Mask Executive Order Business Reaction

Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton has signed an executive order mandating that all people wear masks when in businesses within the city limits.

This comes after coronavirus cases in the city nearly doubled in a single week.

Monday, people in tupelo will have to wear a mask when going into a public building..

This follows an executive order from tupelo mayor jason shelton.

Wtva's matt st.

Jean is live downtown with reaction.

As with any executive order, there are people who are for it and people who don't exactly see eye to eye.

I spoke with a pair of business owners here in tupelo about why they think the new executive order is a good.or a bad idea.

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(adam richardson) first reaction was, i get it.

I understand there's a virus going on, but i think that people should have a chance to choose for themselves what they want to do.

(track) adam richardson is the owner of nutrishop in tupelo.

He doesn't agree with the mayor forcing people to wear masks under the new executive order and especially against turning paying customers away if they come in without a mask on.

(adam richardson) it would be very hard to turn someone away because they're not wearing a mask.

Like i said, i'm all for it, if it makes them feel safer, for sure wear a mask but to turn someone away because it's their choice not to wear a mask?

No, i wouldn't do that.

(track) on the flipside is reeds.

When president and ceo jack reed heard about the order he reaction was: (jack reed) delighted, i mean we've continued to require for both customers and our staff all the time, 100 percent of the time we have them available at our front door, if someone doesn't have one we've got one for em.

(track) reed said they haven't had any problems with the mask requirements, he recalled maybe two patrons that wouldn't wear the masks they provided, but to him, it's about protecting his staff and his employees and, this situation we find ourselves in, isn't forever.

(jack reed) it's just a matter of mutual respect and say look this is an unusual year, it's not going to be forever but until we get the cases to go down this is just how we have to treat each other.

We're called the hospitality state this is part of being hospitable to each other and respecting each other.

If you aren't familiar with the executive order, here are some bullet points businesses must have a sign provided by the city government displayed on their entrance -businesses are required to ask customers to leave if unwilling to wear a mask -face coverings are not required for religious reasons medical or behavioral condition private offices with less than 10 employees settings where it's not practical like swimming or dentist appointments while at banks, gyms, or spaces with physical barriers offices where customers do not interact with owner children under the age of 12 it does say that businesses can seek exemptions from the executive order, but they need to e-mail city hall.

All the details surrounding the order are up on our website at wtva-dot-com.

Reporting in tupelo, matt st.

Jean, wtva 9