Columbia businesses not expected to ask customers for proof of mask exemption

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

People and businesses can be fined if they are found not complying with the mandatory mask order that went into effect at 5 p.m. Friday in Columbia.

But the order provides exceptions. One says people do not need to wear a mask "when an individual has a medical condition, mental health condition or disability that prevents wearing a Face Mask."

Scott Clardy, the assistant director of the Columbia/Boone County Health Department, said there are is not a list of medical conditions that exempt someone from wearing a mask. Rather it's a conversation to be had between the wearer and their doctor.

"We envision asthma ... any kind of respiratory issues could cause trouble for somebody," Clardy said.

Clardy said masks might also cause problems for some people with mental health issues, which would be a reasonable exception.

"If they wear a mask it could bring back some traumatic experiences for them," Clardy said. "Some people actually feel claustrophobic to the point it can bring on panic attacks."

Employers can ask for certification from an employee, confirming that they cannot wear a mask, but Clardy doesn't expect businesses to do the same for customers.

"We're not going to ask (businesses) to be the mask police," Clardy said. "We need this ordinance, we need it to get the spread of the virus under control, but we don't want it to be any more cumbersome for businesses than it has to be."

Businesses have the right to refuse service to any individual not wearing a mask, regardless of health conditions. Clardy said as long as businesses are putting in the effort to inform customers of the order, he doesn't believe there will be problems.

One downtown Columbia business, Dryer's Shoes, has required that masks be worn in the store since it reopened on May 4.

Owner Justin Riley said the decision was about the safety of his staff and customers. He said for the most part his customers have been appreciative of the store's policy, and take exceptions on a case-by-case basis.

"We try to accommodate everyone as best we can, we still want to keep customers and staff as safe as we can," Riley said. "At that rate, we may have to do more of a curbside or phone service just depending on the circumstance."

For Riley, it's also about keeping his business up and running after months of shut down.

"Another shutdown would be catastrophic to small businesses so anything we can do to avoid that," Riley said. "It's a temporary inconvenience but in the big picture if we are keeping people safe and we're allowing to go on with normal business activities that's the important part."

Clardy pleaded for residents to take the mask ordinance seriously and to not take advantage of the exemptions. He said while there have only been two deaths in Boone County, that is two too many.

Cases in the county has shot up in recent weeks, which Clardy said is overwhelming contact tracers.

"Frankly, try to think less of yourself and more of other people, and how someone you may come into contact with may accidentally get the virus from you that you don't even know you have, and then take that to their 85-year-old grandfather and cause that 85-year-old grandfather to get sick and die," Clardy said. "That is not out of the realm of possibility, that absolutely could happen."

Watch ABC 17 News at 9 and 10 for a full report.