Washoe and 11 other Nevada counties will begin requiring masks in public indoor places Friday. That means industries like retail and restaurants will have to require their customers to wear a mask, regardless of vaccination status.
"It's not fun," Larry DeVincenzi, Owner of Rum Sugar Lime said. "Nobody likes it but I think it's not that difficult to do and I think this might be part of our life going forward for awhile."
While it may not be ideal for businesses and customers might be angry about it, DeVincenzi is hoping they do not take their anger out on employees.
"Staff is not responsible for this so be nice, be kind and be patient with everybody and go back to wearing a mask and we can still have a good time," DeVincenzi said.
When it comes to the mandate, public businesses do not really have an option but to comply. Nevada's mask requirements automatically align with the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"If it's a business that for all efforts and purposes is part of the public, like say Costco, then the mandate's going to apply," Shannon Pierce, Director of Fennemore Craig said. "It's time to put those masks on and check masks at the door."
Other businesses have more flexibility with masks. Especially, those with office settings.
"Smaller businesses or more private businesses where the public doesn't have the right to just go walking around, it's really going to be up to the business what they want to do," Pierce said. "Of course, businesses have to weigh the risks."
Lili's Restaurant will not have to make any changes. It has kept its mask requirement in place, even after the mandate was lifted.
"You come in, you wear the mask, as soon as you sit down, you can take it off as soon as you get your drink," Todd Kihara, Executive Assistant of Lili's Restaurant said.
Not all customers like the rule so employees have had to deal with some angry patrons.
"We get a lot of customers that are upset with us for requiring it but in our perspective, we don't mind losing business like that," Lyric Reyes, Hostess and Manager of Lili's Restaurant said.
Kihara says the restaurant chose to keep the requirement in place for a few reasons. Some customers have medical issues that prevent them from getting the vaccine. They also do not know who has been vaccinated or not.
"We can't judge, we can't ask for any information," Kihara said. "So we just carried through what was already established and it helps out."
Lili's employees say masks are a simple way to keep the community safe. The restaurant also uses UV Guns, disinfectant and air circulation to keep the place safe.
