by Ulises Orozco, reporter
OMAHA – A face mask mandate was introduced early August, requiring any individual or entity which maintains premises open to the general public to wear face covering while indoors. Face coverings are not required while immediately consuming food or beverages.
Kristal Ortega, a server at El Chicano says she wears her face mask, and washes her hands regularly for her own safety and the safety of the customers. “I really just don’t take off my mask,” said Ortega.
Ortega has two jobs, she says she feels more comfortable as a server at El Chicano, than working club nights.
“There’s a bigger chance for me to get sick,” said Ortega.
Servers as well as customers all look to be safe. Jeoff Kruse, a dine-in customer says one of the main challenges he and his family have ran in to is finding a place they feel comfortable at.
“Big things of hand sanitizer, just things that gives you a little bit of confidence that they’re taking the appropriate steps to try and make sure that the customer, obviously, but more importantly, their own staff is safe,” said Kruse.
Ortega mentions another challenge, post opening up, has been low customer frequency.
“We started working, but it was obviously not busy yet,” said Ortega.
“Certainly, the frequency and probably the variety just because when you find a place that’s doing a good job, it’s like hey we know we can go here and feel comfortable,” said Kruse.
According to the Douglas County Health Department the face mask mandate is listed to extend until October 20, 2020.
