Jefferson City business reports losing customers after deciding to require masks as cases rise
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
As COVID-19 continues to spread across Mid-Missouri, some businesses are taking extra precautions to protect customers and employees.
In Cole County, there has not been health restrictions in place since the middle of June. The health department has continued to strongly encourage social distancing, personal hygiene and mask-wearing when social distancing is not possible.
Cole County has reported 1,446 cases of COVID-19, including those patients in long-term care facilities. Of those not in those facilities, 128 are currently active.
The numbers have been fluctuating daily. The county reported 33 cases on Thursday.
The report said areas in the red and orange zones with high levels of transmission should use case numbers capacity for bars and restaurants and get more outdoor dining options if possible, as well as recommending a statewide mask order.
The communicable disease coordinator for the Cole County Health department Chezney Schulte said that report includes many of the factors the department monitors daily.
The situation in Cole County fluctuates greatly from day-to-day, and the education must stay consistent and be purposeful in order to be received by our community members. We are constantly tracking the situation and working with other entities to get a full picture of the county.
Chezney Schulte, Cole County Health Department
The owner of Southbank Gifts in downtown Jefferson City Jill Bednar has been requiring mask ever since July. When she reopened her doors at the beginning of June, she required masks, but rolled back those restrictions after a week because of the pushback.
"I kinda succumbed to the pressure because it was so stressful on us and hard to see people walk away angrily when we need the business," Bednar said. "It took me about two weeks... and I saw the numbers changing, 7 people in my family got sick with COVID, and I said we have to do this."
"We might lose some people, or some people may not come in today, but it's the right thing to do for the community," Bednar said.
Bednar believes not having a city-wide mask order possibly stigmatizes those businesses who do require wearing a mask.
"I can see merit to that, but I also don't know if it's as responsible as if we were all sending the same message and not different messages to the people about what's safe and what isn't," Bednar said.
She is concerned about the city being in the red zone, businesses like hers depend on the upcoming season for the bulk of their yearly business. Bednar said 40 percent of her annual business happens during the holiday season.
"I think Jefferson City should do something as far as a mask order and I think they should prohibit large group gatherings," Bednar said. "It makes us nervous because we depend on the fourth quarter to really fund the rest of the year."
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