BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The mask mandate in Palm Beach County is now extended until at least mid-May, as new infection counts continue at high levels and the positivity rate remains in the 7’s and 8’s.
While individuals can not be fined for not wearing a mask, businesses can be fined for COVID and other health code violations.
From a Palm Beach County news conference on Thursday:
“The mandatory facial covering order in Palm Beach County is being extended through mid-May. Mayor Kerner said, “I understand we are fatigued with COVID and the data indicates that this is not a good time to relax our safeguards”.
County Administrator Verdenia Baker thanked the public for helping us to get us to where we are and encouraged residents to stay the course. “We want to get to a point where the science tells us we can stop wearing masks. Please bear with us and continue to wear the masks for the benefit of the community as a whole, said Baker.”
Dr. Alina Alonso, Director of the Palm Beach County division of the Florida Department of Health, spoke about the rising infection and positivity rates.
“Dr. Alonso confirmed the positivity rate beginning on April 1 was at 5.05% and has peaked at 7.13% this week. The period of rapid improvement ended in February and although cases are going up, hospitalizations and deaths are down.
Palm Beach County has a total of 137,132 cases state wide, 2,704 total deaths and is averaging 450 new cases daily. 55% of new cases are coming from residents ranging in age from 15 to 55 and only 3% of that population has been fully vaccinated in Palm Beach County.”
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