Palm Beach County, Fla. residents will receive reusable masks to help households comply with the area’s new ordinance requiring masks in public spaces, The South Florida Sun-Sentinal reported Friday.
According to the outlet, Mayor Dave Kerner announced that 1.5 million washable masks were to be ordered and sent to all 660,000 households, with some set aside for those who may ask for more or face potential delivery issues. He said the cost is an estimated $2.5 million.
It’s unclear when the masks may arrive, and Kerner acknowledged distribution will be “a challenge” but said he’s “pushing the pedal to the metal.”
The announcement by local officials comes after residents responded with outrage over the new rules requiring facial coverings. Earlier this week, a Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners public comment session went viral after some called the rules “devil’s laws” that would “throw God’s wonderful breathing system out the door.”
Another attendee, Christina Gomez said, “We will get together and do a citizen’s arrest on every single human being that goes against the freedom of choice” and claimed that masks “literally [are] killing people … and every one of you who are obeying the Devil’s law are going to be arrested for crimes against humanity.”
The new rule mirrors that of other states seeing spikes in coronavirus cases in recent weeks. Florida has seen back-to-back record-breaking days. Florida shattered its single-day record of new coronavirus cases reported on Friday, adding an additional 8,942 confirmed infections, according to the Department of Health.
In response to the massive spike, Florida announced Friday it is shutting down bars in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.