St. Johns County officials reject mask mandate for third time

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — St Johns County Commissioner Henry Dean has been pushing for masks in public places for weeks without any support.

Dean said none of the commissioners were willing to support his face mask proposal, even as one of their colleagues is in a fight for his life with COVID-19.

“It’s basically the third time. I brought it up on June 30th. I brought it up again July 7th and I brought it up again July 14th, yesterday morning,” said Dean.

Dean says he even proposed a temporary mandatory mask ordinance that would end Aug. 18 but still he got no support.

“I’m a strong supporter of and will always be a strong supporter of the mandatory mask ordinance,” Dean explained.

Last week, the daughter of county commissioner Paul Waldron posted the news to Facebook that her father was critically ill after being diagnosed with COVID-19.

Today she asks the public to pray for him.

“We’re all praying for Mr. Waldron. He is really a good man and I feel terrible about his illness,” said Dean.

Viewers in St Johns County also chimed in on our Facebook page about the decision to not make masks mandatory.

“I tried to listen to science and the top scientists, the top doctors that I look to at the federal level Dr. Fauci and then at our local level Dr. Allicock who is our medical director for the county all are saying that everyone should wear masks.

Dean says he will continue the push for face masks in the county. He plans to ask commissioners if they would reconsider his motion in a meeting next week.