Key West loosens its mask law a bit when it comes to wearing them outside
The city of Key West has loosened up its mandatory mask ordinance a bit when it comes to wearing face coverings at the gym and outside.
If you can social distance, you can take off the mask outdoors and while involved in “strenuous exercise” at gyms, the revised ordinance states.
Before, the city’s mask law required people to wear them outside even if they could social distance. That meant while biking, running or walking the dog.
The amended emergency ordinance took effect immediately and will expire in 60 days so commissioners may revisit the issue.
The city still has a criminal penalty in its law if people refuse to put on a mask after being asked by police. It’s a misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail or a fine of up to $500.
Commissioner Sam Kaufman said he didn’t like people saying the city was relaxing or loosening the law.
“We all support the enforcement of mandatory masks,” Kaufman said. “That’s not being relaxed.”
Mayor Teri Johnston said the city just went through a packed Labor Day, along with bars and schools reopening on Sept. 14.
“I want to make sure we continue on cautiously,” Johnston said. “The last thing we want is a spike to set us back for the rest of the year and the holiday season.”
The outside rule is now the same in the Monroe County mask ordinance.
City commissioners unanimously made the changes Wednesday at a virtual meeting.
The seven-member commission heard from two doctors before taking a vote.
Dr. Jack Norris, a Key West physician and chief of staff at Lower Keys Medical Center, said, “If you’re standing outside and you have proper distance, there’s very little chance of you being infected.”
Also, Norris said he has only seen one issue when it comes to wearing masks outdoors in the heat: pimples.
People have been getting them on their chins, cheeks and noses, Norris said.
“I’ve had nobody who needed oxygen,” Norris said. “Nobody needed to go to the ER from shortness of breath.”
One public health official admitted he wasn’t always wearing a mask outdoors.
“I run a couple times a week,” said Dr. Mark Whiteside, medical director of the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County. “I don’t generally wear a mask while I’m running.”
City renames Confederate memorial
Also Wednesday the commission unanimously decided to rename the Confederate memorial at Bayview Park the “One Human Family Pavilion.”
The name also covers a nearby bandstand at the park.
Commissioner Sam Kaufman proposed the change, but Commissioner Clayton Lopez on Wednesday said he wanted to co-sponsor it.
The memorial, a white structure with four twin columns, was donated to the city in 1924 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Key West was in the Union’s hands throughout the Civil War.
“It reminds us of the Jim Crow era,” said Lopez, who is Black. “It was placed there to remind Black people of their ‘place’ in America. We need to go ahead and make the lemonade out of these lemons.”
“It’s a positive thing,” said Kaufman. “We’re really bringing people together in the name of ‘One Human Family.’ ”
The renaming coincides with the 20th anniversary of the island making “One Human Family,” a concept by artist J.T. Thompson, its official motto by proclamation.
This story was originally published September 18, 2020 at 3:23 PM with the headline "Key West loosens its mask law a bit when it comes to wearing them outside."
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