Mask fines are gone. Do you still need to wear one in Miami-Dade, Broward and the Keys?

Masks have been the law in South Florida for months.

Everyone has been required to wear one in public, both inside and outside, to help protect others from COVID-19. Those who didn’t could face a hefty fine.

Then on Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order, which among other things, allowed bars and nightclubs to reopen in Florida, including in Miami-Dade and Broward, the two counties hit hardest by the disease.

His order also suspended fines and fees tied to local COVID-19 mitigation efforts, including the mask fines in Miami-Dade, Broward and the Keys. Local officials were left scrambling to figure out what the order meant for COVID-19 related enforcement measures.

Are you still required to wear a mask to help reduce the novel coronavirus spread?

Do I need to wear a mask in Miami-Dade, Broward and the Florida Keys?

Yes, Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe counties are still requiring people to wear a mask. The difference is that officials can no longer fine you for not wearing one. At least, that was the idea.

Miami-Dade County will continue issuing citations to maskless offenders but will not collect the $100 fine until the governor’s order is lifted, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said in a news conference Tuesday afternoon.

A Broward spokeswoman said the county will also still issue citations to individuals not complying with the mask mandate. A county attorney is still looking into whether the fines would be collected after the order is lifted like in Miami-Dade.

Businesses in Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Key West and the rest of South Florida could also still be penalized for not following COVID-19 safety guidelines, including the mask mandate, according to the three counties.

Remember, health experts say wearing a mask that covers your mouth and nose helps protect others from COVID-19, a disease that is primarily spread through small droplets from the nose or mouth. People release droplets into the air when they sneeze, cough, speak, laugh and shout.

What happens if someone inside a South Florida business is maskless?

And since Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe require masks to be worn inside businesses, including office buildings, hotels, stores, restaurants, bars and nightclubs, this means businesses could get in trouble for allowing maskless people to walk in and receive service.

Both Broward and Monroe say this could be in the form of a fine. In Miami-Dade, the county attorney’s office is still reviewing DeSantis’ order and seeking clarification, but for now, the understanding is that businesses found to not be complying with the county’s “New Normal” guidelines can be temporarily closed, a county spokeswoman said.

The business owner would also have to agree to fix the violations. If the business violates the “New Normal” guidelines again, it could face additional closures, a maximum fine of $500 and the owner could face up to 180 days in jail, according to the county’s attestation form.

Miami-Dade’s mask mandate also requires you to wear a mask outside, including if you’re taking a walk in the park or waiting at a restaurant’s outdoor table for your food to arrive. Broward and Monroe’s mask mandate also requires masks to be worn outside if social distancing isn’t possible.

What about the rest of Florida?

While mask mandates can vary by the county, several businesses, including Publix, Walmart and Costco have made masks a requirement in all of their stores for now. Your best bet to avoid being turned away at the door during the pandemic? Wear a mask.