The sheriff for Marion County, Florida has banned his deputies from wearing face masks on duty and banned anyone from wearing face masks in his Ocala offices even though city regulations require masks in all public indoor sites, the Ocala Star Banner reports.

In an email dated Aug. 11, Sheriff Billy Woods said “my order will stand as is when you are on-duty/working as my employee and representing my Office – masks will not be worn.”

Marion County on Tuesday registered a record high in daily fatalities due to coronavirus.  With a population of 365,000, Marion County has recorded 6,800 cases of coronavirus, meaning about 2% of the population has been infected.

While Woods made some exceptions for deputies working in hospitals or prisons, the ban on masks includes deputies who are working private events.

“As for special details and/or any special events (paid or not), masks will not be worn. Effective immediately the entity that has requested and has hired a deputy for a special detail will be given clear instruction by Darian Tucker at the time of their written request that masks will not be worn (unless one of the exceptions above applies). In addition, if you are the special detail deputy you will again advise the contact person that a mask will not be worn by you,” according to the email.

Woods demands his deputies remove masks when “enforcement action is to be taken and it requires you to give an individual orders/commands to comply” in high risk areas when they are giving instructions or are in contact with high-risk individuals.