MIDWAY, Fla. (WTXL) — Gadsden County leaders are taking things one step further in the fight against the coronavirus, requiring everyone to wear a mask in public.
Whether you’re going to the grocery store for food, or working, Gadsden County now wants everyone to put their masks on.
Commissioners passed the new mandate unanimously on Friday. Now, anyone caught without one is subject to a fine.
Nearly everyone seems to have already been doing this.
Commission chairman Dr. Anthony Viegbesie says, for the sake of the elderly people with underlying conditions, keep yourself protected, and practice social distancing.
"Please, please, please, please let's do the right thing," said Viegbesie. "We are now 44 infected. A few days ago we were just eight. Now we're 44. That means the number of infected are increasing exponentially and we have not peaked yet."
"It does make me feel safer," said Jennifer Jones, who lives in Quincy. "And we're wearing our masks for precautionary reasons to keep from being infected."
"I support them doing it, but you know everybody's not doing it," Amelia Holton said. "So they can do and say what they feel is necessary, but that doesn't mean everyone is going to follow. "
The leaders are asking the public to use cloth or reusable masks in order to keep surgical masks or hard to find N-95's for healthcare workers only. The mandate didn't mention gloves.
Another big part of all of this is maintaining social distancing.
Commission chairman Dr. Viegbesie is urging people to make the right decision to help stop the spread.
