COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine's decision to reverse a mask mandate sparked quite the debate last week.
After first saying masks are required for everybody -- employees and customers -- when entering a store, Gov. DeWine then reversed that same order the following day to say customers are not required to wear a face covering.
But why? The order, according to DeWine, was changed because he says it "went too far."
He spoke more about that decision during a Sunday morning appearance on ABC This Week.
“Face masks are very important," he reiterated. "Our business group came back and said every employee, for example, should wear a face mask. We’re continuing that, whether it’s retail or wholesale, whatever it is, manufacturing, every employee is going to have a face mask. But it became very clear to me after we put out the order that everyone in retail who walked into a store as a customer would have to do that, it became clear to me that was just a bridge too far. People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do."
Although masks are not required for customers, he urged all Ohioans to wear one as a common courtesy as much as possible when out in public.
"We put out dozens and dozens of orders, that was one that just went too far. At the same time we pulled that back, I said this is highly recommended. This is for most people, unless you’ve got a physical reason you can’t wear the mask, and we understand that, but when you go into a retail store that is the kind thing to do. I worry and we should all worry about the folks who are stocking shelves in grocery stores, the people who are at the checkout line and work there all day. We’ve got to try to protect them.”
While it's not ordered by the state, some stores -- like Costco -- are making it mandatory for all customers to wear a mask.
Would you feel comfortable shopping in a store where customers aren't required to wear a mask? Tell us below...
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