Masks Are Now Required In Lakeland Public Places: Commission

LAKELAND, FL — The city of Lakeland has joined cities in Pinellas County and Hillsborough County that now requires its residents to wear masks when in public places after the city commission voted 5-2 in favor of the resolution last week.

The order went into effect on July 2 after the commission held a specially called city commission to discuss resolution that would require masks consistent with CDC guidelines for those individuals inside the Lakeland corporate limits, said the city news release.

Dr. Joy Jackson, director of the Florida Department of Health for Polk County started the meeting with an overview of the current status for coronavirus within Polk County. She stated that the median age for those testing positive with the coronavirus in Polk County is 40 with the younger population starting to impact the health system. S

“The greatest number of cases now testing positive is a younger set between the age of 25-44," Jackson said in a news release. She also shared that at the time of their meeting there were 92 individuals with coronavirus at Lakeland Regional Health.

On Monday the Florida Department of Health reported 5,472 positive coronavirus cases in Polk County; 506 hospitalizations and 114 deaths.

Statewide, the Florida Department of Health reported 206,447 confirmed coronavirus cases; 16,045 hospitalizations and 3,778 deaths.

For those that choose not to wear masks in Lakeland public places, they could be fined $250. However, there are some exceptions to not wearing a mask that city attorney Palmer Davis mentioned.

"The city code allows regulations to take place through emergency resolutions, and they carry the weight of an ordinance for enforcement," Davis said in a news release.

He said some exemptions in the resolution for those that wouldn’t be required to wear a mask include children under 8-years-old, if a medical issue prohibits the wearing of a mask, issues regarding ADA compliance, persons exercising, those individuals who have an occupation that prohibits a mask and when social distancing is practiced.

The full list of exceptions can be found at the city's resolution document.

“The goal is to educate, and we don’t want to get to a fine stage on this issue," said Mayor Mutz in a news release. " Only those that are being obstinate and create an issue will be given a fine. Mask wearing is simply caring enough about other people.” He added, “The decision to introduce the resolution was pro-business, pro-healthcare and pro-first responders. This is not about me because I don’t like wearing a mask but this is the best way to protect our freedoms, so we don’t have another shutdown.”

The resolution will expire at 5 p.m. on August 3.

The city has developed a dedicated web page that has a number of resources to help the community stay informed. You can find this site by visiting www.lakelandgov.net/covid19