Coronavirus Update: Kentucky Convenience Store With 'No Face Masks Allowed' Sign Under Investigation

A convenience store in Manchester, Kentucky, is reportedly under investigation for posting a sign at its door stating, "no face masks allowed” and urging customers with masks to "go somewhere else."

The establishment and its owner are also drawing criticisms on social media because the sign called Gov. Andy Beshear a d****ss.

According to WYMT Kentucky, the Cumberland Valley District Health Department attempted to contact Alvin's Convenience Store after a social media post about the sign received thousands of shares on Monday. The health agency, however, won't provide any comment since the matter is now under investigation.

On Tuesday, Alvin's owners, Chris and Marissa Stavely posted a clarification on Facebook.

"First of all, we would never deny any customer access inside our store, that is wearing a mask or not wearing a mask," the message read. "We are not telling you to not wear a mask, what we are saying is, it's your choice to wear one or not, not our government's choice for us."

The couple said that the sign was not meant to offend anyone. However, the owners said that "we will not apologize for our beliefs in our freedom."

Speaking in another interview, the couple said that they have not denied service to customers with or without face masks. They said that the person who shared the sign's photo on social media did not understand nor personally asked and spoke to them.

"If he had simply come into the store and spoken to us, this would not be a story," Chris said.

Fox News reported that the person who took the photo, who intended to shame the convenience store, has been called a “tattletale” while some netizens said that they will visit Manchester to shop at Alvin's Convenience Store. Meanwhile, the sign has since been removed at the convenience store's door.

Kentucky loosened its coronavirus restrictions and reopened businesses on May 11. Beshear ordered the wearing of face masks for Kentucky residents who will be out in public. They won't be arrested or cited if they do not have face masks on, but the protective gear is recommended to lower the risk of coronavirus infection.

Kentucky has 8,167 positive cases and 376 deaths as of May 20, 2020, per the state’s health department.