GREENSBORO, N.C. — The conversation continues around mask mandates, as we see our COVID-19 trends are improving.
Guilford County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday night to meet as a board of health to consider changing the county's mask mandate. That meeting is scheduled for Nov. 15.
We spoke with two business owners Wednesday about how this could impact their opinions.
Moore Music Company and Bodega are two businesses in the heart of downtown Greensboro. Their owners said the last more than a year and a half have been a challenge in many ways.
However, hearing there's a chance of getting back to normal, is something most are looking forward to.
Al Stephens is the owner of the Moore Music Company. When we asked him about the Guilford County Board of Health's upcoming review of masks, he said there is no clear-cut answer.
"It's probably two answers to that," Stephens said. "One is personal and one is business. From a personal nature, I'd love to be done with this, as we all would be, but it also gives us a sense of protection. From a business perspective, it makes (me) more nervous because we have people coming in the door all the time and we don't know if they are vaccinated, who they've been in contact with. Hopefully, as our numbers go down, hopefully we'll learn how to live with this."
Daniel Leonard and his team at the Bodega are hopeful that county commissioners will lift the mandate so he can enjoy seeing his customers' faces again.
"As a business owner in Greensboro, we want everyone to be safe first and foremost," Leonard said. "If you feel comfortable wearing the mask, then wear the mask. If you're vaccinated, we don't mind if you don't wear it. If you aren't vaccinated, we'd prefer you'd wear a mask just because you can get others sick. It is nice to see people's smiles and the expressions on their faces."
As of Wednesday, nothing with the Guilford County mask mandate changed. The county commissioners will meet as the board of health on Nov. 15.