID-19 cases and hospital admittances; and WHEREAS, per CDC guidance, persons working in restaurants and businesses frequently come into close contact with members of the public and thus have a greater risk of spreading COVID-19. Wearing face coverings will significantly help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Indian River County; and WHEREAS, on June 26, 2020, the County Administrator issued Emergency Order No. 20-15 concerning face coverings; and WHEREAS, in determining whether to enact this Ordinance, the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners considered information received from the Department of Health, the State Surgeon General, the CDC and other health care providers and medical professionals regarding challenges raised at this point in time by COVID-19; and WHEREAS, adopting face covering requirements via ordinance, as opposed to local emergency powers, would, permit enforcement through civil citations and fines instead of criminal prosecution as a second-degree misdemeanor; and WHEREAS, on July 14, 2020, the Board enacted Ordinance 2020-09, which established certain face covering requirements and recommendations; and WHEREAS, on September 15, 2020, the Board enacted Ordinance 2020-10, which continued and established certain face covering requirements and recommendations; and WHEREAS, on November 17, 2020, the Board enacted Ordinance 2020-17, which continued the face covering requirements and recommendations; and WHEREAS, Ordinance 2020-17 sunsets on January 19, 2021, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA THAT: Section 1. Recitals Adopted 3 F:\Attorney\Dylan\Face Covering Ordinance - Less Restrictive (Jan 2021).docx