Tri-Cities area businesses ordered to tell customers, ‘No mask, no service’

Businesses in Benton and Franklin counties soon must refuse service to customers who do not wear masks.

Dr. Amy Person, the health officer for the two counties, issued the order to businesses after a Wednesday news conference. It takes effect Monday, July 6.

The order applies to all businesses that are open to the public, whether customers are inside or outdoors.

“If individuals are not wearing masks they should not be allowed,” she said.

Dr. Person said she issued the order at the request of city and county leaders to help reduce rates of COVID-19 along with resulting hospitalizations and deaths.

“We know that widespread use of face masks is effective in preventing the spread of the disease,” she said.

Reducing the number of new cases of the disease also could persuade state officials to allow more businesses to reopen in the two counties.

The order mirrors one that Gov. Jay Inslee issued for Yakima County.

Benton, Franklin and Yakima counties are the only counties in the state not yet approved to move past Phase 1 of the state’s “Safe Start” plan to reopen more businesses and allow small gatherings. However, Inslee planned a press conference to discuss the Tri-Cities area Thursday afternoon.

Local city leaders asked Inslee during his visit to the Tri-Cities on Tuesday to issue a state order for Benton and Franklin counties as he had for Yakima County.

He said Tuesday that he would consider it and could have an answer in a few days.

Order enforcement

“This is something we cannot wait on,” Dr. Person said. “We need people wearing masks.”

A state order would be enforceable with fines against businesses by the Washington state Department of Labor and Industries. The Benton Franklin Health District does not have the authority to force businesses to comply with its orders.

Violating the local order would be a misdemeanor, but law enforcement agencies have said as orders have been issued that they are focusing on education.

The health district suggests businesses use the same tactics they already use successfully to enforce policies such as no smoking and requiring customers to wear shoes and shirts.

A business can call police if someone does not comply with the order to wear a mask and refuses to leave, said Kennewick police Chief Ken Hohenberg.

There are some exemptions, including when obtaining a service that requires removal of a mask and for children younger than 5, although masks are strongly encouraged for children two and older.

Dr. Person’s order to businesses follows her mask order for the public that took effect June 8. It requires most people to wear masks in public indoor spaces, such as stores, and outdoors if they cannot maintain six feet of distance from nonfamily members.

A similar state order is punishable by a fine of up to $100 or up to 90 days in jail. However, most law enforcement agencies say their approach will be to educate the public.

50% wearing masks

A recent survey done by the Benton Franklin Health District of people leaving local grocery stores found that a little more than half were wearing cloth face coverings, as required.

But that needs to be increased to 80% to 90%, said Dr. Person.

If more people don’t start wearing masks, Washington state officials will not allow the Tri-Cities area to reopen and “we are not going to get this disease under control,” Dr. Person said.

On Wednesday the local health district reported a record high 215 confirmed COVID-19 cases for a single day.

Early in the pandemic there was not evidence that cloth face coverings reduced transmission of the coronavirus.

“As time has gone on we have seen clearly communities where they are wearing masks and face coverings when they are in public are doing better,” Dr. Person said. “They have lower rates of disease.”

It’s been demonstrated in Washington state and around the globe, she said.

Yakima County, which has had even higher COVID-19 rates than Benton and Franklin counties, has had a drop in infection rates since masking directives started there.

Wearing a face covering can block infections droplets from spreading when the person wearing the mask coughs, sneezes and speaks.

People infected with the virus may be contagious both before or even without developing symptoms, and a significant number of infections may be transmitted by people without symptoms, according to the local health district.

Face coverings should be used along with other precautions, such as staying six feet away from nonhousehold members, avoiding large gatherings and staying home when sick, Dr. Person said.

People also should continue to limit time in public to essential errands, dis infect high-touch surfaces and wash hands frequently or at least use hand sanitizer, she said.

This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 4:11 PM.