Jacksonville will require masks indoors. That likely includes the RNC convention
Starting Monday at 5 p.m., the City of Jacksonville will mandate that masks be worn indoors in places where physical distancing is difficult, according to a social media post from city officials.
If the mandate is still in place in late August, it would likely apply to the Republican National Convention set to be held in the city Aug. 24-27. The decision by Jacksonville and Gov. Ron DeSantis to host the convention, expected to bring thousands of people together, has drawn more scrutiny as coronavirus infections have surged across the state in the last week.
The surge includes Jacksonville, which largely eluded a big hit from the virus while it swamped Southeast Florida in March, April and May. Though Duval County, which encompasses all of Jacksonville, still has far fewer cases than Miami-Dade County, its rate of infections has been rising at a fast clip, according to a New York Times interactive map.
The mask announcement on social media came shortly after Politico reported that city officials were swayed by advice from public health experts and the recent adoption of similar measures by the Coast Guard and Navy, which operate in the city.
“Healthcare experts advise that masks and cloth face coverings ... help slow the spread from individuals with COVID-19 to vulnerable populations, including from those who are asymptomatic,” the city of Jacksonville said on social media. “We continue to urge everyone to practice personal responsibility and do their part to help stop the spread of this virus.”
A spokesperson for the Jacksonville 2020 Host Committee said in a statement, “Governor Ron DeSantis and [Jacksonville] Mayor Lenny Curry have consistently prioritized the health of all Floridians throughout this global pandemic.”
“As we plan for an event that is two months away, we continue to follow their lead and will always put the health of our guests and our city first,” the spokesperson said.
This story was originally published June 29, 2020 at 1:49 PM.
