Fort Myers Beach votes in favor of masks requirement, keeps beaches open

Andrew Wigdor
Fort Myers News-Press

The Fort Myers Beach Town Council voted to put in place a mandatory face covering requirement in an emergency meeting Wednesday.

The decision comes a few days before the Fourth of July holiday weekend, when beaches usually attract many out-of-town visitors. With coronavirus cases on the rise in the state, some council members were concerned about the influx of possible people on the island.

The town reached 30 total coronavirus cases by Wednesday morning, according to the Florida Department of Health. In the county overall, the total case count reached 5,869, with an additional 281 cases reported Wednesday. 

More like this:Sanibel to require masks in public, limit beach parking

While most other local officials have resisted the idea of a mask-wearing mandate, the Sanibel City Council decided earlier this week to require face coverings when indoors at public places for everyone over the age of 2. The council also voted to prohibit paid parking at beaches from Friday to Monday.

The Fort Myers Beach Town Council voted to put in place a mandatory face covering requirement in an emergency meeting Wednesday.

During Fort Myers Beach's Wednesday meeting, council members voted 3-2 in favor of the new requirement, which will go into effect at midnight Thursday. Council members Jim Atterholt and Dan Allers voted against the emergency declaration.

The declaration was modeled after the Monroe County face covering requirement that was put into place last week. The declaration also incorporated some language from the Sanibel mandate.

The requirement will direct everyone over the age of 6 to have access to a face covering while they are away from their place of residence and to wear a face covering when social distancing is not possible. 

Additionally, all business operators, employees and customers must wear a face covering while inside the business. Operators and employees in those businesses are directed to ensure that individuals comply with the mandate. 

Related news:ICUs full at three Lee, Collier hospitals as coronavirus cases continue to rise

And:Lee Health president urges universal mask use as COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to climb

Guests play beach volleyball in front of Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina in Fort Myers Beach on Friday, June 26, 2020. Pink Shell general manager Bill Waichulis said that an uptick in out of state visitors is filling much of the gap in business left by the "non-existent" European tourism this summer.

Exceptions include restaurant and bar patrons while dining or consuming drinks when seated; those at the gym who are able to social distance; barbershop or beauty salon customers when wearing a mask would interfere with receiving services; hotel guests when in hotel rooms; any person under the age of 6 or who is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance; public safety, fire, law enforcement and other life safety personnel; those who have disabilities or medical conditions that would prevent wearing a mask or would cause impairment; owners and workers of a business or place of public accommodation that is not open to customers provided social distancing is possible; and people worshiping in a place of religious worship. 

Fines for violations will have a $50 maximum for individuals and $500 maximum for operators.

Council member Bill Veach made the motion to approve a mask requirement and stated that masks have been “proven in the medical field for a long time.” 

“Masks slow down the velocity of breath, they slow down the velocity of a sneeze or cough and they contain some of it within the mask," he said. "That effectively increases the distance between people … I am concerned that a lot of people who may want to come down (during the holiday weekend) are the ones that are not concerned about infections and those who are least likely to social distance.”

Veach also mentioned that a mask requirement, compared to something like closing the beaches, is a “business friendly” safety measure, as it doesn’t generally get in the way of business operations. 

Council member Dan Allers, however, vocalized his strong opposition to the mask requirement, stating, “I don’t think it’s the job of the council to tell a business how to run their business."

He added that the mandate may "pit neighbors against neighbors."

"I think it's important to remember what this weekend is about," he said. "It's about our freedom to make choices. I don't think telling someone that they should have to do something that maybe has a health risk to them is fair."

More like this:Is a public face mask requirement coming soon for Southwest Florida cities, counties?

Guests sit under yellow umbrellas in front of Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina in Fort Myers Beach on Friday, June 26, 2020. Pink Shell general manager Bill Waichulis said that an uptick in out of state visitors is filling much of the gap in business left by the "non-existent" European tourism this summer.

The council discussed the possibility of also closing the beaches and beach parking ahead of the Fourth of July weekend but eventually decided against the idea. 

Collier County and the cities of Naples and Marco Island, however, decided to implement beach restrictions ahead of the holiday.

ICYMI:Collier to restrict weekend beach hours, parking starting Fourth of July weekend

Collier County commissioners voted earlier this week to restrict beach hours and parking on weekends. A 3-2 decision from the commissioners will close county beaches from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, starting this Friday. Additionally, county parking lots and garages at beaches will only take in cars with city or county parking stickers during the weekend.

Similar to the county, Naples officials decided to close their beaches during certain hours. Effective 7 a.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Tuesday, the Naples beaches will be closed from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The city also instituted restrictions on parking, only allowing city and county parking permits for the beach, as well as no hourly beach parking and no parking on residential streets.

Marco Island decided to close pedestrian beach access points by Marriott's Crystal Shores hotel and the Madeira condominium from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. this weekend beginning on Friday. The city also decided to close the Turtle private parking lot on Collier Boulevard and prohibit residential street parking and groups of people larger than 50.

Lee County, however, plans to keep the beaches open over the weekend. The county is encouraging visitors and residents to follow all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Reach Andrew Wigdor at awigdor@gannett.com and on Twitter @andrew_wigdor