As almost every local government in Florida is debating, passing and updating orders relating to face coverings/masks inside businesses, it is very important that businesses review the most recent orders from their city and county with their onsite managers and staff and ensure complete compliance. Businesses should keep in mind that many of the orders have unique provisions, so all applicable orders should be reviewed. Click below to view:

Hillsborough Order

Pinellas Order

Tampa Order

St. Petersburg Order

Pasco Order

Businesses that do not require their employees and visitors to follow applicable orders make themselves susceptible to penalties under an order, regulatory action, or possible civil liability. Additionally, Florida will enforce social distancing and state mandates through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and its power to suspend or revoke food and beverage licenses, as evidenced by the state’s suspension of The Knight’s Pub alcohol license earlier this week.

If your business does not have a COVID-19 policy and action plan in place, now is the time to prepare the plan. If your business already has a plan, now is the time to review and make any warranted updates. With positive cases rising on a daily basis in parts of Florida, it’s not a matter of if a business will experience a positive case within its workforce, it’s a matter of when. All businesses must be prepared to act quickly and have a written plan before it happens to you. 

A written action plan should:

• Include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol specific to your business's industry;

• Follow state and local governments’ expectations of your business;

• Outline your business’s policies and procedures;

• Be communicated and posted where it’s easily accessible by employees;

• Cover notifying employees that if they have symptoms they are not to come to work.