Not all businesses plan to follow Buncombe County in easing mask requirements

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — One Asheville business owner said she wished Buncombe County commissioners wouldn’t have let the mask requirement expire.

Madam Clutterbucket's Neurodiverse Universe owner Ashley Deck said she’ll continue to require masks inside her store to protect her staff. She said a majority of her employees are disabled and immunocompromised and nervous about the virus.

BUNCOMBE COUNTY'S INDOOR MASK POLICY WILL EXPIRE AT NOON WEDNESDAY

Deck said she thinks the decision by county leaders will cause added conflict from customers who don’t want to wear masks.

"COVID has come through Asheville already, heavily in December," Deck said. "We saw a lot of businesses get impacted by that. It’s not fair for us to not be able to protect ourselves as business owners and keep our shops running."

Deck said her policy isn’t related to politics — rather it's a decision to keep everyone safe at the pandemic continues.