Alachua County Extends Mask Mandate

On Tuesday, Alachua County Commissioners voted in favor of extending a local mask mandate that has been in place for nearly a year. The newest iteration of this emergency order is largely a continuation of existing protocols, such as requiring face coverings in public, but also includes language reflective of updated CDC guidelines. Most notable amongst the additions is a prohibition on gatherings of fifty or more persons when social distancing is not possible. However, if each member of the group is vaccinated, this rule does not apply. As a reminder, the emergency order is set to expire; commissioners plan to reevaluate this issue during their April 13 meeting based on current virus and vaccination data. Please make sure to monitor the blog for future updates.