Some Wantagh-Seaford business owners say they believe the indoor mask mandate issued by Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this month is difficult to implement, and could steer patrons away from stores and restaurants.
Hochul’s mandate, which went into effect statewide Dec. 13, encompasses all indoor public spaces, including restaurants, offices, shopping centers, grocery stores, houses of worship and recreational spaces. Businesses and venues have the option of requiring proof of full vaccinated status instead of masks, but are not allowed to mandate both, according to a New York state press release. The mandate applies to employees and customers alike.
Those who implement the mask requirement are responsible for ensuring that all patrons older than 2 wear masks at all times, except when eating or drinking. For those who prefer a proof-of-vaccination requirement, anyone age 12 or older must be fully vaccinated, while children ages 2 to 5, who remain ineligible for vaccinations, must wear masks.
“The businesses have gone through enough,” said Nick Bilotta, Seaford Chamber of Commerce president. “I don’t think businesses should be responsible for policing people.” Individuals should decide if they want to wear a mask, he said.
Mike Glavatovic, owner of Gusto Divino Trattoria, on Sunrise Highway in Seaford, agreed, saying that the new mandate was hurting his business by keeping customers away. “Some customers see the sign and don’t want to come in and put on a mask,” Glavatovic said. While others don’t mind the mandate, he said has noticed that some people become visibly upset when they are asked to wear masks. He added that he didn’t believe the mandate was necessary.
Violating the mandate or related guidance can result in a maximum fine of $1,000 per violation, state Health Commissioner Mary Bassett said in a press release. That’s part of the reason Gusto Divino is following the new regulations, Glavatovic said.
On Dec 10, Hochul announced that the purpose of the new mandate was to protect the health of New Yorkers given the rise in the number of cases of Covid-19, reduced hospital capacity and low vaccination rates in some counties around the state. “We shouldn’t have reached the point where we are confronted with a winter surge, especially with the vaccine at our disposal,” Hochul stated in a press release, “and I share many New Yorkers’ frustration that we are not past this pandemic yet.”
As more people gathered, shopped and traveled to holiday destinations, and as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus spread rapidly, cases in New York State reached a record high two days in a row last weekend.
In recent weeks, the hospitalization rate in Nassau County has increased by 54 percent, and the number of cases by 94 percent, according to Dec. 19 data from The New York Times. The test positivity rate was 6 percent as of Dec. 19. Nassau maintains one of the highest vaccination rates in the country, with 76 percent of residents fully vaccinated.
Andrew Kruter, Manager of Lifestyle Sports in Wantagh, called the new mask mandate “ridiculous.” “Having everyone wearing masks, in my opinion, is not going to benefit anyone,” Kruter said.
All Lifestyle Sports employees are vaccinated, he said. Despite his feelings, the store will follow the mandate, and patrons who enter without masks will be asked to put them on. But Kruter said he would not force those who object to put on a mask or prohibit them from shopping in the store.
The mandate has left business owners in a tough situation: obey the mask requirements and potentially lose customers, or risk state-issued fines. “To be honest, I don’t know what to do,” said Vincent Luna, who opened Vincent’s Steakhouse in Wantagh two months ago. He said he had already noticed a decrease in business since cases began trending upwards a few weeks ago. “It’s my first restaurant,” Luna said, “so to lose business, for me, it’s huge right now.”
He said he initially considered checking patrons’ proof of vaccination status at the door instead of asking them to wear masks, but decided it wasn’t the right fit for his restaurant. He still struggles to persuade diners to wear masks when they enter, and when getting up from their tables to use the restrooms.
“We live in a free country, I hope,” Luna said. “I don’t want to bother other people or get them angry.” He wants to comply with the law, but worries that he is pressuring customers with the mask requirement, and ultimately steering them away.
“It’s tough for me, because I don’t want my business to be affected by people being bothered by me,” he said. “But I’ve got to make sure everyone is safe inside.”
The state is expected to reassess the mask mandate on Jan. 15.
