“Keep in mind that private businesses can still require face coverings.”
Exe. Order: “No COVID Fines or Penalties may be applied toward any individual or business operating in the State of Florida.”
It looks like maybe they can require, but there’d be no teeth in it. No fines if relating to Covid. A business would have to prove it required masks pre-Covid in order to get away with it, is how I read it. If they didn’t require masks before, but do now, then it would be considered a “COVID Fine or Penalty”.
No. Businesses would not have to prove anything. It simply means their requirement would not have the force of any anti-mask law and associated fines behind it. The store could though press trespassing charges if a person was asked to leave and they refused. The store policy also would have to comply with ADA re:reasonable accommodations for people unable to wear a mask due to health problems.
The EO does 3 things. It prohibits local governments from preventing a person from operating a business or working.
It stops local governments from mandating that restaurants and such operate at less than 50% capacity. It also mandates that should a local government show just cause should they mandate that such establishments operate at less than 100% capacity.
It then removes all fines and penalties being levied against individuals for violations of any anti-covid measures by local governments.
It is important to note the EO deals only with what anti covid measures and fines local governments mandate regarding an individual, and food service establishments.
The local government may still have anti-covid measures and penalties for same with the exceptions outlined above. For example a movie theatre could still be fined for going over an occupancy limit set by local anti-covid ordinance. A bar (not owned by an individual) could be shutdown if they flouted a local mask ordinance.