SARASOTA (WSNN) – A “Mask Mobile” helps distribute 50,000 masks in Sarasota as an effort to promote wearing masks in the city.
City staff members are giving away masks to help stop the spread of COVID-19. They’re handing out paper and cloth masks to maskless visitors and residents throughout the city using a “Mask Mobile.” It’s a small electric City vehicle outfitted with a white surgical mask across the front grill.
“This initiative is designed really to take away excuses,” city manager, Tom Barwin, said. “If people don’t have a mask, they’re available, we’re going to give you one, or two, or more.“
Staff members will be located in busy areas like downtown, at parking garages at St. Armands and State Street, and parks like the Bayfront.
Seeing the rising case number in Florida, Barwin says people need to take this seriously. He says the city staff recommends looking into mandatory masks requirements for at least the next 30 to 60 days.
“It’s essential to not only restore public health, but really to restore the economy, and certainly minimize a massive repeat of what we went through this fall,” Barwin said.
Epidemiologist Dr. Manny Gordillo says using masks keeps you from spreading the virus to your neighbor.
“The goal is to prevent the exhalation of droplets, contaminating the environment to prevent the people around you from getting infected from you,” Dr. Gordillo said. “If you are before the onset of symptoms , what we call the pre-symptomatic phase if you are contagious.
Some people on the Suncoast say they’re thankful for the city’s efforts offering free masks.
“I thought it was a nice gesture,” Anna Maria resident, Joe Shea, said. “I have three of them in the car, so I didn’t take one.”
“Handing it out for free, as opposed to people having go by them, yes, 100 percent, that’s a great idea,” Sarasota resident, Mitchell McMullen said.
Barwin says the mask mobile is a fun way to distribute some of the masks.
“It’s Christmas in June,” Barwin said.
Friday morning, the city is giving away masks to businesses in Sarasota. And on Monday at 1:30pm, the Mayor is holding a commissioners meeting on the topic of mandating masks. It will require a four out of five vote to move forward with the order.
