Suggestion for retail

Businesses and Gov. Asa Hutchinson are in a no-win situation. People complain we have been opening up too fast, causing the spread of covid-19 to increase dramatically, and they are correct. Other people complain we are opening up too slowly and it’s hurting our economy, and they are also correct. The ideal will be to meet in the middle. (Side message to Governor Hutchinson: A majority of people are not following guidelines of wearing masks and social distancing, and they aren’t going to start now when so many think it’s a hoax or blown out of proportion.)

Ideally the businesses would make masks mandatory to prevent the spread, but that probably isn’t going to happen. A suggestion to businesses is to have mask-wearing people only during a set time at opening after the thorough cleanings. It would appease the mask-wearers and it would appease the non-wearers. It really isn’t that simple because many people work at particular times and wouldn’t be able to do that, but it would be a start. To protect the employees worried about covid-19, allow them to work the early shift. If it isn’t possible, maybe they would have more employment options if more businesses either required mandatory masks or at least a set period requiring mandatory masks.

This is not a solution to prevent the spread, but it may provide some protection to people worried about getting covid-19 and giving it to older and/or health-compromised loved ones.

DIANE DAILEY North Little Rock