NAPLES, Fla. — Three days after a mask mandate went into effect in Collier County, officials are still sticking by their decision.
Collier County Commissioner Penny Taylor tells me, it was the right thing to do.
“We’re really glad that this is happening. You know, we want people to wear masks but sometimes it’s difficult to convey that to the customer. Now it’s an ordinance we have to do it, and it’s relieved them in so many ways” said Commissioner Taylor.
A relief, Taylor says, for many.
“The community feels safer, the community feels more confident and we're doing it to say to our winter visitors, and our folks that live here half the year come back,” said Commissioner Taylor.
Commissioner Andy Solis says the decision shows that local leadership heard business owners loud and clear.
“We’ve seen numbers going up here locally, and we need to do what we can do to protect our residents, protect our businesses, and protect the future of Collier County,” said Commissioner Solis.
“The business community has told me, what we cannot afford, what they cannot afford is a second shutdown,” said Commissioner Solis.
Supporting those businesses, locals tell me, they've kept a close eye on Coronavirus cases.
“We’ve been watching these numbers go up over time and it does concern us, of course, we have our mask here right now,” said John Matthews.
Matthews tells me, he feels local government, made the right call.
“ I think it says a lot about the leadership in the county and the people that are making these decisions, because this is a big issue for the entire region, state, country and it just feels to us like that’s the right way to go,” said Matthews.
