Good Food Store claims to still be following the science when it comes to masking their customers.

In an email and Facebook post sent out to subscribers, Good Food Store said that despite the mask mandate being dropped by the Governor at the state level and now the orders being invalidated as illegal at the county level, they will still recommend their customers wear masks, though they will not require them.

The grocery store cited health department guidance for their recommendation, saying that they are “following the Health Department’s lead by recommending, but no longer requiring,” customers to mask their face while in the store.

The grocer made no mention of the signing of HB 257 which invalidated illegal orders from the Missoula County Board of Health, ultimately ending the orders last Friday.

On Monday, May 10th, Missoula’s Health Officer announced that the County has met the necessary goals to rescind Missoula’s mask mandate, effective immediately. In her statement, the Health Officer recognized the successful vaccination efforts in Missoula County that have made this step possible. The Good Food Store is following the Health Department’s lead by recommending, but no longer requiring, face coverings for customers and staff while in the store.

In April 2020 we became the first large retailer in Missoula to require face coverings. That was not an easy decision, and those early days and weeks were very challenging. As other businesses also began requiring masks, and the county order followed in July, we welcomed a more consistent standard across our community. We have taken seriously our responsibility to uphold this public health order diligently, but we must be honest that doing so over the last year has been extremely difficult.

Our local Board of Health established clear COVID metrics that would be needed to lift the mask mandate, and Missoula has met them. GFS is listening to our local public health experts and deferring to their guidance that at this time mask wearing may be downgraded to a recommendation. We recognize that not all of our customers will be equally comfortable with this change, and we are sensitive to those varying and strongly held feelings. At this time, however, it is simply not possible for us to hold a higher standard than what is recommended by our local health officials.

Throughout this extraordinary year we have been grateful for the support of our loyal customers, and we thank you for your understanding as we move into this next chapter.

Good Food Store Facebook page. May 5, 2021.