George Azar, owner of the Mediterranean Gourmet Market in Alexandria, says if a customer enters his store without a mask starting tomorrow, he has a solution: just offer one for free.

“I think it’s for the best of everybody,” said Azar. “Most of my customers who come in now, even though it’s not required, they are wearing a mask.”

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, is counting on that reaction as his executive order requiring masks goes into effect Friday. Police will not enforce it. The Virginia Department of Health will not send inspectors. Instead Northam said Thursday he believed residents will “do the right thing” and cover their faces. This comes amid criticism from worker groups who say they need more protection, police who warn of unintended consequences, and Republicans who say businesses can’t afford to be saddled with extra burdens.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public places where it is difficult to maintain social distancing to slow the spread of the virus.

Rita Davis, counsel to the governor, explained the executive order requiring masks would be enforced through the Virginia Department of Health and would require several steps before penalties could be issued. She said there were two avenues for enforcement: an injunction and a warrant issued by a magistrate, although she explained they would be rare.

“The governor has stated that only gross, egregious, and repeated conduct in violation of the order should rise to the attention of the Department of Health,” Davis said. “And although the governor does not expect business owners to enforce Executive Order 63, he does encourage them to take the opportunity to educate a noncompliant patron regarding the importance of wearing a face covering while inside the business.”

Virginia Department of Health spokeswoman Tammie Smith said her department “will take an educational approach” to the requirement.

Workers have voiced gratitude and worry.

“We have concerns about whether or not there is capacity at the agencies that are assigned to this enforcement to handle the number of cases that may arise,” said Destiny LeVere, spokeswoman for the Virginia AFL-CIO. “Workers are … glad that the mask order has finally been put in place, but they still feel that they are lacking the proper protections and enforcement measures needed to ensure their safety.”

The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police also voiced concerns about the mask requirement.

“It will be up to the businesses and their untrained employees to confront someone who isn’t wearing a mask to either compel the violators to wear a mask or expel them from the premises,” executive director Dana Schrad wrote in a statement. “As we have seen in other states, this has led to confrontations between businesses and their customers, even in one case leading to a shooting death at a Dollar Store.”

Republican House Leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) assailed the requirement as “yet another burden on businesses already reeling from months of being shut down or severely limited.”

Northam responded to those criticisms Thursday, saying “we need to get the politics out of this.”

“It’s about getting the health crisis behind us so we can move forward with our economic recovery,” Northam said. “I can’t lead everybody to the water, but I’m going to lead as many people as I can.”

Azar’s experience at his Alexandria store may reflect a more obedient reaction in Northern Virginia. He said he was looking forward to being able to serve hot meals outdoors, which might help bring him more business after months of lost revenue amid the pandemic.

Julie Coons, executive director of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce that represents about 700 companies, said she was optimistic her members would comply.

“Certainly in Northern Virginia, we’ve had a wide respect for needing to follow the science and the rules that have been issued,” she said. “Having said that, I think a business is limited in its ability to educate and ask patrons to comply.”

The mask rule has exemptions: for customers with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing masks; for people who are exercising, eating, or drinking; and for children under age 10.