The state is getting tougher on New Yorkers who are not wearing face masks. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed an executive order authorizing business owners the right to deny service to anyone not wearing a mask or face covering.

Gov. Cuomo says they've been made mandatory in other public settings like transportation, so why not in retail shops.

"That store owner has a right to protect themselves. That store owner has a right to protect the other patrons in that store," says Gov. Cuomo.

Many stores already require people to wear masks to enter, but Gov. Cuomo's spokesman Rich Azzopardi said the right of business owners to do that had not been made explicit in law. He said the order also gives local police the ability to enforce the rule.

Gov. Cuomo says his new order will reduce conflicts between shop owners and customers who refuse to cover their faces.

However, not all agree with the governor. One News 12 viewer posted on News 12's Facebook page, "People with medical disabilities can't wear a mask, I hope he puts that exception in his executive orders."

Overnight, the governor released details of his order, it says the face covering order applies to any individual over age two and able to medically tolerate a face-covering.

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