Questions about masks in public

Amid Cincinnati’s mask ordinance and a more recent requirement from the state to mask up, some of the city's best chefs and restaurant owners are working on a new recipe to make it safe to dine in -- and they’re asking for patrons to help.

WE ARE NOW A WEEK INTO HAVINGA MASK MANDATE OVER PARTS OFOUR AREA -- AND TONIGHT --WE'RE TAKING A LOOK AT HOWTHOSE MANDATES ARE BEINGENFORCED, IF AT ALL.THANKS FORJOINING US FRO WCPO 9 NEWS AT11.I'M TANYA O'ROURKE.CRAIGHAS THE NIGHT OFF.AT THIS POINT -- 7 DAYS INTOTHE CITYWIDE MANDATE, AND 6DAYS INTO THE STATE-ISSUEDORDER -- IT STILL ISN'T CLEARWHETHER THE CITY OF CINCINNATIHAS A SYSTEM IN PLACE -- TOENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE WEARINGMASKS IN PUBLIC SPACES.WCPO 9 NEWS REPORTER JAKE RYLESPOKE WITH CINCINNATI'S HEALTHCOMMISSIONER -- ABOUT HOW THEMANDATE IS BEING ENFORCED.HEALTH COMMISSIONER MELBAMOORE TELLS ME THE MASKMANDATE IS STILL A WORK INPROGRESS WHEN IT COMES TOCITING INDIVIDUALS.

THE HEALTHDEPARTMENT MET WITH RESTAURANTOWNERS... WHO SAY THEY'REDOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN..

TOHELP KEEP FOLKS SAFE..

IF THEYWANT TO COME OUT FOR SOME FOODOR A DRINK.SOME OF THE CITY'SBEST CHEFS..

AND RESTAURANTOWNERS..

ARE WORKING ON A NEWRECIPE."Question keeps percolatingon whether it's safe to gorestaurants.

The answer is -Yes it is."MAYOR JOHNCRANLEY..

SAYS NO COVID-19CASES HAVE BEEN TRACED BACK TOCITY RESTAURANTS.., "If you walk into arestaurant who aren't keepingyou six feet apart, oremployees aren't wearingmasks.

You should stop goingthere, and you should tell usabout it.

We'll deal with it."ONE WEEK AGO..

THE CINCINNATIHEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS GIVENTHE RESPONSIBILITY OFENFORCING BUSINESSES AND FOLKSIN PUBLIC TO WEAR MASKS..HEALTH COMMISSIONER MELBAMOORE TELLS ME SANITARIANS ARECHECKING BUSINESSES FORCOMPLIANCE..BUT AT THIS POINTIN TIME - THEY AREN'T CITINGINDIVIDUAL PEOPLE.

MOORE SAYSTHE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS STILLWORKING ON A PROTOCOL FORTHAT ... BECAUSE THAT ISN'TSOMETHING IT NORMALLY DOES.,,ITS USUALLY FOCUSED ONBUSINESSES.

COMMISSIONERMOORE SAYS THE GOAL ISN'T TOFINE PEOPLE..

BUT INSTEAD..

TOPROVIDE FOLKS WITH A MASK IFNEEDED..

AND TO EDUCATE..SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY BEENON THE MINDS OF RESTAURANTOWNERS..

LIKE JOELONNIE., "Get a group of people fromthe city, health department,the industry.

Come up with aclearer set of protocols thatwill be used in the city"THEYSAY THE VAST MAJORITY OFRESTAURANTS HAVE NORESERVATIONS ABOUT THAT..SOTHEY CAN BE IN BUSINESSANOTHER DAY..AND SO YOU CANENJOY ANOTHER NIGHTOUT."Your part of coming out isfor you to pay attention.

Two,to show up in a mask.

Three,to keep the social distance aswell.

That's it.

And then havea good time!

We'll do therest.

Seriously.

Wear a mask."COMMISSIONER MOORE DID SAYTHEY'LL NEED TO WORK WITH THELAW DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE APROTOCOL FOR INDIVIDUALCITATIONS.

BUT THE MESSAGELOUD AND CLEAR TONIGHT..RESTAURANTS ARE DOING WHATTHEY CAN TO ENSURE SAFETY.

ATTHE BANKS, JAKE RYLE, WCPO 9NEWS.