The new mask mandate in most Nevada counties says masks are required in any indoor public space. While many businesses are complying with the new mandate, others have vocally opposed the rule.
Over the first weekend of the new mask mandate, several businesses around town were not enforcing face coverings, but a few took it a step farther, posting on Instagram that they will refuse to follow the governor's mandate.
“We actually seek out local small businesses that have the same belief system as us, I think that's really important especially in today's culture where there is this whole cancel culture if you don't believe what we believe," said Reno local, Mandi Johnston.
Code Coffee was one of those businesses, saying in an Instagram post "we will never require masks or ask you for your medical history, it's none of our business."
Whisky Lounge was another, with a large message saying face mask not required, citing in a text to 2 News the danger their employees face when they tried to enforce masks in the past.
Johnson says she supports the notion, saying she spoke with the owners of Whisky Lounge over the weekend. “She said it's not really worth it for us, we have had employees who have been punched in the face over asking to wear masks, and she's like, 'I can’t risk the safety of my employees being physically harmed on the job because they are the mask police.'"
This could prove problematic, as OSHA has begun taking complaints about non-compliance once again, which means that if a company is found not to be following the rules, they can be fined over $13,000 depending on the size.
"Should we have issues where we have to impose penalties on businesses for lack of compliance, then we will do so," said Victoria Carreon, Administrator for the Division of Industrial Relations.
OSHA officials say that mask compliance in businesses did increase towards the end of the last mandate, but with only 40 inspectors conducting investigations on top of OSHA's normal responsibilities, they were swarmed with complaints. While OSHA is not currently preforming random inspections yet, they warn that fines and citations could come to businesses refusing to follow the mandate.
Other businesses like Recycled Records are just as tired of mask mandates, but say they will continue to follow what the CDC recommends.
"I wish more people would get vaccinated so we wouldn't have to keep doing this. I don't want to wear a mask and I don't want to make people wear masks, but that's what we have to do, we are a business," said Co-owner of Recycled Records, Eric Jacobson.
Even if a business gets a citation or fine from OSHA, there is a settlement option.
"If there is a settlement the penalty may be reduced, the penalty may be waived, usually they are required to comply with certain previsions as part of the settlement, so it depends on what the case was and what the parameters were," said Carreon.
The Whisky Lounge declined comment on this story and we are still waiting to hear back from Code Coffee. During the last mask mandate, OSHA preformed over 13,000 "observations" with 91 percent of businesses complying.
