HOLT, Fla., June 27, 2020—A trip from Holt to Pensacola for business or pleasure means having to wear a face covering while there.

Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson issued a declaration of a state of emergency effective June 26 requiring face coverings to be worn by employees and patrons inside businesses within city limits.

The order is in response to a rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in the Pensacola area.

Escambia has 1,611 cases compared to Okaloosa’s  563, current as of today’s information from the Florida Department of Health.

Escambia’s case numbers steadily trended upwards the past four days to a record number of 140 positive cases reported June 25. Numbers were significantly down yesterday at 51.

“Our top priority in the city of Pensacola is the health and safety of our citizens,” said Robinson. “Wearing a mask is a simple step we can all take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ultimately help our community and economy recover more quickly.”

An individual in a business must wear a face covering while inside, according to the order.

All people who own, manage or are employed by a business located within city limits must wear a face covering while on duty.

Additionally, each business must post signs notifying individuals of the mask requirement.

The order does not apply to:

• A child under 6 years of age
• A person with medical conditions or disabilities that prevent wearing a face covering
• Someone communicating with the hearing impaired who needs to lip read
• People exercising while observing 6 feet of separation from others
• People eating or drinking; however, entering, exiting and moving about a restaurant, as in a trip to the restroom, requires a covering
• Federal, state or county government buildings and churches and places of worship are excluded