It is time to wear a mask/face covering in the Tampa Bay Area.

I am fully supportive of a face coverings/mask ordinance in the Tampa Bay area as our prevalence shoots past 10% on new tests over the past few days and record numbers of cases are reported and we continue to reopen. In that context, we must do we all we can individually to decrease viral spread. 

I know this message has been confusing from public health officials but there really wasn't much data for this +/- before Covid-19. The global pandemic has changed that and there is more data available now.

In addition, the higher the prevalence, the more pre-symptomatic/asymptomatic spread, the more important mask wearing becomes. Two good sources to review for mask wearing are the Science and the Lancet article.

Fortunately, on June 18, 2020, 3 important COVID-19 mask related events occurred in Hillsborough County and within the City of Tampa that will protect the public from viral spread and move towards this important action to require face coverings outside the home when social distancing is not possible.  

First Jane Castor has enacted a city wide order to wear face coverings/masks in public places where people can not social distance starting June19 at 5pm. 

In addition, Mayor Jane Castor Commissioners Kimberly Overman, Sandy Murman Les Miller & Vice Temple Terrace Mayor Andy Ross did the right thing today by voting to allow a motion to come back to the Hillsborough County Emergency Policy Group on Monday, 6/22 in support of face coverings in public businesses. 

Make sure to reach out to members of the EPG to support mask wearing before the Monday 1:30pm meeting where they will vote for or against this ordinance. Here is the list of members: https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/…/hillsborough-county-em…

You can also sign up to make public comments in support of face coverings/mask wearing here: https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/…/speak-at-a-virtual-epg…. 

Finally, at the Hillsborough County Health Care Advisory Board meeting today, I made a motion that unanimously passed for our Advisory Board to make a recommendation to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners for people to wear face coverings/mask when in public places where they can not social distance. 

I support wearing masks/face coverings because if we do not want to roll back openings/relaxation of social distancing, we must do everything else in our power to decrease transmission - wear a mask, wash your hands, don't touch your face and avoid large groups of > 10 people if possible. Ideally, this would also be in the context of a broader contact tracing strategy. 

Also if you need to participate in public demonstrations, please still try to consider these recommendations and implement them in the best way possible.