HOWARD (NBC 26) -- There's a growing list of major retailers requiring customers to wear face masks while shopping.
Beginning on Monday, Woodman's Food Markets, like many other stores, will be requiring shoppers to wear masks. President Clint Woodman says they felt requiring customers to wear masks was in the best interest of both customers and employees, as he says they're trying to do their part in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
In Brown County, there's no ordinance in place that would allow public health to enforce something like a mask mandate at this time, so Health Officer Anna Destree says stores are showing leadership in their efforts to slow the spread in our communities.
"Because we know that universal masking is an evidence-based strategy shown to slow the spread of COVID-19, adding masking mandates to stores has the potential to slow the spread of disease in Brown County,” said Destree. “Especially in areas where it's difficult to maintain or guarantee physical or social distancing of 6 feet or more.”
She says on Wednesday, the Human Services Committee will be discussing the possibility of creating an ordinance. If that passes the county board, then Brown County Public Health would have the mechanism in place that requires people to wear masks in certain situations in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The president of Woodman's says they'll have masks available for purchase if a customer doesn't have one, but they may be refused service unless they have a medical reason not wear a mask.
