This play-by-play
commentary of the last few days is confusing to say the least. Let me
explain the controversial face covering mandate to the best of my
ability. I hope some clarity is provided here. Still, I have lots of
doubts about what to do myself. Try to follow 1, 2, 3, and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.
1 – Monday
On Monday, April 27, 2020,
Governor Mike DeWine said: “No mask, no work, no service, no
exception,” describing his administration’s safety regulations
for manufacturers and retailers that will re-open in May.
Clearly, the order stated:
Ohio requires face masks or coverings for all employees, clients, and
customers reopening general offices and manufacturing, distribution
and construction companies on May 4 and face masks or
coverings for retail, service, and consumer businesses reopening on
May 12.
2 – Tuesday
Then, Tuesday, April 28,
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said he was walking back his directive
made Monday making face coverings inside businesses mandatory,
however, it was still strongly recommended.
“It is going to be,
for most people, a recommendation, in fact, a strong
recommendation, for people to do this,” said DeWine.
DeWine and Health Director
Dr. Amy Acton said they still believe strongly that masks should be
worn, but they recognized that the order was off-putting to many
Ohioans who saw it as “one government mandate too far,” the
governor said.
“I heard from a lot of
different people who felt that, ‘I may wear a mask, or I may not
wear a mask, but the government should not be telling me what to
do,’” DeWine said.
3 – Wednesday
Then, on Wednesday, April
29, for the second time in two days, the state of Ohio’s
mandatory requirements for businesses reopening this month were
revised, now requiring face masks for employees and distributors
in all business sectors slated to reopen in May. This comes after the
state revised its requirements on Tuesday from required for everyone
to highly recommended.
According to the updated
“Responsible Protocols” on the state’s Responsible
RestartOhio plan website, the following applies to all businesses
that will be allowed to reopen in May: “Require face coverings
for employees and recommend them for clients/customers at all
times.”
So, without a news release
or social media announcement, the state’s ResponsibleRestart
website was again updated to reflect that masks would be required,
but just for employees and distributors, not clients, customers or
guests.
The state’s Sector
Specific Operating Requirements adds additional caveats to the face
mask requirement:
For Manufacturing,
Distribution and Construction:
Face coverings are
required for employees and distributors, unless not advisable by a
healthcare professional, against documented industry best practices,
or not permitted by federal or state laws/ regulations
For Consumer, Retail and
Services:
Face coverings are
required for all employees, unless not advisable by a healthcare
professional, against documented industry best practices, or not
permitted by federal or state laws/regulations
For General Office
Environments:
Face coverings are
required for all employees, unless not advisable by a healthcare
professional, against documented industry best practices, or not
permitted by federal or state laws/regulations.
This mixed message is
extremely frustrating for those of us trying to comply with
directives and defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. I feel no one will
adhere to such a back-and-forth, cloudy proclamation about face
coverings inside businesses.
I also feel something this
important to everyone's health should have been thoroughly considered
and debated before the first public release on Monday, April 27.
Walking back directives and changing orders serves to confuse the
public, a group already suffering great anxiety about a return to
normal.
In reality, I have already
witnessed many people ignoring recommendations to wear a mask in
businesses like food stores and gas stations. People who defy such a
simple request present a danger to their fellow human beings who must
use retail outlets for essential purchases. This mixture of masked
and unmasked people seems to tell a story about the individual's
desire whether he or she wants to do everything possible to stop the
spread of the virus.
I started a Facebook group
“Scioto Corona” to provide community members important
information about the pandemic, specifically as it relates to my
county in Southern Ohio. We have very few news outlets and our area
press coverage is minimal in our rural county. I want all members of
our group (now over 5,400) to know the important reopening
regulations, but I must admit that I am very unsure myself of what
applies to whom, when, and how.
I believe political
pressure must have caused the governor to walk back the original
orders and to complicate procedures. I wonder what is going on. The
mixed message of opposition to government directives as they apply to
orders and the “strong belief” in the safety of wearing masks is
just not cohesive. Enter all kinds of confusion and debate over
safest practices as opposed to individual inconvenience. This is not
good in such dangerous times.
One Facebook one person
put it like this:
“Everyone can accept
that pants or something covering your butt is a requirement- but
covering your germ spewing mouth that might carry a virus that could
kill is offensive? Get over yourselves. Wear a mask or stay at home.”
Another Facebooker said …
“Offensive or not, if
the science says it’s effective, it’s effective and people’s
feelings be damned.”
“In the interest of
avoiding another government mandate” sounds like the language of
political football, not the words of a crusader determined to insure
public health at all costs. I believe Governor DeWine has been a
wonderful leader who has done almost everything possible to insure
the safety of Ohioans during the crisis. However, the last few days
are making me scratch my head in wonder. Are cracks appearing in his
armor as certain national pressures begin to influence his best
decisions?
I guess the best we can
conclude are conditions – unless not advisable by a
healthcare professional, against documented industry best practices,
or not permitted by federal or state laws/regulations – will
determine the safety and the possible fate of the general public.
Right now I'm more confused than a goat on astroturf. And, I'm pretty
sure those who don't want to wear a mask will simply not comply
anyhow.
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