COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – With most government health contracts a thing of the past, Governor Mike DeWine says individual companies can choose what action to take.
And entrepreneurs take this message to heart. Some have COVID-19 related health regulations and some don’t.
“It can be a personal preference, it can be a business owner’s preference, and we should respect that,” said Don DePerro, president and CEO of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
The Columbus Chamber of Commerce has approximately 2100 members in the 11 counties it covers. Most of its members are small businesses. DePerro suggests companies figure out what works best for them and what is most convenient for them, realizing that this can vary from business to business.
For Chapman’s Eat Market in German Village, this means that a mask is required.
“The biggest motivational factor for us is to respect the trauma people have faced from the pandemic. I’m not worried that COVID will spread in our four walls, ”BJ Lierberman, Owner & Chef. “I’m not worried about that at all, what worries me is that people are comfortable and safe.”
His staff must continue to wear masks, as must guests when they are not at their tables. It’s the latest move in challenge after challenge for the hospitality industry during the pandemic. From a counseling perspective, Lieberman says the health ordinance repeal doesn’t feel much different than it did when it was first introduced.
“I had the feeling that we were largely on our own from the start,” he said.
He says masks won’t be required forever, but wants to give him some more time. Its establishment is not alone in complying with the mask requirement.
Others have decided that masks are optional and that barriers between tables are discarded.
