Panhandle Health District (PHD) Mask Mandate (Shoshone, Kootenai: Home Depot, exemptions, law)

[oldafretired]

PHD voted last Thursday for mandating the wear of masks. They cover Benewah, Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone and Bonner counties. Seems like it will be a low priority for local law enforcement.

https://cdapress.com/news/2020/jul/2...ad-the-full-5/

[banjomike]

The District 7 health dept., which covers the SE corridor, is considering taking the same action.

[f5fstop]

Hard to enforce. Travelers could come into the county and not have masks with them. if stores require it, then I believe they must also offer them for use. Besides, doesn't this clause give an out for anyone?

B. Facial coverings are not required to be worn under the following circumstances:



c. Persons with medical conditions, mental health condition, or disability that prevent them from wearing a face covering. A person is not required to provide documentation demonstrating that the person cannot tolerate wearing a face covering.

[Cnynrat]

To be clear, the mandate issued by Panhandle Health only applies to Kootenai county. There is currently no mandate in the other counties covered by the health district.

There are also a fair number of exemptions, including for instance when outside where social distancing can be maintained to list just one.

Dave

[mistyriver]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

Hard to enforce. Travelers could come into the county and not have masks with them. if stores require it, then I believe they must also offer them for use. Besides, doesn't this clause give an out for anyone?

B. Facial coverings are not required to be worn under the following circumstances:



c. Persons with medical conditions, mental health condition, or disability that prevent them from wearing a face covering. A person is not required to provide documentation demonstrating that the person cannot tolerate wearing a face covering.

No, stores do not have to supply a mask.

[f5fstop]

Some stores in Poky are supplying masks such as Fred Meyers; not sure of their policy if you refuse to wear. Walmart's policy is do nothing....if a customer refuses to wear a mask, the associate is to do nothing other than contact a manager and the manager will do nothing.

Legally, they could call LE; however they won't.

[Cnynrat]

I think Wal Mart and Home Depot backed down a little on their insistence that customers wear masks. It's still their official policy, but I understand they aren't pushing it at all.

I haven't been to either since the mandate came down, so this is 2nd or 3rd hand info.

Dave

[oldafretired]

The pushback has started:

https://cdapress.com/news/2020/jul/2...-mask-board-5/

[Cnynrat]

I was not at the meeting when the mask mandate vote was taken, but from what I understand the push back started about 5 seconds after the vote ...

Dave

[f5fstop]

Originally Posted by Cnynrat

I think Wal Mart and Home Depot backed down a little on their insistence that customers wear masks. It's still their official policy, but I understand they aren't pushing it at all.

I haven't been to either since the mandate came down, so this is 2nd or 3rd hand info.

Dave

Walmart has a large sign stating masks are required; however, they are not enforcing it for the few who don't want to wear. Primarily, like some of the so-called health district and gov't entities requiring masks, there is always the out of saying you cannot wear a mask due to a breathing problem.

As for Home Depot? Was in the Poky store the other day and saw only a few customers wearing masks; didn't know they are requiring them.