State identifies area businesses warned for violating mask mandate

MIAMI VALLEY — Four Miami Valley businesses have been warned by the Retail Compliance Unit for violating the Ohio Department of Health mask mandate for businesses in the state.

>> Coronavirus: Ohio sees double-digit declines in active hospitalizations, ICU patients

The Lowe’s on Wilmington Pike in Sugarcreek Twp. was warned on Dec. 1 for violating the mandate, when the state found four of the store’s 28 employees not wearing a mask or wearing it improperly. The state also found five of the store’s 80 customers observed by the task force were not wearing a mask or wearing it wrong.

The AT&T store in Middletown on Town Boulevard also was issued a warning on Dec. 1, when the compliance unit found the employee working at the business was not wearing a mask or wearing it properly. The state also found 75 percent of the customers in the store were not wearing a mask or wearing it right.

In Auglaize County, on Dec. 9 inspectors visited Western Ohio True Value Hardware in Minster and found the store did not meet physical distancing requirements. The state also found that 12 of the 17 employees working at the store were either not wearing a mask or not wearing it properly. Three of the 26 shoppers observed in the store also were either not wearing a mask or not wearing it properly.

The Fix or CELL Now store on Wayne Avenue in Dayton also received a warning from the state on Dec. 9, when physical distancing requirements were not met. None of the employees at the store were either wearing a mask or wearing it properly. Two of eight customers also were not wearing a mask or not wearing it properly.

Warnings are issued to retail businesses found in violation of the mask mandate and repeat violations lead to a shutdown of the business for up to 24 hours to allow any airborne COVID-19 droplets to dissipate, the state said.

“All businesses are required to provide information, allow access to and permit inspection of public areas during all business hours, and cooperate with inspectors,” the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, which operates the special unit, said.

The task force has visited 5,850 retail businesses since the unit was launched in the beginning of December.

The state has found that over 93 percent of employees and customers have been compliant when they are inspected. So far, 68 warnings have been issued in the state. All 88 counties have had at least one business inspected.

Cox Media Group