WEST PALM BEACH — On July 27, the CDC updated its guidance for fully vaccinated people in order to address rising numbers of the COVID-19 virus and its associated new variants in the area and across the country. The guidance includes a recommendation for fully vaccinated people to return to wearing facial coverings in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission. South Florida is an area that meets this description.

Due to the CDC’s updated guidance and the rising positivity rates of COVID-19 in Palm Beach County, it is necessary to reinstate a facial covering requirement for county employees and members of the public in county-owned and leased facilities.

Effective Aug. 2, at 12:01 a.m. and until further notice, it is the county’s policy that individuals must wear facial coverings and practice social distancing from other individuals while indoors on county property. county property includes all county-owned and county-leased buildings where Palm Beach County’s offices, divisions, departments or Constitutional Offices conduct business. This requirement includes vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals, per CDC guidelines. If you require a special accommodation, you should contact the appropriate office in advance.

Further, in accordance with federal regulations, facial coverings are required on all county-operated transit vehicles and in the Palm Beach International Airport.

Law Enforcement officials are authorized to issue a trespass warning and remove any individuals who are not in compliance with this policy.