NSB City Commission Passes Resolution To Mandate Face Coverings In Public

New Smyrna Beach, FL - During a special meeting today, (July 1) New Smyrna Beach City Commissioners passed a resolution to mandate wearing face coverings in public.  The vote was 3-2 with Mayor Russ Owen and Vice-Mayor Michael Kolody voting against.

 Language was changed from “encourage” to “mandate” but there will be no penalties or enforcement for non-compliance. 

The resolution also encourages businesses to prohibit entry of any persons not wearing a face covering except for those:

• under the age of two years;
• observing social distancing in accordance with CDC guidelines;
• for whom a face covering would cause impairment due to an existing health condition;
• working in a business or profession who do not have interactions with others, maintain social distancing from others, or where use of a face covering would prevent them from performing the duties of the business or profession;
• exercising while maintaining social distancing;
• eating or drinking; and
• hearing impaired who needs to see the mouth of someone wearing a face covering to communicate.

According to a press release from the city, Mayor Russ Owen reported sending an e-mail on behalf of the City Commission to the Volusia County Council requesting the closure of beaches ahead of the 4^th of July holiday weekend to slow community spread in New Smyrna Beach. The request was not approved, citing preventative measures already implemented by county government to promote adequate social distancing.

The city of DeLand has called for a special meeting to discuss whether to require masks to be worn within the City of DeLand. The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. tomorrow (July 2) in the commission chambers at City Hall.

Daytona Beach passed a mask mandate earlier this week stating that masks must be worn indoors where social distancing is not possible.