Face mask requirement takes effect in the city of Tampa

COVID-19 cases are spiking in the city of Tampa. Out of an abundance of caution, City of Tampa officials approved a face covering mandate for the city to hopefully control the spread of the Coronavirus.

Here’s what the executive order says:

Every person working, living, visiting, or doing business in the City of Tampa shall wear a face covering in any indoor location, other than their home or residence, when not maintaining social distancing from other person(s), excluding family members or companions.

Exceptions to the face mask mandate

Face coverings are not required to be worn by the following persons:

• Persons under the age of two years
• Persons observing social distancing in accordance with CDC guidelines
• Persons for whom a face covering would cause impairment due to an existing health condition
• Persons working in a business or profession who do not have interactions with other persons
• Persons working in a business or profession who maintain social distancing from another person
• Persons working in a business or profession where use of a face covering would prevent them from performing the duties of the business or profession
• Persons exercising, while maintaining social distancing
• Persons while eating or drinking
• Public safety, fire and other life safety and health care personnel, as their personal protective equipment requirements will be governed by their respective agencies
• The requirement shall not apply when a person who is hearing-impaired needs to see the mouth of someone wearing a face covering in order to communicate

5,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases

This order does not require or allow a person to wear a face covering in order to their conceal the identity in violation of Fla. Stat. Chapter 876.

There are nearly 5,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hillsborough County, with 89,748 cases confirmed in the state. Restaurants and bars have begun temporarily closing as employees test positive for COVID-19.

Face coverings are required in any indoor location (excluding one’s home or residence) when not maintaining social distancing from other persons. 

Face coverings don’t need to be worn outdoors unless you can’t maintain a physical distance of six feet from others. If you can keep the physical distance, a face covering is not needed when you are outside walking, exercising, or otherwise outside.

Distributing free face masks to residents

The City of Tampa will be distributing free face masks beginning on June 20. The following sites will provide masks to individual residents from 8am-5pm daily while supplies last:

Himes Ave. Complex – 4501 S. Himes Ave.

MacFarlane Park – 1700 N. MacDill Ave.

Al Barnes Park – 2902 N. 32nd St.

Individuals may receive two masks each. One individual may pick up an order for one’s immediate family members. 

Businesses can receive the necessary quantities for staff and customers to safely conduct business. Businesses will document order quantities & business information via a form upon pick up.

A violation will be a noncriminal civil infraction, enforceable under Sec. 1-6 and Sec. 23.5-4, City of Tampa Code, which carries a penalty of up to a $500 fine.