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As Summit County mask mandate begins, Stow Police Department says it will help businesses enforce rules

"Charging someone with trespassing is not our preferred course of action, and we would ask for everyone's cooperation."

STOW, Ohio — One local police department is taking a tough stance on the state's requirement that masks be worn in Ohio's 12 coronavirus hotspot counties, which includes Cuyahoga, Summit, Lorain, and Trumbull. 

The Stow Police Department announced on social media that officers will help businesses enforce mask-wearing when needed. The post says the department should be called if a person refuses to wear a mask and refuses to leave the business. That person can be charged with trespassing. 

"Charging someone with trespassing is not our preferred course of action, and we would ask for everyone's cooperation," the department added. 

Summit County joined Lorain County at Level 3 red on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System's coronavirus scale on Friday, triggering a mandatory mask order. Summit County Health Commissioner Donna Skoda told 3News they are a complaint-based organization and will send inspectors to follow up. 

"My wearing a mask in public protects everyone else, everyone else wearing a mask protects me," Skoda says. "If we can just do it for each other, it will make such a difference in our outcome."

Cuyahoga County and Trumbull County both remain at Level 3, meaning masks in both counties remain mandated. Additionally, Cuyahoga County has been marked as approaching Level 4 (purple) -- the highest level on the state's scale, which denotes "severe exposure and spread" of the coronavirus.

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