President Trump should wear a face mask when he comes to Miami for a presidential debate this fall, if the current county rules are still in effect at that time.
That’s the word from Carlos Gimenez, mayor of Miami-Dade County.
Gimenez, who is a Republican, was asked about that issue Thursday as he discussed a newly expanded countywide order requiring face coverings to be worn outdoors even when social distancing is possible.
“I believe the president like every other leader should follow what the rules are of the locality,” Gimenez told reporters. “And so depending on the locality, if he comes to Miami-Dade I would expect that he would be wearing a mask, because that’s our rules down here.
He continued, “So, as the leader of Miami-Dade I’ll be wearing a mask. You’ll see me wearing the mask all the time. You have always seen me wear the mask when it’s appropriate. That’s what we should be doing … every citizen should be playing their part.”
Trump is scheduled to debate former vice president and Democratic candidate Joe Biden on Oct. 15 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami.
The commander-in-chief has declined to wear a mask at public appearances up to this point.
We wear masks out of respect for one another's health. I respect you and you respect me by keeping each other safe from the spread of COVID-19. Today's New Normal Dashboard numbers show just how important this is: https://t.co/EuCk5Ld1c2
— Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez (@MayorGimenez) July 2, 2020
Meanwhile, Biden has said that as president, he would make wearing face masks mandatory for Americans.
Gimenez also emphasized that wearing face coverings is the major factor to ensuring that Miami-Dade County does not need to shut down again.
“Wearing a mask is actually a symbol of respect,” he said. “The respect that I have for you, and you have for me.”
Palm Beach County, which is home to President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, also recently enacted a mask order, as coronavirus cases rise across South Florida.
Mayor Gimenez also expanded a countywide curfew and rolled back some re-openings on Thursday.
Beginning Friday, July 3, Miami-Dade County will have a 10 p.m. countywide curfew until 6 a.m. every day, until further notice.
Essential workers, including first responders, hospital workers, food delivery services and media, will be exempted from the curfew.
Additionally, Gimenez announced that he is “rolling back the reopening of entertainment facilities, such as movie theaters, arcades, casinos (with the exception of tribal casinos, over which the County does not have jurisdiction), adult entertainment, concert houses, bowling alleys and other establishments that have recently had their plans approved by the County.”
The Florida Department of Health reported Thursday that Miami-Dade County has 40,265 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 1,018 deaths, the most statewide. Palm Beach County has 14,859 cases and 523 fatalities.