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Hamilton County sues first business for noncompliance with mask mandate

Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Ed's Supply Company is seen on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Ed's Supply Company is seen on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Hamilton County Health Department has filed its first lawsuit against a Chattanooga business alleging that it failed to comply with the county’s COVID-19 mask mandate.

The health department alleges that on several occasions, employees and customers at Ed’s Supply Company, 3011 South Hickory St., were not wearing masks or social distancing even after multiple warnings were issued to the company.

The county is asking a judge to order the business to close if it refuses to come into compliance. The company’s lawyer, Sam Sanders, declined to comment.

When speaking with health inspectors about compliance, according to the lawsuit, those that worked or were affiliated with the business were repeatedly “advancing their belief as to the ineffectiveness of masking” and cited “their installation and use of UV ultraviolet light systems within their facility’s air conditioning system to assist with disinfection” against COVID-19.

(READ MORE: Amid coronavirus, masks are not 100% effective, but then neither are seat belts)