Should Key West relax a law that requires masks outside? Leaders will talk about it
UPDATE: The Key West City Commission on Wednesday unanimously passed a revised mandatory mask ordinance. Effective immediately, people are allowed to go without masks outside if they can maintain social distance. Also, people working out at gyms may remove masks when engaged in “strenuous exercise” provided they can maintain social distance. The ordinance expires in 60 days.
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ORIGINAL STORY:
Should people still be required to wear masks outside, even when they’re walking the dog with no one else around?
Key West city commissioners will consider relaxing parts of the island’s strict mask law, which requires face coverings nearly everywhere, even if social distancing is possible.
Right now, the law requires you to mask up outdoors, meaning while running, biking or holding a pet’s leash. But the outside-always rule would end if the proposed changes are approved.
The seven-member commission will take up the issue at 5 p.m . Wednesday at a virtual meeting that will air on the city’s website.
One proposed change is to only require masks outdoors if someone is on the premises of a business and cannot social distance, according to the ordinance revised by city administrators and posted with the meeting’s agenda.
Another new exception proposed: People at gyms engaged in “strenuous” exercise would no longer need to wear a mask provided they can social distance.
“If you’re socially distanced and exercising, especially outside in the heat, there seems to be no reason to have a mask on,” said City Commissioner Sam Kaufman. “This is consistent with advice from our public health officials.”
The outdoors rule doesn’t change at restaurants in the proposed revision of the law. People who are not seated and “on the premises of a business establishment, whether indoors or outdoors, shall wear a face covering at all times,” it reads.
Key West’s mask law has always been stricter than Monroe County’s, which orders people to wear masks only when they can’t social distance.
If approved Wednesday, the Key West ordinance would expire in 60 days. As an emergency ordinance, it would go into effect immediately after approval.
“The intent is not to penalize anybody,” Kaufman said. “It’s to encourage people to wear masks, which by and large has been accomplished, at least in New Town.”
Downtown Key West and tourist-driven Duval Street is in the Old Town section of the city.
Not everyone on the commission is ready to relax the mask rules, though.
It’s too soon, Mayor Teri Johnston said on Tuesday.
Bars and schools just fully reopened and Key West had a packed Labor Day, she said, and it will take a couple of weeks to see if COVID-19 case numbers rise in the Keys.
“I want to make sure we don’t have a spike,” Johnston said. “It would be prudent to continue the conversation in two weeks’ time.”
On July 13, Johnston, by emergency order, required masks be worn outside at all times. On July 21, a unanimous Key West City Commission turned the rule into law.
The ordinance, as passed then, made an exception for weddings. Brides and grooms may remove masks during the ceremony and while taking photos afterward.
City Commissioner Clayton Lopez said he isn’t sold on the change to the outside rule.
“I don’t see this coming to any kind of resolution or conclusion tomorrow night. There are too many points to consider,” Lopez said Tuesday. “I’m still big on the safety. That’s always going to have greater weight with me.”
Lopez said he’s still wearing his mask outside.
“I hate wearing a mask as much as anybody,” he said. “I’ve got certain health issues.”
Five members of his family have had COVID-19, he said. “It’s a damn scary thing.”
Key West’s revised mandatory mask law would require everyone over age 6 to carry a mask with them. It still includes criminal penalties, including arrest, but adds a provision that people must be warned first.
“We should use our common sense,” Kaufman said. “You have it with you. If you come up to somebody else, put it on. I personally don’t know why this wasn’t the case the whole time.”
The proposed changes to be discussed Wednesday also include requiring that people get a warning before they can be arrested or given a notice to appear in court. Penalties would remain the same. Violators could receive up to 60 days in jail or a fine of up to $500.
This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 4:36 PM with the headline "Should Key West relax a law that requires masks outside? Leaders will talk about it."
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