Staff at Kelowna Costco were forced to call the police on Monday (Nov. 16) after a patron who refused to wear a mask would not leave the store when requested to do so.
RCMP officers attended the store to investigate allegations of trespassing.
“After a discussion with attending officers, the patron agreed to leave the business without further incident,” said Const. Solana Paré.
Monday was the first day the big box store shifted to a mandatory face-covering policy for all of its customers. Prior to the change, those who claimed they could not wear a mask for medical reasons were exempt from the rule.
“If a member has a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask, they must wear a face shield at Costco,” CEO Craig Jelinek said in a statement on Nov. 10.
“This updated policy may seem inconvenient to some; however, we believe the added safety is worth any inconvenience. Our goal is to continue to provide a safe shopping environment for our members and guests, and to provide a safe work environment for our employees.”
READ MORE: Costco to require face-shields for those medically exempt from wearing masks
READ MORE: B.C. woman who can’t wear a mask feels unfairly judged
The RCMP noted businesses have the right to refuse service for non-compliance with mask mandates.
“Individuals have the right not to attend the business if they decide not to wear a protective mask to help prevent the spread COVID-19,” stated Const. Paré.
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