An indefinite mask mandate went into effect last night for San Luis Obispo County and local businesses are now enforcing it.
The mask mandate applies to all indoor public spaces including restaurants, retail stores and fitness centers.
Several businesses are openly expressing support for the new mandate, echoing the need to keep the community safe.
Abby Meyer is the facilities manager at The Pad Climbing gym in San Luis Obispo. She said the gym immediately complied with the mandate. Meyer said some people do have a hard time exercising with masks on but no one has refused to wear one so far.
“I would say the general feeling of the staff is that we are just wanting to follow the county’s policy,” Meyer said. “I would say that members are okay putting masks on but would prefer to not put masks on and climb because it is a strenuous activity.”
Samantha Welch is the operations director for downtown restaurants Novo and Luna Red. She said the mask mandate is a step in the right direction.
“We’ve all been watching the numbers climb and climb and climb,” Welch said. “If this is a measure that can keep us from going back into lock down, then we are all for it.”
Welch said she expects to see some push back from customers over the weekend but she said it will be easier to enforce the mandate since it is coming from the county level.
Beda Schmidthues is the owner of Beda’s Biergarten in San Luis Obispo. He wishes the mandate went into effect sooner.
“I think it came too late. I’ve already had it for a week and a half in my restaurant myself,” Schmidthues said. “We just say, ‘Please protect those that can’t protect themselves.’ I have two little grandchildren and I'd rather err on the side of caution than the other way around.”
Schmidthues said they also canceled their big Oktoberfest event as a precaution.
“It wouldn’t be safe, so we just canceled. It’s all part of it. We’ll get through this but only if we all do our part,” Schmidthues said.
For more information about local COVID-19 cases, click here.
