The state is giving Alaskans contradictory messages on face masks in retail businesses, but there is an easy fix.

Employees and customers of all retail businesses should be wearing masks to protect both employees and customers.

Right now, the state health mandates contain a contradiction that is needlessly confusing. The rules for non-essential retail businesses require customers and employees to wear masks.

“Cloth face coverings shall be worn by all employees and patrons,” the state said in Attachment E of the health mandates, which took effect Friday.

Essential businesses, on the other hand, including many giant retail stores, are exempt from the mask rule.

Let’s hope that the announcement Wednesday from Costco—that all employees and customers must wear face masks as of Monday—will be the impetus the state and the Municipality of Anchorage need to apply a consistent policy that protects the most vulnerable Alaskans.

“To protect our members and employees, effective May 4, all Costco members and guests must wear a mask or face covering that covers the mouth and nose at all times while at Costco,” the company said. “This requirement does not apply to children under the age of 2 or to individuals who are unable to wear a mask or face covering due to a medical condition.”

“The use of a mask or face covering should not be seen as a substitute for social distancing. Please continue to observe rules regarding appropriate distancing while on Costco premises. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”

The Alaska rules for “essential” retail operations make no mention of masks, but they require the six-foot social distancing standard that has become common in recent weeks.

The state standard for essential enterprises says that in addition to washing hands and keeping apart, employees and customers should cover coughs or sneezes “into the sleeve or elbow, not hands.”

As to the benefits of wearing masks, the state says they don’t keep you from catching the virus, but they protect others in your vicinity if you sneeze or cough.

In the Municipality of Anchorage, the rules for non-essential retail operations are that “Employees and customers shall wear face coverings. Businesses should post signage notifying customers of the requirement to wear face coverings at entrance(s).”

The Anchorage Daily News reports that wearing face masks is recommended, but not required in essential Anchorage businesses. Fred Meyer and Carrs are recommending masks, but not requiring them.

In the interests of protecting public health and ending confusion, the Municipality of Anchorage and the state need to realize that masks are essential and expand the requirement to all retail stores.

“We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms,” the Centers for Disease Control says. “This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms.”

That’s why the CDC recommends wearing masks in grocery stores, pharmacies and similar establishments.