Key Biscayne officials imposed a face mask requirement Wednesday in government buildings, citing a steep increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Miami and statewide.
“I am instituting an administrative policy requiring facial coverings at all indoor Village facilities for employees and for visitors. Upon request, the Village will work with individuals unable to comply with this policy to ensure access to essential government services,” wrote Village Manager Steve Wiliamson in a memo to residents and employees.
On Wednesday, village officials put new signs up at the Community Center and other locations.
Key Biscayne’s action follows a similar reimposition of mask mandates taken by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Levine Cava and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.
A new state law gives Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis the ability to reverse any local emergency measure, but it’s not clear how that applies to Williamson’s “administrative” policy order. It was first announced in an email to council members this week.
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Tony Winton is the editor-in-chief of the Key Biscayne Independent and president of Miami Fourth Estate, Inc. He worked previously at The Associated Press for three decades winning multiple Edward R. Murrow awards. He was president of the News Media Guild, a journalism union, for 10 years. Born in Chicago, he is a graduate of Columbia University. His interests are photography and technology, sailing, cooking, and science fiction.