On Thursday, Feb. 17, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to get rid of the mask mandate that it passed at the start of the year and required everyone in Guilford County to mask up while indoors in public places like restaurants, clubs and stores.
The board’s action to rescind the mandate took place immediately. However, the News & Record reported on Friday, Feb. 18 that the repeal went into effect on Feb. 27, and some people and shop owners are still under the impression that the board’s action would only be in effect on that date.
Chairman of the Board of Commissioners Skip Alston said that the mask mandate removal was immediate – masks were no longer required once the vote was taken last week.
“I stated that at the meeting,” Allston said.
Also, the day after the meeting, the county put out a press release titled, “Commissioners Vote to Repeal Mask Mandate Immediately.”
It stated, “Guilford County Commissioners met Thursday, February 17, 2022 as the Guilford County Board of Health and voted to repeal the countywide mask mandate … The motion to rescind the mask mandate passed 7-0, effective immediately.”
Some of the confusion may be from the fact that businesses in the county continue to have the option to require masks – and, of course, citizens are free to wear masks until the end of time should they choose to do so.
Others in specialized occupations, such as bank robbers, will no doubt continue to wear masks even long after the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
Alston said business owners can do what they like.
“If you go into a business and they feel a mask protects them and protects their customers and they require you to wear a mask,” the chairman said, “then you should wear a mask. It’s their business.”
Alston said it was important if a business continues to require masks of its customers that that business put up a sign to that effect at the entrances.
“I have several businesses and I’m going to put a sign on all the doors – because I want to protect my employees and I want to protect my customers. That’s my choice.”
In related news, this week the Guilford County Board of Education lifted the mask mandate for students in schools – also effective immediately.
A statement from the school system read, “Following the recommendation of Superintendent Sharon Contreras, the Guilford County Board of Education lifted the mask mandate for students and staff at a special called meeting Monday night. Guilford County Schools will become mask-optional, effective immediately.”
Get rid of this inside of County owned buildings as well. Help us Scott! We staffers are also tired of this crap. The courthouses, the Sheriff’s Department, the Finance office, wherever…
Anywhere you don’t have a choice – planes, doctor’s office, government buildings – masks are not going away any time soon.
Ok, great! Let’s see what happens next week. With Skip and the soon to be ex superintendent giving their blessings, I’ll sleep better tonight.
I love the part about the specialized occupation. Made me lol!
People don’t want to take them off
Following the Diktat of the DNC. They want to stop the bleeding.
Just wait for the next civil “emergency”. Probably something like people have no where to live, and not enough food to eat.
The “Masketeers” businesses we get less business with those signs up…We walked into a store on the coast this last weekend and were told to wear a mask. Not one soul in the store but us. We immediately walked out and they lost a big sale.
Some folks WILL mask up until the end of time as I saw just this morning driving Eastchester a sole operator in a minivan, alone, and mask up in a cheap store mask.
SMH.
Of course Skip will post those signs. Masking is now only a political statement, unmasking the true intentions as it were.
I am heartened that Skip Alston believes business owners have the right to impose rules excluding certain people who would enter their premises. It’s their property, and their business, and so it’s their rules, right? If the customers are not willing to wear a mask, they are not welcome to come into his place and buy a hot dog. Okay.
I agree that he has that right.
But if he really believes in that principle, then he must agree that private business owners have the right to refuse entry to anyone, including, for example, gay people, foreigners, white men, or African-Americans. Right?
Business owners either have the right to discriminate among who they will serve, or they don’t.
Which is it, Skip?
Wow. Pulling out all the bigotry stops with this comment I see.
So shirt and shoes being required? Does that violate Muh Freedom?
If you don’t like the rule, go shop else where. That is YOUR freedom.
Yeah Chris I reckon there is a difference between an ineffective mask and the color of one’s skin or religious beliefs. I have personally often made the decision not to patronize places with mask requirements and will continue. Those businesses should expect that. Just heard on radio news but can’t quote which study that now estimates 73 percent now have the antibodies in place to make them immune to omicron and subsequent variants.
I agree for the most part. I will likely mask up in very crowded places but omicron infections and vaccines look to finally gotten us to herd immunity. Fingers Crossed!
Chris needs to know there’s no immunity to stupidity
Good point. If a biz wants me to mask up, unless I have to be there, I’m leaving.
If Skip-the-hyp really believed in the mask Diktat, he should be wearing one now – along with the other hyps on the City Council. Even if the DNC says it is suddenly OK to “skip”-it.
I love this country. But not it’s government.