BARTOW Polk County Public Schools students and staff will still be required to wear facial coverings through the end of the school year, despite Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issuing several executive orders this week rescinding any local emergency orders regarding masks and social distancing.
Executive Order 21-101 states “any emergency order issued by a political subdivision due to the COVID-19 emergency which restricts the rights or liberties of individuals or their businesses is invalidated. Nothing herein prohibits a political subdivision of the State from enacting ordinances pursuant to regular enactment procedures to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its local population. Only the COVID-19 emergency orders. enacted prior to July 1, 2021, are hereby invalidated. This order is effective beginning on July 1, 2021.”