Syracuse, N.Y. – When it comes to enforcing mask-wearing among unvaccinated people in stores, movie theaters or churches, even Onondaga County’s top official says this next chapter of the coronavirus pandemic could prove confusing and even frustrating for some.
Consider a store owner in Skaneateles. If she wants customers to wear masks, but some maskless people enter the store and decline to show a white vaccination card, what happens next?
“I’m not exactly sure how that would play out, is the honest answer,” County Executive Ryan McMahon said.
McMahon and many other business owners, religious leaders and community leaders are sorting through those issues now. Should businesses refuse service? Create designated spaces for vaccinated people at work? Call 911 if tempers rise?
“I don’t know how this is going to play out,” McMahon said. “This is the challenge of this. We’ve never been here yet.”
The county executive said his staff is working through the newly emerging guidelines. “Please reach out to our office,” he said. “If we don’t have the answer, we’ll find it for you.” That number is 315-435-3516.
After more than a year of urging – and often requiring – people to wear masks in places outside of their home, health officials are saying that it’s ok for fully vaccinated people to go maskless in most indoor areas. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New York would adopt that guidance starting Wednesday -- something McMahon called for earlier today.
That sets up a two-tiered system that relies on people without vaccinations to continue masking up in most indoor spaces. It also could put the onus of enforcement on workers and business owners, many of whom want to welcome back their customers.
Can businesses actually require customers and clients to wear masks or show proof of vaccine?
“I think so,” McMahon said. “This is still new, but I think they can. I don’t know if they will.”
But the time is right to relax the rules, he said. The growing number of vaccinated people has diminished the virus’s spread.
Today, the county confirmed 31 new cases. On Jan. 1, there were 499. Today, there are 31 people hospitalized. During the holidays, hospitalizations were 10 times as high.
No one has died in Onondaga County from Covid-19 in the past six days.
Currently, about 57% to 58% of Onondaga County residents are fully vaccinated, McMahon said. When looking just at the people who are currently eligible, the portion of county residents fully vaccinated rises to about 70%.
“The reality is we have a very effective vaccine,” he said.
And that gives vaccinated individuals the power to decide what steps to take next, he said. Those who are vaccinated can keep wearing masks if they choose. Those who want to should be able to take them off.
McMahon is fully vaccinated and is planning to do a bit of both. When he goes to work on Wednesday, he’s planning to ride the elevator up 14 floors without wearing a mask. In other spaces where there may be more people, he said, he might put it back on.