Gov. Hochul’s new mask mandate for the state of New York goes into effect Monday. Under the new rule, masks will be required to be worn in all public places, unless a business has a vaccine mandate.
Businesses across Saratoga County are encouraged to print and hang up posters in their storefronts to remind patrons of the indoor mask mandate.
NYRA, the Saratoga Casino-Hotel, and SUNY Empire are all supporting the mandate. Around 82% of residents in the county have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine.
Roseann Hotaling has always put the customer first in her 30 years of business.
Now she’s being asked to accommodate new safety regulations announced by the state last week.
“We feel it is very important for our customers to be assured that we are following the guidance and the prescribed techniques that the CDC, and the New York State Department of Health have required us to do,” Hotaling said.
Starting Monday, all indoor public places that don’t have a vaccine requirement will have to wear masks.
Hotaling says the move is essential for safety.
“We have always prided ourselves for the last 30 years in having a place where people can come and feel comfortable,” Hotaling said. “That’s part of our charm, that’s part of what we are known for.”
On the retail side, the co-owner of Impressions, Marianne Barker, is having to make adjustments for the new mandate as well.
While she says the change is disappointing, she agrees it’s inevitable ahead of the holiday rush.
“You know people are definitely inside more now, it’s it like we can have our door open and have the air exchange,” Barker said. “So just to keep everybody safe.”
For months, shop owners displayed signs recommending masks. But in preparation for the new state mandate, the chamber of commerce provided stores with mask required signs.
As Barker hangs her sign up, she hopes it doesn’t deter any shoppers.
“We offer curbside pickup,” Barker said. “We will deliver within the city limits, so we’ve got lists of ways of helping people without them coming in the store. So we’re positive. We are thinking positively that it shouldn’t have too big of an impact on the next couple weeks.”
As businesses adjust to requiring face coverings once again, Barker has one request for customers.
“We just ask for everyone’s patience as we work our way through this,” Barker said. “We do have the experience from having gone through before to see how things are going to go. But just to ask for patience as the whole business community just does the best it can to keep everybody safe.”
The mandate is set to last until Jan. 15.
