Cuomo Announces Executive Order Allowing Businesses to Deny Customers Without Masks

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) has been a leading figure in the fight against coronavirus as New York City became the epicenter of the virus in the United States.

Now, as the states begin to re-open, the governor is announcing an executive order that will allow businesses to refuse service to customers not wearing masks.

Cuomo unveiled his plan for the order on Thursday in a tweet, writing, “Today I am signing an Executive Order authorizing businesses to deny entry to those who do not wear masks for face-coverings. No mask – no entry.”

In a follow-up tweet, he explained, “People have a right to jeopardize their own health (I don’t recommend it). People don’t have a right to jeopardize other people’s health.”

Cuomo began announcing his re-opening plans in early May with areas that have not been hit as hard as New York City opening first and industries like construction and manufacturing opening up first.

He previously extended New York’s stay-at-home order to June 15, though some areas and businesses are ready to open before that date, Cuomo has said.

When the governor announced that some rural areas were ready to reopen, he praised the work that the state has done, saying “We took the worst situation in the nation and changed the trajectory. The rest of the nation the cases are still on the incline.”

Cuomo has frequently highlighted the importance of wearing a mask in public. In a recent interview with Seth Myers, he said “I think it’s disrespectful for people not to wear a mask.”

Later in that conversation, Cuomo added, “You don’t have a right to infect me. You don’t have a right to infect my daughter. So wear a mask. It’s not that big of a deal.”