I always laugh
(i.e. cringe) at the posted Covid health signs on retail stores...
'Mask are required' unless of course someone doesn't want to wear one
I have to rant about this for a moment.
I went to buy chicken feed today and two people were walking around with no masks on. Multiple employees just said nothing. And the aisles in this store are really narrow, like you have to turn sideways to pass someone in an aisle. They were also not respecting distancing. I finally asked an employee to say something to the maskless couple and they refused! "But they're a customer." Dude, I AM A CUSTOMER! It's better to risk my health (and the health of all the other customers) than politely ask people to put a mask on?!
And the people who were maskless were not big scary biker dudes or anything. (I really, REALLY sympathize with store employees who don't want to get punched out or shot for telling someone to mask up). They were a young Mennonite couple.
Our county's positivity rate is literally DOUBLE the state average. Many of my students' parents and grandparents (and even some of my students!) have COVID right now.
So not okay.
I so wish I had said something to the couple, but I was worried it would come out super hysterical sounding. These days the shock of being around someone with no mask sends my heartrate through the roof and I feel like I can't think clearly.
When I got home I called the store and told the manager that I would not be returning to their store.
Like, I'm sorry, but clothing is required in your store and if someone walked in naked you'd say something, right? If someone lit up a joint in your store you'd say something, right? But when it comes to a deadly, highly-contagious disease we're going to get all coy about enforcing hygiene rules?
And the mask mandate is literally an order from the Governor. It is the law. It's not some optional store policy.
Part of why it's so frustrating is that I have been so careful about picking places to shop that are good about mask enforcement. And I really want to support local businesses. AND this store is the best place to get chicken feed. But I will drive the extra hour to get feed if it means I don't have to spend the rest of the day in a sub-panicked state wondering if it's okay for me to go and see my parents.