ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — If the rate of new coronavirus infections does not slow, Orange County leaders said criminal penalties could be leveled against residents who do not wear a mask in public.
For a few weeks now, members of the county’s economic recovery task force have discussed the subject, but they have not put a threshold on when it would occur, and now members are split on how violations should be handled.
The task force said another shutdown is not something they want, but many community leaders wonder if it is possible to bring infection rates down without one.
Orange County’s overall positivity rate is 10.4%.
“We can contain this about a 3% or 4% level. That’s very manageable,” Dr. Raul Pino said. “Then protecting those who are most vulnerable to poor health outcomes.”
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Instead of closing businesses again, some members want penalties to enforce the mask mandate.
Leaders are discussing a fine up to $500, up to 60 days in jail or both and a curfew.
Some business owners are against it, and so is the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
“We’ll be more than happy to talk to people to get them into compliance but I don’t think we’re at the point where we would be comfortable in issuing certain citations,” Maj. Robert Anzueto said.
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Other business owners said the problem with having no penalties is that their staff must be the enforcers, and sometimes it is a teenager telling someone much older to put on a mask or leave.The scenario had led to fights in some places.
The task force plans to meet again next week to make a decision.