This was the response from the manager of one of our local stores. (It should be noted that it is a very small store and proper social distancing is nearly impossible inside.)
"The Little Burro Country Store per Judge Canos' order will ask our customers to bring your mask along. We will not "mandate" our employees to wear a mask due to both physical and mental health issues. Only if they choose or in the case of an emergency and only for a short period. If you feel compromised, our help is glad to step back while running your card and you may lay your money on the counter and back away to the 6' distance. We thank you for your patronage as our intent here at Jackass Flats is to raise the quality of life here in the Big Bend area. Not to compromise our freedom and basic rights to make choices for our own health and welfare. My staff are not children, they are adults and can make their own choices within the perimeter of the law and have their own health issues which you know nothing about. As I stated, I am asking customers to bring their own mask with their own choices. We still opt to distance for them and have masks available for short term wear if needed."
Guess where in this statement that she totally lost me. And FYI - this is an emergency and the mandatory mask rule was issued because of emergency conditions. I am curious - exactly what physical and mental health issues mean they don't have to wear masks? Are they worse than the increased chance of catching and spreading the virus to the local community? Are they somehow immune to Covid-19? I suggest that if your intention is to improve the quality of life here, the store find new employees rather than jeopardize the general public as well as these current employees that have issues with masks.
