Businesses have varying rules when it comes to masking mandates, in Hamden, while Quinnipiac University is more consistent with mask-wearing, the school has had its fair share of issues.
When COVID-19 began in March, Hamden’s restrictions were more strict. Now, there is an inconsistent authorization of mask laws around town, with some establishments going as they please.
“Anyone who comes in the store has to have on a mask,” Mario Nicolaides, the owner of “Fat Wedge U” said. “When we are back here cooking though, we don’t always have them on.”
“We have a manager and he really only cares if we wear them back here,” said Will Thorpe, a Dunkin’ Donuts employee in Hamden. “We have some people come in and forget a mask or put their shirt over their face, but we don’t really give them a hard time and make them leave. If we don’t have ours, we have to get another or go home and grab it.”
Some places like Hamden Liquor Mart, Nail Spa, and Krauzer’s follow the rule entirely since it is a state law, and they remove anyone from the store who isn’t wearing a mask. All of these places had employees in masks as well, so not every store is implementing their own rules, some are following the statewide mask mandate.
“When we have people come into the shop, they have masks on,” Charles Swanson, the owner of Sleeping Giant golf course said. “We try to minimize how many people are in the store by having a line outside, and then when they are hitting balls or on the course, they can take the masks off.”
The golf course has that policy because when people are in the store they are close, but when they’re at the driving range or on the golf course they’re with family or friends and they’re socially distant enough to not wear masks.
Although the masks in Hamden businesses are up to the discretion of the store owner, Quinnipiac requires all students, faculty and staff to wear masks at all times when outside of their dorm or office.
Anonymous Quinnipiac students have set up an Instagram account called “QU_unmasked” where students are encouraged to direct message pictures of students not following the COVID-19 guidelines on campus. The photo submissions are posted to the page.
For the most part, the Quinnipiac community is buying into mask wearing so the fall semester can go on uninterrupted. On Oct. 6, Quinnipiac moved to a “yellow alert level” with 10 positive COVID-19 cases in a week — all from students who live off-campus.
“I personally don’t like [qu_unmasked] because people might accidentally take their mask off and next thing you know they’re on this account,” Wendy Juca, a 20-year-old criminal justice major who lives off-campus said. “I don’t think anybody necessarily enjoys wearing a mask on campus. I don’t really mind it since I’m not on campus too often and [wearing a mask] is convenient for helping to stop the spread [of COVID-19].”
Professors must wear a mask when teaching. Dr. Marco Scauso, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Quinnipiac, said wearing a mask is crucial for stopping the spread of COVID-19 and wearing the mask has become another normal element in his life.
“I have had to adjust a few of my habits in class in order to wear the mask,” Scauso said in an email response. “For example, drinking a bit of coffee or tea is important to me because it helps me to smooth my throat while speaking loudly and for three hours at the time. In order to do this, I either use a straw or just go to my office for a minute during a break. Of course, I miss being able to read the expressions of students to be able to see how things are going in the class, but I have adjusted to asking more questions and checking more often with students about their wellbeing in class.”
However, some students are picking and choosing when and where they wear their masks, which could be a recipe for an outbreak.
“I’ve seen students wear masks on campus but when it comes to being in the library, most students don’t wear them at all,” Juca said.
Additional information provided by Max Schreiber.