LOUISVILLE, Ky. —  As COVID-19 cases surge in Louisville and public health officials seek out new ways to slow the spread of the virus, the city will begin public naming businesses, large employers, and other public-facing organizations that are found to be non-compliant with measures meant to keep the pandemic at bay.


What You Need To Know

  • Louisville’s health department is increasing enforcement of COVID-19 safety measures

  • In addition to increased inspections, the names of businesses found in violation will be made public

  • A city official described the move as a way to ensure more accountability

  • Other cities to embrace this idea have explicitly referred to it as “naming and shaming,” but Louisville officials deny that they aim to shame

“We need some accountability,” said Nick Hart, Environmental Health Manager for Louisville Health and Public Wellness.

The move is part of the city’s plan to increase safety measures in the face of record case numbers. Last week, there were 2,300 new cases in Jefferson County, where the seven-day incidence rate is well into the “red zone,” at 46.5 cases per 100 residents. 

The effort includes refocusing the duties of city environmentalists, who typically conduct restaurant inspections and water testing, among other measures meant to keep the city healthy. Now, the majority of their time will be focused on COVID-19 safety measures. 

Environmentalists will expand the list of businesses they surveill to include those typically outside the health department’s scope, including office buildings, hair salons, retail outlets, and county clubs. They’ll also conduct more surveillance in the evenings, late-nights, and weekends, to ensure compliance during peak hours of operation. 

“We’re going to be looking for signage,” Hart said. “We’re going to be looking for face coverings. We’re going to be looking for distancing. When we look at the resources available to us as a city to control the spread, this is one way we can help."

Businesses found to be in violation will receive a notice and be told to correct the problem. If violations of face-covering rules are found, a citation will also be issued. And then the names of the businesses will be published on the city’s website.

The effect of shining a spotlight on the non-compliant is twofold. First, as Hart pointed out, it will allow consumers to make informed decisions about where they shop, eat, and conduct other business. To that end, the names of businesses found to be complying with the rules will also be made public. 

There is clearly a market for that information, as the Facebook group “Louisville Mask Friendly Businesses” and its nearly 6,000 members makes clear. Every day in the group, Louisvillians post their experiences, both positive (Plehn's Bakery in St. Matthews is “doing it right”) and negative (“not a mask in sight” at Rootie's Sports Bar & Grille on Westport Road). Others ask for recommendations for a “mask-compliant plumber” or a “mask-friendly car window replacement" company."

The other effect of naming bad actors will be allowing people to shame them, though Hart insists that's not part of the city's motivation. “As a public health professional, shaming does not work,” he said. “We know that for a fact.”

But several other cities to implement similiar policies have embraced this obvious side-effect of the public call-out. Houston's website includes a “COVID-19 Accountability Wall,” which was initially called the “wall of shame” when it debuted in June. City officials in Hamilton, Ontario have explicitly referred to their policy as “naming and shaming” scofflaws. It goes into effect Friday.

And public shaming has been a constant thoughout the pandemic. All summer, pictures of crowded spaces inspired anger and derision on social media. When a business is called out in for failing to require masks on “Louisville Mask Friendly Businesses," commenters reply that they’ll be avoiding it or they pledge to report it to the city. Sometimes they call for boycotts.

Asked about the city's new policy, Greater Louisville Inc, the chamber of commerce, said it "continues to encourage businesses to follow all public health requirements." It did not comment on the naming provision.

Members of “Louisville Mask Friendly Businesses” did though. When one of the group's administrators posted a link to a news article about the plan, group members responded with hand-clap emojis and suggestions that the policy should have been in place for months. Another asked if the administratorswould invite city health officials to follow the page. That won't be nessecary though, Hart said. They already do.