Customers who visit retail stores or businesses will be greeted with mandatory mask wearing signage.

Ohio's new mask order went into effect on Monday as cases of the coronavirus continue to surge.

Employees with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Retail Compliance Unit set out to enforce this mask mandate on Monday. The state would not reveal which locations they would be visiting due to safety concerns.

The Trumbull County Combined Health District tells 21 News it plans to funnel more resources to the nursing department, which is contact tracing, now that the retail enforcement is up to the state.

New signs and sanitizer stations are set up for customers when they enter the Eastwood Mall. Many stores have signs posted by their entrances reminding customers to wear a mask.

Not far away in Warren, Simpson Gallery and Gifts has its Christmas merchandise out ready to sell.

The store known for unique gifts, home decor and framing has been in business for 34 years.

"We would like for this all to be over soon, so we're going to do everything that we can," Pam Simpson said, owner of the store.

She worries that fear among customers could cut into their holiday profits.

"We usually have two open houses, one in November and one in October, we weren't able to have either one and it does effect us," she said.

As for the local shops like Simpson's, they're hopeful they're counting on Small Business Saturday to give them a boost.

Businesses and retailers are required to do the following under the governor's latest order:

-Must have a mask mandate sign at their front entrance. Employees are not required to put themselves in jeopardy or risk harm when enforcing this order.

-Required to mark six feet separation spots in all checkout lines.

-Place hand sanitizer stations in high contact locations.

-Disinfect high touch areas and items after each use.

-Offer curbside service and online sales if possible.

-All retailers must require employees to stay home if symptomatic.

-Each business should designate an on-site compliance officer for each business location and each shift during all business hours to enforce these requirements.