On April 28, 2021 the CDC most recently updated its guidance on outdoor use, saying those who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear face coverings unless they are in a big crowd. Along with people who have been vaccinated, the CDC is also saying those who are unvaccinated can go without masks outdoors in some circumstances. On May 10, 2021 Dr. Anthony Fauci said on CNN that the CDC may soon be relaxing their guidelines on indoor mask use but that hasn’t happened yet.
On May 7, 2021 the CDC published updated guidance that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an airborne threat, explicitly stating that transmission and subsequent infection with the novel coronavirus can occur via inhalation of very fine respiratory droplets as well as aerosolized particles from further than six feet away.
Florida Governor Ron DeathSantis suspended all local COVID-19 emergency orders on May 3, 2021 and signed a proposal lawmakers approved that limits the local government’s ability to impose mask requirements and other social distancing measures used to combat the coronavirus this past year.
Orange County Governor Jerry Demings had a plan in place to lift mask requirements by June. His response to DeathSantis’s order was, “In review of the governor’s executive orders, I am not surprised. He first indicated that the order would not take effect until July 1, 2021, and then quickly changed it to be ‘effective immediately.’ He then offered new language that invalidates a local government’s ability to take action during a public health emergency. Orange County Government will continue to review its statutory authority and will respond accordingly. Gov. DeSantis has been slow to act in responding to the pandemic, which has caused local elected officials to take action to fill the void and keep their residents safe. I want Orange County residents to know that I will continue to make decisions in the best interest of their health, safety and welfare and will not wait on the governor to tell me what to do. This immediate past legislative session is proof positive of how the state is preempting local home-rule powers – that is not good for democracy. When I ask myself, “What is really the purpose of the governor’s actions?” I conclude that his actions are part of a larger partisan strategy by the Republican Party to usurp the authority of Democrat-led urban counties and cities across America. We expect better from the governor of Florida.”
After DeathSantis lifted all COVID safety precautions, signage in the Orange County Courthouse to wear masks will be removed. On February 8, 2021 the Court began conducting some in person business. Some court business is being done virtually, but if you go to court, it looks like you will soon be risking our life unless you are fully vaccinated. I am betting that many of the mindless masses pressing into the court are not vaccinated.