SATELLITE BEACH, Florida – The City Council of Satellite Beach voted 4 to 1 on Monday to make wearing face masks mandatory in all indoor public spaces that are essential services such as gas stations, grocery stores, and pharmacies.

Not wearing a face mask in those essential businesses is punishable by a $500 civil citation to the individual and code enforcement violations to the business.

The underlying rationale by the City Council in distinguishing those essential businesses from other businesses is that people who are more at risk from COVID-19, such as the elderly, have to visit those businesses for necessities.

Additionally, the Satellite Beach Chief of Police said that it would be easier for code enforcement and the police to enforce the ordinance at certain businesses rather than all of the businesses in the city.