Governor Gretchen Whitmer has issued an order that toughens rules requiring people to wear protective masks in public. This in response to an increase in COVID-19 infections.
In the executive order, Whitmer says “no shoes, no shirt, no mask, no service.” It applies to restaurants, retailers and any other indoor businesses open to the public.
But Amy Drumm with the Michigan Retailers Association says the order is not fair to employees who will be the ones confronting customers.
“We do want more people to be wearing masks, but we are very concerned about making retail employees the mask police,” said Drumm.
Drumm also added that it should not be up to store employees to enforce the order.
“That’s not their role, and we have seen lots of confrontations with customers who are, who have high tensions," says Drumm. "Things are elevated, they’ve been escalated a lot, and we don’t want to put retail employees in any danger.”
The order says customers and staff must wear face masks to protect against spreading the coronavirus. It also says masks must be worn in outdoor spaces where it’s not possible for people to remain at least six feet apart.
Violating the order is a misdemeanor that can be punished with a fine.