North Shore restaurant and bar employees required to wear masks, state says
On June 10, Minnesota moved into phase three of its ‘Stay Safe Plan’ regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The plan includes, among many other aspects, the reopening of indoor dining at local restaurants and bars in Cook County and throughout the North Shore area.
Statewide, restaurants and bars can reopen for indoor service as long as they have adopted and implemented a ‘COVID-19 Preparedness Plan’ and ensure a minimum of six feet of distance between tables. Another, perhaps less publicly discussed scenario in the reopening process is one that requires all restaurant and bar workers to wear masks at all times while they are working.
Local residents observed that in the days following the June 10 rollout of this requirement some working in the restaurant and bar scene in Cook County were not wearing masks while serving or preparing food and drink. Local law enforcement, members of the business community and county officials told WTIP they hope education rather than immediate enforcement of the new requirement will increase compliance when it comes to restaurant and bar employees wearing masks while working.
Cook County Public Health Supervisor Grace Grinager spoke with WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs about this new policy requiring all restaurant and bar workers in Minnesota to wear a mask during this phase of the ongoing pandemic.