Anna Maria Island’s three cities have differing requirements for wearing face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anna Maria
Every person working, living, visiting or doing business in the city of Anna Maria shall properly wear a face covering in any indoor location, other than their home or residence, and maintain social distancing from other people, excluding family members or companions.
Exceptions:
- Children under the age of 2;
- People for whom a face covering would cause impairment due to an existing health condition;
- People working in a business or profession who do not have interactions with other people;
- People working in an office when all interactions with others are done with social distancing as recommended by the CDC;
- People eating and/or drinking at a restaurant; provided, however, that face coverings must otherwise be worn in restaurants.
- People exercising and social distancing at fitness centers.
Bradenton Beach
Bradenton Beach commissioners have not passed a mandate on masks, and unless they do, a Manatee County resolution is in effect in Bradenton Beach.
Everyone must wear a face covering while inside a business.
Exceptions:
- Situations in which individuals maintain 6 feet or more distance between persons. This exception does not apply to employees who are present in the kitchen or other food and beverage preparation areas of a business establishment. Nor does it apply to employees serving food or beverages.
- Children under the age of 6.
- People who have trouble breathing due to a chronic pre-existing condition or people with a documented or demonstrable medical problem.
- Public safety, fire, and other life safety and health care personnel who are already governed by their respective agencies.
- Restaurant and bar patrons while eating or drinking. Face coverings must be worn when entering and exiting the establishment and while otherwise standing within 6 feet of other patrons.
- Individuals inside a lodging establishment, including hotel and motel rooms, vacation rentals and timeshares.
Holmes Beach (expires Aug. 25)
Owners, managers, employees, customers or patrons of businesses must wear a face covering while in that business.
Exceptions:
- Restaurant customers or patrons while dining and/or consuming beverages while seated at a table;
- Gym patrons in a workout or class where at least 6 feet of distancing exists with the next closest person;
- Barbershop or beauty salon customers or patrons when wearing a face covering would reasonably interfere with receiving services;
- Business owners, managers and employees who are in an area of a business that is not open to customers, patrons or the public, provided that 6 feet of distance exists between employees. This exception does not apply to employees who are present in the kitchen or other food and beverage preparation area of a restaurant or food establishment. When an owner, manager or employee is in their place of employment but not within 6 feet of another person, that owner, manager or employee does not need to wear a mask;
- Bar patrons while consuming beverages and/or food;
- A lodging establishment guest when inside of the lodging unit including but not limited to a hotel room, motel room, vacation rental unit, timeshare unit or similar unit.
- When a customer of a business asserts that he or she has a disability that prevents the individual from wearing a mask, the owner, manager or employee of the business may exclude the individual, even if they have a disability, as they pose a direct threat to the health and safety of employees and other customers, even if asymptomatic, and shall accommodate the disabled individual in a manner that does not fundamentally alter the operations of the business or jeopardize the health of the business’s employees and other customers, such as providing curb service or delivery or other reasonable accommodation.
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