Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Since a mask mandate was implemented by Erie County November 23rd, no fines have been levied against any businesses as a result.
"Zero fines," wrote a spokesperson with the Erie County Department of Health when WBEN asked about fines levied since the mask mandate was put in place.
The Erie County Department of Health tells WBEN their focus remains on education and response has been positive from facility owners and operators. Department officials tell us they have conducted 'hundreds' of site visits, both complaint-based and educational.
Since the county mask policy was implemented, New York State has put a mask mandate in place that took hold across the state Monday. Governor Kathy Hochul has repeatedly said enforcement of that policy is in the hands of the counties, several of which had indicated they would not do so.
During a COVID update Tuesday, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said health department officials are out enforcing the policy in the county.
"Our environmental health staff are following up on complaints with investigations and site visits," reads a statement provided to WBEN Wednesday from ECDOH. "Not all site visits are based on complaints. For example, if sanitarians go to a shopping plaza for a complaint investigation, they visit the surrounding businesses for an educational site visit and to distribute boxes of masks for employees and patrons."
In addition to working with business owners on compliance of the mask policy, health department sanitarians have distributed more than 75,000 masks to local businesses, with more on the way. "That's in addition to mask distributions to other industries with front-line workers or that serve vulnerable populations, like child care providers, group homes, first responders, senior congregate dining, food pantries, homeless shelters," the statement reads.
