In an emergency ordinance this week, the city of Holmes Beach is now requiring residents to wear face masks to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

"The commission finds it is in the best interest of the public health, safety and welfare of the residents and workers of and visitors to the City of Holmes Beach to require suitable face coverings in public locations to slow the spread of COVID19," the ordinance states, adding that "the commission finds the potential inconvenience of an ordinance requiring the use of face coverings or other suitable face coverings is minimal compared to the risk to the health, safety, and welfare of the community were no such rule imposed."

City leadership acknowledged that most people are aware of social distancing practices and other CDC-recommended guidelines to help slow the spread of COVID-19, but said that "such recommendations are not being practiced voluntarily on a community-wide basis" and that the commission agrees that making face masks mandatory is necessary for the health and safety of the community.

Both the state of Florida and Sarasota and Manatee counties shattered COVID-19 case records, with 8,942 new cases being reported statewide, 106 in Sarasota County and 166 in Manatee County.