09/29/20 Pasco County Mask Mandate UPDATE

**UPDATE**

Pasco Requires Face Masks to Help Reduce Spread of COVID-19

~~Executive Order remains in effect, following Governor’s Phase 3 announcement~~

PASCO COUNTY, FL  ----  The Pasco County Executive Order issued in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 remains in effect following Governor DeSantis’ announcement Friday of Phase 3 of his Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Florida’s Recovery.  Face coverings are still required in most indoor public places in Pasco County, where social distancing cannot be maintained.

The governor’s office has clarified that his order suspends COVID-19-related fines and penalties on individuals; however, it does not restrict counties from enforcing local orders on businesses.  That being said, Pasco County has not issued any citations related to our face coverings order.  Instead, our Code Enforcement team is focusing on educating our business community.

Pasco County’s Face Coverings Order was issued in June and will remain in effect through Pasco’s Local State of Emergency, or until the county rescinds the order, whichever comes first.  To see a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Pasco’s order, please visit MyPasco.net or call Pasco County Customer Service at 727.847.2411.

Pasco County is working closely with the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County (DOH-Pasco) to help keep our community informed.  DOH-Pasco recently gave a COVID-19 update to the Pasco Board of County Commissioners.  Click HERE to see the full presentation: bit.ly/3iaT5A5.

Leading public health agencies consider face coverings, along with social distancing and frequent handwashing, our best defense against COVID-19 at this time.  Face masks can be homemade or store-bought.

Click here for a face coverings sign to display in your business: bit.ly/FaceMaskSign.

Previously released information about Pasco’s Executive Order is available here: bit.ly/2NqgTTK.