Wolf insists masks must be worn in public settings
Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday reminded all Pennsylvania residents and businesses that masks are mandatory when visiting any business.
“The importance of maskwearing to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect people and businesses cannot be overstated,” Wolf said. “Masks are required in businesses, for the entire time someone is visiting a business. It’s that simple and that important to continue to safely reopen the state and keep our case counts on the decline.”
Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine made maskwearing a requirement of businesses with in-person operations via the secretary’s order that grants her this authority granted
by law.
Wolf’s call to wear masks was endorsed Friday by Pennsylvania businesses that see mask-wearing as vital to protecting customers, employees, communities and their bottom lines.
“The GIANT Company continues to take the necessary steps to keep our customers and team members safe in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus — from requiring team members to wear masks to checkstand partitions at registers, plus other social distancing and strict sanitation protocols,” said GIANT President Nicholas Bertram. “Everyone should continue to do their part as good neighbors to follow the mask-wearing guidance put forth by Gov. Wolf to protect each other and help stop the spread of the virus.”
Gov. Wolf’s and Levine’s business guidance states that businesses must “Require all customers to wear masks while on the premises. Businesses that provide medication, medical supplies or groceries must provide an alternate, no contact, means of delivering goods for customers who cannot wear a mask.
“However, individuals who cannot wear a mask due to a medical condition (including children under the age of 2 years per
CDC guidance) may enter the premises and are not required to provide documentation of such medical condition.”
“Safe employees mean a secure workforce,” said Mallory Fix Lopez, owner, On Point Bistro in South Philadelphia. “Additionally, customers have faith they are safe when patronizing the business. The use of masks is key to public health and business sustainability, and it’s essential that businesses are actively supporting the use of masks.”
“As a hair salon owner, the safety of my customers is important to me,” said Georgeanne Huff-Labovitz, owner of Marie Huff Hairdressing in Tacony in Northeast Philadelphia. “I am taking every effort to ensure their safety. Wearing a face covering protects everyone and prevents the spread of COVID-19 and is a key part of safely reopening my business and serving my customers.”