The City of Sarasota has extended its declaration of a local citywide public health emergency through August 14 following a weekly review, as required by the City Charter, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The emergency order was issued Friday by City Manager Tom Barwin, in consultation with Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch and City Attorney Robert Fournier. It also authorizes the code compliance special magistrate to conduct contested code compliance cases in person on Aug. 27 and Sept. 3, with no more than 20 cases scheduled each day. Each Thursday thereafter, the special magistrate may resume the regular meeting schedule.

Face coverings are now required in all indoor and outdoor public spaces in the City limits, whenever proper social distancing cannot be maintained in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The temporary regulation, which took effect July 1, will be in place for 60 days.

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