CCHD Responds to Big Sky Deli Situation



[ad_1]

(UPDATE, 6:55 p.m.) Big Sky Deli declined to be interviewed today, saying only that they want this situation to “explode”. On Tuesday evening, the CCHD published the following response to the situation:

Hello, Cascade County. In this morning’s post, we saw a lot of questions about what the CCHD is doing to enforce the mask order in Cascade County. It is essential that you know that to date we have not threatened or demanded the closure of a single business due to non-compliance with the mask order. There are several avenues of enforcement when we learn that a company is violating public health orders. While the COVID-19 situation is constantly changing, here is an overview of our basic process:

  • A complaint is filed – the CCHD verifies the complaint
  • We educate the company
  • A second complaint is filed
  • The CCHD verifies the second complaint
  • We educate the company a second time
  • A third complaint is filed
  • CCHD verifies third complaint
  • CCHD consults with county prosecutor’s office
  • The Cascade County Sheriff’s Office may have brought in
  • Sanctions for violations are applied

Violations can be enforced by civil injunction, as well as through criminal prosecution, with fines of up to $ 500 per day for each day of violation, 90 days in jail, or both on conviction.
The CCHD has no desire to be punitive – we hope our process shows that we are looking to education by default. That said, it is essential that businesses and residents of Cascade County continue to work together to slow the spread of COVID-19. Let’s stick to the governor’s mask directive so business owners can focus on staying open and serving their customers rather than enforcing public health orders.



(1st report, 12:08 p.m.) Vaughn’s Big Sky Deli is encouraging all of its customers to wear masks after claiming the store was threatened with closure by the city’s health department.

On July 23, the Great Falls CCHD officially adopted the statewide mask warrant issued by Governor Steve Bullock on July 16. The directive requires face covers in all counties that have more than three active cases of COVID-19, in a bid to slow the spread of the virus. Click here for more details on the directive. The directive requires that masks be used in most indoor environments and where social distancing cannot be maintained. Bullock said businesses will have the right to refuse entry to anyone not wearing a mask. “No shirt, no shoes, no mask, no service. It’s that easy, ”he says.

Big Sky Deli posted on Facebook on Monday that “… we never thought this would happen, but due to a few people reporting to the health department that customers in our store do not wear faces covering the department. of Cascade County Health, this threatens to shut us down. “

They said because of this they are asking all clients to wear a face mask “so that the health department is happy”. They noted that anyone with a health condition that prevents a person from wearing a face mask is always welcome to the store. They also said, “If you see someone without a mask, PLEASE understand that you don’t know them. (sic) side of things! Spread love, NOT fear! “

the Big Sky Deli Facebook Post generated over 250 comments in less than 24 hours, overwhelmingly supporting Big Sky Deli.

The CCHD posted on facebook Tuesday morning: “We want to reassure you that we are working hard to educate local businesses on the governor’s mask mandate. Our goal is education, not discipline. The CCHD thanks companies that comply with the application of the ‘ordinance, as well as our citizens who are diligently taking preventative action to slow the spread of COVID-19. Again, educating businesses and residents in our community is our primary focus. “

We are working to get more details on the situation from CCHD and Big Sky Deli, and will keep you posted if we get more information.



[ad_2]

Source link