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V O L U M E 11,
Mask mandate wild card continues to loom for businesses Despite LA County voting to not re-introduce another mask mandate as of July 28, the possibility continues to keep businesses on edge. BY ELOIN BARAHONA
| Photo courtesy of Photo Filip Bunkens/Unsplash
T
he coronavirus pandemic has changed the lives of Americans everywhere. Everything from social interactions to public gatherings has had to change. Businesses had to adapt to the sudden risk of close contact. Some businesses are particularly impacted by mask mandates. Public places such as restaurants, supermarkets and gyms have had to oblige their patrons to follow new rules and regulations. This has led to difficulties for businesses, as enforcement of
mask mandates and other regulations has not been easy. At the beginning of 2022, such regulations were rescinded, citing fewer cases as the reason. Now that COVID cases have been rising, mask mandates have again been on the table for LA County. As of July 28, LA County has voted not to re-introduce a mandate, but the fluidity of the pandemic keeps the prospect very much alive. And that is what has some businesses on edge. Mandates in the early days
In 2020, many businesses had to enforce the sudden mandates that were
the mandate stayed and changed everything, including the fortunes of many
“The anxiety of having to enforce mandates has not only put undue stress on businesses but has also affected workers as well.” put in place to combat the spread of coronavirus. Until the introduction of vaccines quelled the rise in cases,
businesses. Everything from supermarkets to department stores had to adhere to what
was in place. Customers had to wear masks and maintain social distancing whenever possible — some locations required a limit on people in the building. The effects on businesses have varied but there is one consistent fact: many citizens feel averse to being made to wear masks. Frontline workers were caught in the middle between enforcing these new rules and providing customer service. In an article discussing the stresses of enforcing mask mandates, Ralphs worker Raquel Solario
expressed her anxiety at the responsibility. “You fear that you might take the virus home to your family. I’ve had customers swear at me when we ask them to wear a mask,” Solario said to the LA Times. The changes in the workplace With such a stressful environment, businesses all around have voiced their concerns regarding a return of mask mandates. Robert Fleming, owner of the
See Mask mandate Page 2