TAMPA, Fla. — As mandatory mask orders go into effect for Tampa and St. Petersburg, some Tampa Bay area spots are giving out free masks.
Tampa, St. Petersburg, Venice and Pinellas County announced locations where they are giving out free face coverings to help keep you stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic:
TAMPA
All residents in the City of Tampa must wear face masks while indoors and who are not able to maintain six feet of social distancing. Children under the age of 2 do not have to wear a face covering.
Free face coverings will be available at the following locations starting Saturday, June 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. until further notice:
- Himes Ave. Complex - 4501 S. Himes Ave
- MacFarlane Park – 1700 N. MacDill Ave.
- Al Barnes Park – 2902 N. 32nd St.
- New Tampa Community Center – 17302 Commerce Park Blvd
ST. PETERSBURG
All business employees will be required to wear a mask or face covering when dealing with the public starting Friday, June 19 at 5 p.m. If not, they will be fined.
You can pick up the city-branded masks at the following spots:
- Azalea Recreation Center, 1600 72nd St. N.
- Boyd Hill Nature Preserve, 1101 Country Club Way S.
- Downtown St. Pete: Imagine Museum at 1901 Central Ave., The Morean Arts Center at 719 Central Ave., PSTA Stations (Grand Central Station and Williams Park), The St. Pete Store and Visitors Center at 100 2nd Ave. N. #150
- Fossil Park Fire Station, 875 64th Ave. N.
- People Empowering and Restoring Communities, 1601 16th St. S.
- Lake Vista Recreation Center, 1401 62nd Avenue South
- Willis S. Johns Recreation Center, 6635 Dr. MLK Jr. Street North
- Northwest Pool, 2331 60th Street North
TARPON SPRINGS (via Pinellas County)
Tarpon Springs residents must follow Pinellas County's mandatory mask ordinance.
- Pinellas County will open a new mask handout station on Wednesday, July 1 at the Tarpon Springs Public Library at 138 E. Lemon St.
- Tarpon Springs Public Library will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Library will be closed from July 3 to July 5 due to the Fourth of July weekend.
VENICE (via Sarasota County)
Wednesday, July 8, the city of Venice is giving out packs of five. They just ask that each person takes only one package.
You can pick up the masks at the following locations:
- Venice City Hall Information Center, 401 W. Venice Ave., 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Monday-Friday
- Venice Police Department, 1350 Ridgewood Ave., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday
- Venice Fire Station 3, 5300 E. Laurel Road, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday
- Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, 597 Tamiami Trail S., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday
- Venice MainStreet Inc., 101 W. Venice Ave. #23 (upstairs), 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday
Those face masks are only available for pick up during general operating hours, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
PINELLAS COUNTY
A mandatory mask mandate is in effect for Pinellas County. You must wear a face mask or covering when you are in indoor public spaces.
Pinellas County and the area chambers of commerce will hand out free face masks to local businesses. The county said businesses "as far north as Tarpon Springs and all the way south to St. Petersburg" will be getting free masks starting Saturday, June 20 and continuing into the next several weeks.
Here is a list of some sites where masks are available for pickup:
- Clearwater Beach Library & Recreation Complex, 69 Bay Esplanade, Clearwater Beach
- Countryside Library, 2642 Sabal Springs Dr., Clearwater
- East Community Library at St. Petersburg College, 2465 Drew St., Clearwater
- North Greenwood Library, 905 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Clearwater
- Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center, 1003 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N., Safety Harbor
For a full list of where you can get a free face mask in Pinellas County, click here.
RELATED: Where are masks mandatory to wear in the Tampa Bay area?
