Key West cancels July 4 fireworks due to COVID-19 fears. The city’s mask law also got tougher
Key West leaders have canceled the annual Fourth of July fireworks display because of concerns over the spreading novel coronavirus.
On Friday, the Key West City Commission unanimously voted to scratch the fireworks but chose to keep open the beaches during the long holiday weekend.
On Monday, the city announced it would close the beaches for the long July 4 weekend, starting at 5 p.m. Thursday and reopening Tuesday morning.
But city leaders know the crowds will still come to the island at a time when the Florida Keys are having record daily totals of confirmed cases.
“Tourists don’t come to see our fireworks,” City Commissioner Billy Wardlow said. “They come here to be downtown.”
At the same time, commissioners tightened up the city’s mandatory mask law, making it punishable by either a civil citation, a code compliance violation or a criminal misdemeanor that carries up to 60 days in jail or a $500 fine.
You must wear a mask inside in public and outside if you are within six feet of another person, the law says. While in a restaurant or bar, you may take off your mask while eating and drinking but you must stay seated.
“The seated-while-being-served is the big thing,” City Attorney Shawn Smith said, of the “If you’re standing, you need a mask on.”
On Friday, Monroe County reported 15 new known cases, bringing the new total in Monroe to 202. The last record high was Thursday, when 14 new cases were confirmed.
The fireworks have always been a punctuation mark to the July 4 weekend holiday that historically draws hordes of tourists, said City Manager Greg Veliz.
Fireworks are still on for July 4 in Key Largo and Marathon, although Marathon decided to close its Sombrero Beach during the Fourth.
The Department of Health in Monroe County advised city commissioners to cancel the fireworks show.
“This recommendation is consistent with other cities in Florida also canceling their fireworks display,” said Administrator Bob Eadie in a statement. “During these types of mass gathering events, it is extremely difficult to get individuals to maintain social distancing.”
Dr. Bruce Boros, a Key West physician on the front lines of the Keys coronavirus crisis, also urged the city to cancel.
“You’re asking for trouble,” Boros said. “The incubation period now can be as quick as two days.”
The Fourth of July fireworks show isn’t a huge draw for locals, he said.
“I don’t think there will be a conch out there,” Boros said, using the term for a homegrown Key Wester. “It’s going to be out-of-towners. They’re going to be out of control.”
Boros imagined a belligerent tourist mouthing off to police when asked to put on a mask. COVID-19 is extremely infectious, he said.
“This can go 12 to 18 feet with a cough or somebody spitting on police,” Boros said. “We have people we’re putting at risk to try to maintain calm.”
The decisions made Friday didn’t come without criticism from some locals.
One woman said the city allowed a recent Black Lives Matter-inspired march so why not the fireworks? Another man asked if he would be arrested and “my dog shot,” if he were caught without a mask.
“We take no pleasure in making these orders,” said City Commissioner Sam Kaufman. “We’re following the science, we’re following the CDC recommendations, we’re following our health care professionals.”
Kaufman blamed visitors for the need to clamp down on masks in public.
“We have some tourists coming to Key West and disrespecting our rules,” Kaufman said. “I”m hopeful this is effective and gives law enforcement some additional tools to get the job done.”
This story was originally published June 26, 2020 at 1:12 PM with the headline "Key West cancels July 4 fireworks due to COVID-19 fears. The city’s mask law also got tougher."
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