So, do I have to wear a cloth face covering when going into a business? RI Governor says the answer is yes
Governor Gina Raimondo said every Rhode Islander is ordered to wear a cloth face covering, in Sunday’s press conference.
The executive order states that all employees of customer/client-facing businesses, non-profit organizations, and office-based businesses must wear a cloth face-covering unless an employee can easily maintain at least a six feet distance from other employees.
In regards to customers, the executive order says all customer-facing businesses shall take steps to require customers to wear face coverings, including the posting of such requirements at the entrance of the business and such other steps as may be required by the Department of Business Regulation.
Raimondo cleared up any confusion in the executive order during the press conference and said customers must also wear masks.
“To be crystal clear, every Rhode Islander is ordered to wear a cloth face covering, covering your nose and mouth every time you are in any retail operation,” Raimondo said.
Raimondo also said as of now, businesses can’t refuse entry to those without face coverings. However, she said mayors are free to have a more stringent set of guidelines.
East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva announced he was signing an executive order on Saturday, which would not only make it a requirement for customers to wear cloth masks, but also allow businesses to refuse entry to those that didn’t follow.
The Department of Business Regulation has been doing random spot checks since Saturday to see how businesses and individuals are complying with the executive order.
Raimondo said during her press conference that the DBR went to over 200 retail locations around the state and found both employees and customers were complying.
However, the DBR found that employees at drive-thru windows were wearing masks but many of the customers who drove up were not. Raimondo reminds customers that they are not 6 ft away from employees during a drive-thru.
