Mills orders businesses and others to crack down on mask mandate violators
While customers have been required since Nov. 4 to wear face coverings at many Maine businesses in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, businesses are now being asked to enforce the rule.
Gov. Janet Mills on Friday issued an executive order requiring owners and operators of all indoor public spaces — regardless of their function or size — to refuse entry to people without masks or other coverings.
Previously, the state prohibited those without masks from entering many establishments, which could deny entry if patrons refused. That rule applied to retail stores with more than 50,000 square feet of shopping space, along with eating establishments, bars, tasting rooms, social clubs, and lodging operations and accommodations.
But as the number of COVID-19 cases in Maine continues to shoot upward, Mills said stronger action was necessary, and warned that even more drastic measures warned that more severe restrictions, including reduced gathering limits or business closures, might be necessary to gain better control of the spread of COVID-19.
“Short of closing businesses and schools and requiring people to stay home, which is the last thing I want to do, especially during the holidays, we are running out of available public health tools to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Maine,” she said in a news release Friday.
“We know masks can stop the spread. But we need people to wear them. This executive order is aimed at ensuring that we are protecting people in stores, protecting store employees and keeping Maine people healthy.”
In addition to businesses and other private organizations, the order applies to municipalities and public entities. Any organization that doesn’t comply with the rule can be fined $1,000. Still, some businesses have openly resisted the previous mask mandate imposed on customers, and on social media appeared to oppose the new, more stringent requirement.
In the release, however, two of the state’s business leaders echoed Mills’ words.
Curtis Picard, president and CEO of the Retail Association of Maine, said in the release, “Maine's retailers, grocers and restaurants employ one in four Maine workers. That means you have a family member, a friend or a neighbor that is relying on that job to survive. If you don't wear a mask, don't try to enter a store. It's that simple: no mask, no service, no exceptions.”
Dana Connors, president of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, added, “Protecting the health of Maine people and our state’s workforce also protects Maine’s economic health, and wearing a mask is one of the easiest and most effective ways to do that. This is simple: if you care about Maine businesses, you will wear a mask.”
In addition, Mills announced on Friday that she has dedicated $100,000 in CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to continue its “Keep It Maine” campaign. The campaign will promote messages from people directly affected by COVID-19 to convey the importance of taking basic public health precautions.
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