A state senator says the enforcement provisions in Gov. Mike DeWine鈥檚 mask mandate are unfair. It requires customers to wear masks and if they don鈥檛, state inspectors could take action against the business owner with fines or even shutdown.
Republican Sen. Dave Burke owns a pharmacy in Marysville. He says he鈥檚 worried about keeping his employees healthy so they can handle the high demands on his business. Burke says he鈥檚 not against asking people to wear a mask while in his store but thinks the provision that could take action against businesses is unfair.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no willful or wanton provision. If I wanted to go and wreck someone鈥檚 business, my family and I could just show up, roll in the door without masks, start walking around, send selfies of ourselves and pictures of ourselves and get that business closed down. Absolutely terrible.鈥�
Burke explains the situation is further complicated because federal HIPAA laws keep businesses like his from asking about medical conditions that might cause someone not to wear a mask. He is frustrated that this new mandate is aimed at holding a business owner liable in this situation.
鈥淵ou are going to close my business for 24 hours for actions that I might not be aware at all and yet I am going to be liable, even after best effort in full compliance. Absolutely insane. This is the kind of stuff I think just sends people over the edge.鈥�
He wants lawmakers to pass a bill that would do away with the enforcement provisions. And he wants the governor to work with lawmakers to come up with better ways to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the future.
Dewine had issued a mask mandate on all employees and customers enforced by retailers and businesses in April. Hours later he reversed that for customers, saying he鈥檇 heard criticism that the government shouldn鈥檛 order masks, and businesses shouldn鈥檛 be required to enforce that.
Copyright 2020 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit .
