Alachua County has added several new entries regarding the First Amendment to Emergency Order 20-21 to the COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions website located on the Community Resource Portal. The County will continue to add entries as needed.
Below are the new entries:
Q. Does Order 20-21 as amended apply Countywide, even within the Cities?
A. Yes. The County has the Authority to issue a Countywide Order on these issues. The Cities can issue orders which are more restrictive, but cannot directly contradict the County Order
Q. What questions can a business ask an individual who is not wearing facial covering?
A. A business may ask the following 2 questions:
1. Are you unable to wear a facial covering due to a medical condition?
2. If yes, how does wearing facial covering exacerbate your medical condition?
a. Examples of acceptable responses:
Anxiety; Breathing Problems; Sensory Issues; Skin Sensitivity
Businesses should train staff to ask only these 2 questions and to accept reasonable responses with no further inquiries about the individual’s medical condition. A doctor’s note is not required as the individual claiming the exemption should be able to give a general response as to why they feel they are not required to wear a mask under the order.
Q. Must businesses enforce the Order?
A. Businesses are expected to make sure their employees are using appropriate facial coverings and other methods to protect the employees and public. The business can restrict its customers to those who are following the Order, but the County does not expect them to enforce the requirements of the order. They may ask for the assistance of Law Enforcement or Codes Enforcement.
Q. When does the order require I use a face covering?
A. You are required to use a face covering when you are coming into close contact with individuals outside your household. Persons working in or visiting grocery stores, restaurants, retail facilities, pharmacies, construction sites, public transit vehicles, vehicles for hire (taxis, Uber, Lyft), along with locations where social distancing measures are not possible shall wear facial coverings as defined by the CDC. You are not required to wear a facial covering while you are driving your car or riding a bicycle, engaging in recreational activities outside with social distancing.
For more information, contact Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton at 352-264-6979 or
msexton@alachuacounty.us.
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