Valley residents divided as masks become mandatory

By TAYLOR BROWN

tbrown@yourmvi.com

Residents and business owners are dealing with the ramifications of enforced mask wearing — whether they like it or not.

State Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine signed an order last week that requires shoppers picking up medication, groceries or other essential items to wear masks inside establishments.

Critical workers employed through the pandemic are also required to have masks on.

Businesses have permission to deny entry to customers who do not wear masks “unless the business is providing medication, medical supplies or food, in which case the business must provide alternative methods of pick-up or delivery of such goods,” Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said.

According to the order, anyone over the age of 2 must wear a mask, unless they have a medical condition that prevents it and documentation to prove it

Archie Allridge, owner of the Fisher Heights, Finleyville and Uniontown Giant Eagle sites, said there was an incident Monday with a customer who refused to put on a mask at the Fisher Heights location.

“We had to ask them to leave,” Allridge said. “But so far, it has been OK. It probably should have been mandated sooner, but we are going to do what we have to do to get through this.”

Customers will be required to wear masks to enter the store, and all employees will be required to wear masks while working, he said.

“People aren’t happy, but this is what needs to be done right now,” he said.

Many residents have been wearing masks in public for weeks before the mandate took effect at 8 p.m. Sunday.

While some gladly put on masks, others don’t agree.

Across the Mon Valley, residents are split on their support of the order and some with medical conditions say it is hard to comply.

For many, wearing a mask is a small, easy way to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Hannah Lewis of Monongahela said the request is simple.

“Putting on and taking off masks involves zero face touching,” she said. “And they are supposed to be washed after outings. It’s really not a time-consuming process by any means, so it seems pretty ridiculous how some people are complaining like it is some huge inconvenience.”

Linda Girimonte of Roscoe said she would “rather be safe than sorry.”

Girimonte has worn a mask since the start of the pandemic and agrees 100% with the order to require others to do so.

“This is very appropriate,” she said. “You don’t know if you’re contagious or not.”

Like many residents worried about contracting the virus, her immune system is compromised.

“It wouldn’t take much for me to get sick, so therefore I am trying to protect myself,” she said. “But to each his own. It’s not for me to judge.”

Amy Michalic, a Monongahela resident, has been wearing a mask long before the pandemic as she awaits a kidney transplant.

“I am waiting for a transplant and have had to wear a mask for a year now,” she said. “A few months will not hurt anyone. Those of us who have no immune system greatly appreciate those who are compliant. 

“Just look at it through someone else’s eyes. It’s a small inconvenience for you but a huge savior for us.”

Others are happy about the order because they have family members who are essential workers.

Jeannine Motycki of Charleroi said she breathed a sigh of relief when she heard masks would be required.

“I live with an essential worker. My daughter and I both have asthma, and I have heart disease,” she said. “My husband has stayed away from both of us during this whole thing because it is essential and he has to work. He doesn’t have the option of people not coming in with a mask, until now.

“Do you have any idea what it feels like to live with an essential worker that you can’t hug, that you can’t kiss, that you can’t sleep with, and that you are distancing yourself from in the house by staying six feet away or wearing a mask when I come too close?

“It’s absolutely heart wrenching. We cry twice a day.”

Motycki doesn’t understand those who refuse to comply.

“It’s alarming to me that people are refusing to wear masks when it’s only for their own safety and welfare of themselves their family and others,” she said. “When we learn to respect others in this country, maybe will have a better life.”

Melissa Devine of Elizabeth agrees. She is undergoing treatment for neuroendocrine cancer and a staph infection.

“This is appropriate to not only protect yourself, but to protect essential workers that are out there,” she said. “Why would you want to put other people, especially young children or elderly, at risk? The people not wearing masks are the ones talking badly about people trying to protect themselves.”

Protests held Monday added to the problem, she said.

“It is pure stupidity and selfishness,” she said. “I truly believe in the next few weeks the numbers are going to spike again and the stay-at-home order will be extended further than May 8.”

Tracey Boesse of Monongahela said masks are needed to help flatten the curve and slow the spread.

“I have children and an immune-compromised mother who live lives next door who I help get groceries for so she doesn’t go out,” Boesse said. “If people don’t wear masks for any other reason than a medical one, they are contributing to the continuation of this crisis. But again, it is their choice to disregard the order. But I will protect myself and my family by wearing one.”

Robert Ogden of McKeesport said he wears a mask because the pandemic is already “out of hand.”

“To the people who are taking it as a joke, I hope you don’t have anyone in your family that’s high risk,” he said. “Those with health issues are mostly who are dying. You may feel perfectly normal, have mild symptoms, not think anything about it and pass it to your loved ones.”

Mishelle McKita of Charleroi said even small precautions will make a difference.

“Even if there is only a modest benefit to wearing a mask, isn’t it worth it?” she asked. “We are in a situation where every small precaution can make a difference.

“Research supports that masks are useful tools in reducing the spread of the virus from a contagious individual. If we all do our part, maybe we can slow the spread until we have a vaccine. We all have to make choices on our individual decisions and respect each other, but common courtesy goes a long way.”

Other area residents disagree, claiming home-made masks are not helpful and the order was put into place too late.

Elizabeth Township resident Eric Piper said he has worn a mask for the past week, but disagrees with the order for multiple reasons.

“We have successfully flattened the curve in Western Pennsylvania without the order, why add it when we have already accomplished what they wanted?” he asked. “Hospitals have no one in them.”

He said the order will bring more difficulties.

“This is about much more than just masks,” he said. “Small businesses are going to have a hard time finding the masks and getting the shields installed. More businesses might have to close.”

He said the order is an example of government overreach.

“The governor has overstepped his bounds,” Piper said. “We are taking the wrong approach. We can’t shelter in place until a vaccine is ready. We should do things strategically and open.”

Monongahela resident Chad DeSantis said he is not opposed to using masks to stop the spread of infectious disease, but many people do not know how to wear masks properly.

“I think that a little more training outside of ‘put on a mask’ would help quite a bit,” he said, “but I can’t help but recognize the simple fact that most people are going to touch their face a lot more when they’re wearing a mask without even realizing that they’re doing it.”

Janet Williams said she wears a mask to comply, but would not choose to if it were not necessary.

“I think the majority of people wearing masks and gloves cross contaminate everything,” she said. “… touching everything and browsing and then touching their face.

“I see them touching masks, holding it up to wipe/blow their nose and put it back in place, pull gloves off with teeth and throw masks on ground. I am more for keeping a distance from people and washing hands constantly. I wear a mask only because it’s recommended, not my choice. I avoid crowds and try my best to be safe. I wonder if we were safer without the masks?”

Some residents believe opinions are moot on the issue.

Richard Koch of Monongahela said it does not matter how individuals feel about the order as long as they comply.

“Doesn’t matter whether you are for or against it as long as you do it,” Koch said. “The requirement is there for a reason. They don’t make this stuff up just to make our lives more difficult. It’s not in their best interest, but ours.”

Susan Polomoscanik of Elco said she feels if people comply with the order, the businesses may be able to re-open sooner.

“If we want to end this, we need to be proactive,” she said.

Aaron Bowers of McKeesport said he wants to live in a world where people care about people.

“What I think is interesting is that the purpose of the masks as I understand it, is that me wearing a mask doesn’t protect me — it protects you from me and my droplets that may be contaminated by being an asymptomatic carrier of Covid-19,” he said. “I’d rather we live in a world where we care so much about others that we don’t want to spread what we may have, but the reality is that in our polarized political climate, it’s just another thing that will be used to protest.

“Wear your mask, for everyone’s good.”