So unless its mandated, people are not going to do it, said Salvador. As more Floridians get their COVID-19 vaccine and restrictions ease in some places, ABC Action News is bringing you the latest on local mask mandates. . Dr. Francis Boyle was the author of the 1989 Bioweapons and Antiterrorism Act, and is one of the world's most credible authorities on this topic. We wanted to know: Could Florida follow a similar trend and what would it take for mask mandates to be lifted locally? TAMPA, Fla. - The Hillsborough County Commission voted Wednesday to extend the local state of emergency, just days after the governor ended all local COVID-19 mandates across the state. Expert Answers: UPDATE | Sept. 9: The Hillsborough County School Board passed a motion Thursday to extend its mask mandate for another 30 days. HOW CORONAVIRUS IS SPREADING IN FLORIDA: Find the latest numbers for your county, city or zip code. Dr. Holt says 45.5% of the people in the county have been vaccinated, but the 16-39 age group has the lowest vaccination rate, at just 30%. Its not a gamble that I think anyone should be taking in this country at this point in time and certainly not Florida, Unnasch elaborated. Lightning concede multiple in 2nd period, lose 5-3 to Sabres, Pasco sheriff: 3 people, including a 6-year-old girl, shot in the head during home invasion, 10 Weather: Warm weekend, isolated rain chances, Windy conditions ahead of chance of rain this weekend, requires students, teachers and staff to mask up, No, CDC study cited in Florida mask trial does not show no rationale for masking students. Wake County's order went into effect Aug. 20, applying to. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. It doesnt have a brain, it doesnt care, it doesnt get bored and if we give it a chance its gonna exploit us.. 2023 FOX Television Stations, until SAT 7:00 PM EST, Pinellas County, Coastal Hillsborough County, Coastal Manatee County, Coastal Sarasota County, governor ended all local COVID-19 mandates, Publix, public schools to continue mask requirements in Florida, for now, Easing restrictions before everyone is vaccinated could backfire, experts warn, Watch: Fishermen spot sharks in huge feeding frenzy off Louisiana coast, One month ago, Harriet the eagle disappeared from her famous Florida nest, 3 Daughters head brewer killed in Skyway Bridge accident, company says, Tampa residents of mobile home park get more time to vacate after Hillsborough County contacts landlord, 3 shot, including 6-year-old girl, in Land OLakes home invasion, sheriff says, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' Actor, Dies at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm, 8-year-old girl who performed solo wins big in cheer competition after team didn't show up, From Coconut Road to Moose Tracks, here's the scoop on how Publix creates its ice cream, North Port brush fire: Roads reopen after fire forces closures on I-75; schools evacuate as precaution. 2023 FOX Television Stations, until SAT 7:00 PM EST, Pinellas County, Coastal Hillsborough County, Coastal Manatee County, Coastal Sarasota County, Watch: Fishermen spot sharks in huge feeding frenzy off Louisiana coast, One month ago, Harriet the eagle disappeared from her famous Florida nest, Florida Strawberry Festival kicks off its sweet tradition in Plant City, 3 Daughters head brewer killed in Skyway Bridge accident, company says, Tampa residents of mobile home park get more time to vacate after Hillsborough County contacts landlord, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' Actor, Dies at 61 after suffering brain aneurysm, 8-year-old girl who performed solo wins big in cheer competition after team didn't show up, From Coconut Road to Moose Tracks, here's the scoop on how Publix creates its ice cream, North Port brush fire: Roads reopen after fire forces closures on I-75; schools evacuate as precaution. With Spring Break just around the corner, doctors stress getting through the next few months could be key to putting the COVID-19 pandemic behind us for good. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order May 3, 2021. that barred local governments and school systems from imposing COVID-19 restrictions, including mask rules. Asa Hutchinson signed a law banning local mask mandates on Friday, though the law won't take effect until early July, and Tennessee Gov. Baldwin added that loosening the COVID-19 restriction is about personal choice and freedom. Can a business, hospital, or other private facility open to the public require me to wear a mask or other face covering? Want more of our free, weekly newslettersinyourinbox? Wake County Public Schools will drop its mask policy on Monday, March 7, although masks will still be recommended in indoor spaces. Starting Monday, Feb. 28, the updated administrative directive encourages the wearing of face coverings at county facilities, but it will no longer be a requirement. You can see the full list of reccomendations doctors are making to Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough leaders here: https://covid19.pinellascounty.org/consensus-statement. COVID-19 mask requirements in Ontario will lift in most indoor settings later this month, the province's top doctor has confirmed. "Throughout this pandemic, we've implemented many changes in our stores to safeguard the health and well-being of the communities we serve. Taylor at Collier's meeting Tuesday raised the end of the county. PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. Leaders in Texas and Mississippi are the latest in the nation to announce theyre lifting statewide mask mandates, against CDC recommendations. Whats the good of having a business if its at the expense of someones health. UNC Health and WakeMed are reporting similar decreases between this month and last month; COVID-related hospitalizations decreased by 65% and 61% respectively. "For other families, this is coming way too fast.". Commissioners are still urging people to wear masks when necessary and socially distance. Bill Lee issued an executive order last week. LINK: To read the county's full directive, click here. This comes as the district is reporting that. 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That decision dashed a proposal by Commissioner Kimberly Overman who has objected that the countys restrictions on businesses are too loose. But, Thomas DeGeorge, owner of the Crowbar in Ybor City, offered a different view. In the meantime, if your child is not feeling well, please have them stay home and get tested.". Hillsborough County Hillsborough County allows face mask rules to end, in compliance with DeSantis' order Students and staff at area schools will continue wearing masks through the. So, we will still be requiring masks and limiting the number of people in the store for the near future, said Wax. Why take a chance now when we can just go for another 10 weeks and really be through it, Unnasch explained. . The Hillsborough County attorney told the board that individual businesses are still within their own rights to require customers and employees to wear face coverings if they choose, but those businesses can no longer be required to do so by state or local order. Several districts have already voted to make masks optional, including Chatham, Cumberland, Harnett, Johnston, Lee, Moore, Person, Sampson and Wayne. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. The rule applied to employees and. The doctors collectively agreed it would be reckless to discontinue mask rules until there are no more than 45 new cases per day in Hillsborough County, 30 new cases a day in Pinellas. Hillsborough County Public Schools 901 East Kennedy Boulevard Tampa, FL 33602 (813) 272-4000. Matters of the Day: Saville Report Aughnacloy Bomb Alert. Have coronavirus vaccine questions? Raleigh, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Knightdale, Rolesville and Zebulon will also be removing their mask mandates on Friday, according to county officials. Starting March 12, school operators can decide whether to require masks indoors. Well deliver the latest news and information you need to know every weekday morning. Florida's Hillsborough County is one of them. Its just a little bit unfair when theyve been working with us as a partner, said Myers. Dr. Mark Ghaly, California's Health and Human Services Secretary, announced more details on what California's mask mandate looks like after the June 15 reopening. Tue, Feb 21, 2023 LOGIN Subscribe for $1 Roy Cooper's call for an end to indoor mask mandates across the state, in public schools and in local communities by March 7. "For some families, this is not coming fast enough," Mahaffey said. County staff working during large indoor public events in county facilities may also be required to wear a face covering or mask. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Mayor Lenny Curry has opted to allow Duval County's mask mandate to expire this week. Nearly double the number of North Carolinians died with COVID-19 during January 2021 compared to January of this year. The percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive remains at 10.3%. RELATED: Demand remains high as people line up early at Hillsborough's only COVID-19 testing site. Example video title will go here for this video. Ron DeSantis prevents the county from requiring any mandatory mask mandate. The county health director says the vaccination rate. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. In Tampa, people started lining up early Monday for the lone county-run testing site in Tampa. The Oregon Health Authority announced Friday morning that it will lift the state's mask requirement for healthcare settings on April 3, ending one of the final remaining COVID-19-related public . Florida DOE threatens school board salaries, but is that legal? USF College of Public Health Dr. Thomas Unnasch is one of the 17 doctors to give his input. If you havent already subscribed, please consider buying a print or digital subscription. We wanted to know: Could Florida follow a similar trend and what would it take for mask mandates to be lifted locally? The state will continue to require mask use in indoor K-12 settings until the end of March 11. Lindsay Mahaffey, chair of the Wake County Board of Education, told WRAL News that any decision will be based on increasing vaccination rates. RELATED:Publix, public schools to continue mask requirements in Florida, for now. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The rule goes into effect Thursday. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The board voted to remove the . New commissioner thinks so. Contact Us. The school district also added that a judge recently ruled againstDeSantis' ban on masks, stating that the "State Department of Education could not enforce a blanket ban on masks.". Ron DeSantis which bans mask mandates in schools. Were adults and we dont need to be told to wash our hands or cover our mouths when we cough under government threat,' said Bella Ellwell, a 20-year-old college student. "Vaccinations remain the most effective tool against infections from COVID-19, and we encourage all students, staff and families to become fully vaccinated," the email read.