By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
For two weeks, citizens have been lodging complaints about mask violations to the de facto face covering police.
Since July 9, when Wood County hit Level 3 and masks became mandatory, Wood County Health Department has been recording and responding to complaints about masks not being worn where required.
Complaints have been reported by customers annoyed by businesses not enforcing the mask requirement, and by neighbors upset about large gatherings with no masks or social distancing.
In a matter of two weeks, the health department has received complaints about 50 businesses and another 19 about food operations.
“We’ve heard everything from there are five people in the grocery not wearing masks, to there’s a graduation party with 100 people and no social distancing,” Ben Batey said Friday, on his last day as Wood County health commissioner. “There’s a full spectrum there.”
The Wood County Health Department has been working long hours to do contact tracing to identify and alert people who may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
“It’s not like we have the staff to run all over the county,” for a report about someone not wearing a mask in a particular store, Batey said.
However, health department staff has been making at least phone contact with the source of complaints, especially if there are recurring problems with a business or at repeat events like a ball tournament.
“The underlying message is education over enforcement,” Batey said. “We’ll check it out, and have a conversation with the owners.”
A detailed spreadsheet from the health department identifies businesses being reported as not enforcing the mask mandate. Among them are several gas stations, multiple Dollar General stores in the county, a couple childcare services, a nursing home, doctor’s office, tattoo studio, restaurants, a couple post offices, a couple American Legion posts, and retail stores.
A handful of complaints were filed about businesses that did not thoroughly disinfect after employees tested positive for COVID-19.
Several of the businesses told the health department that employees did not have to wear masks due to health conditions. So staff advised that people must have written documentation of their health conditions if they do not wear face coverings.
Some businesses reported that they stopped asking customers to wear masks after arguments have started over the topic.
In several cases, local employees of businesses told health department staff that they had been advised by the corporate offices to not enforce mask requirements. In those cases, the health department employees informed the businesses that it is their responsibility to enforce face coverings for customers. They could be subject to fines for not complying.
An employee at one Bowling Green gas station reportedly said the employees there are not “mask police.” The health department staff advised that the business is required to enforce the mask mandate.
In many cases, the health department offered to provide official signage about mask requirements – taking the heat off of businesses that are reluctant to enforce the mandate.
While the number of people wearing masks and maintaining social distance has improved at businesses, Batey said a recent bump in COVID-19 cases has been linked to gatherings at private residences.
“That’s exactly where we’re seeing the spread of this continuing to happen,” he said.
COVID cases have been traced back to bridal showers, backyard barbecues and graduation parties.
Health department staff do not go on to private residential properties to enforce the mask mandate, according to Lana Glore, director of the environmental division of the Wood County Health Department.
“Clearly, we don’t have the manpower,” said Glore, whose division normally conducts inspections on restaurants, septic systems, pools and other locations. But with COVID-19 consuming so much time for the nursing division, the environmental division was enlisted to respond to citizen complaints.
“Almost all of our businesses want to do the right thing,” Glore said.
The health department is working with local law enforcement to respond to complaints. “We’re trying to partner with them,” Batey said.
In most cases, no charges are filed and no fines are levied.
“That’s going to be the last resort,” Batey said.
When Wood County first went into Level 3 – which was before Bowling Green City Council adopted its mask ordinance on July 14, and prior to Gov. Mike DeWine issuing a statewide mask mandate on July 23 – several people were unaware of the countywide mask order.
“People were coming to Wood County and didn’t even know it was a requirement,” Batey said.
“Making it uniform statewide really helps,” he said.
Though the vast majority of people are physically able to wear face masks, Batey said some people have legitimate reasons for not donning face coverings.
“We all have to have a little more patience. You don’t know if someone has a medical condition,” he said.
