Apr 19, 2020

Mask Confusion Grips PA Residents

So it starts. All of us must now follow the latest Covid-19 edict of the Pennsylvania Health Secretary, Dr. Levine. The edict requires that a face mask be worn by all workers and customers at essential businesses henceforth to, “protect the safety of those life sustaining workers".

So if you show up at an "essential business" Sunday at 8PM and you are not wearing a face mask the essential business is supposed to turn you away or not serve you. There goes that customer first best business practices. Now it is government first!!

One has to wonder if you are wearing a face mask but no shoes or shirt will you be served at this point? We may need more clarification from Dr. Levine on the shoes and shirt aspects.


Failure to comply with these requirements will result in an enforcement action that could include citations, fines, or license suspensions.

Wolf has directed the following state agencies and local officials to enforce orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic to the full extent of the law:

Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
Department of Health
Department of Agriculture
Department of Labor and Industry
Pennsylvania State Police
Local officials, using their resources to enforce closure orders within their jurisdictions

Now in the land of Dr. Levine, issuing an edict on high of this magnitude is just not that simple. Of course you have your exemptions. Apparently if you have a "medical condition" you don't need a mask. Not sure how that is going to be enforced but ok. Oh and if your are under the age of three you don’t have to wear a mask.

For Pennsylvania residents who are now scrambling to buy face masks, today Governor Wolf’s office has provided us with some clarity. There is an exception to that rule now. When “the business is providing medication, medical supplies, or food, the business must provide alternative methods of pick-up or delivery of such goods”.

Feel better now? Not confused any more?

Needless to say this could have been handled a little better by our beloved Dr. Levine and Governor Wolf. Instead of issuing an edict, they could have said we strongly recommend the use of face masks. But they don’t care about niceties or decorum at this point.

Together Wolf and Dr. Levine have placed more burdens on these essential businesses already struggling during this crises and have ordered them into an adversarial relationship with their customers.

Good luck!

Many customers will refuse to wear a mask just because they were ordered to do so. Or they will shop at businesses that will not enforce the order.

Welcome to the new normal in Pennsylvania!

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