TAMPA AREA — If you’re out and about in the cities of Tampa or Saint Petersburg this weekend, remember to bring your mask as both cities now have mask rules in place as of Friday night.

The Himes Avenue Complex in South Tampa is one of three locations that the city has started up to give out face masks.

Tampa:

  • Himes Avenue Complex, 4501 S. Himes Ave.
  • MacFarlane Par, 1700 N. MacDill Ave.
  • Al Barnes Par, 2902 N. 32nd St.
  • New Tampa Community Center, 17302 Commerce Park Blvd.
  • Springhill Park, 1000 E. Eskimo Ave.

Masks are free to residents during each locations’ normal operating hours and unless noted, each location is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Masks are only available while supplies last.

St. Petersburg:

  • Azalea Recreation Center, 1600 72nd St. N.
  • Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S.
  • Imagine Museum, 1901 Central Ave.
  • The Morean Arts Center, 719 Central Ave.
  • PSTA stations (Grand Central Station and Williams Park)
  • The St. Pete Store & Visitors Center, 100 2nd Ave. N. #150 (Opens at 10 a.m.)
  • Fossil Park Fire Station, 875 64th Ave. N. (when SPFR personnel are present)
  • People Empowering & Restoring Communities, 1601 16th Street S. (This is a location for those who just got out of prison or jail and need help. There are no set operational hours for this location.)

It comes as Tampa Mayor Jane Castor made an executive order to wear face masks if a person is in public spaces

In Saint Petersburg, the mask order is not as strict and it just applies to employees who work with customers inside a business.

Still, both of these moves are designed to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Cases have been spiking throughout the state over the past week.

These are the only mask orders we know of in the Bay area

As for the rest of Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis says he will not be issuing a state mask order at this time.

"I mean, I do think that a lot of this is voluntary compliance. I mean, you know, you're just not going to be able to police every single per group of people every single time. And so I think as you get into this months after month, I think people do get a little tired, particularly in some of the age groups that may not be as at risk," said the governor.

Castor says masks can help stop the spread the virus.

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