There may soon be a bipartisan relief bill that does not shield businesses from liability.

That is good news, because it means the bill will not do long-term legal harm. The only remaining question is how much good it does for the rich, and how much to the non-rich.

The bill does not provide aid to states, which need aid desperately to cover what some states have spent protecting the public from Covid-19. States cannot even afford to operate vaccination. But they can hold out till Jan 20 for that aid, and if the Georgia runoff elections go well, we can give states the aid then without shielding business from liability.

Regarding liability, businesses should be liable for failing to do what was possible. In April, when masks were in short supply, it would have been unfair to punish a business for not finding masks. Now that masks are available, businesses have no excuse for not providing masks, and likewise other PPE, enhanced air ventilation, and every other thing that ought to be done for worker's safety.

One thing that stores must do, for the safety of workers and customers alike, is make anyone leave immediately who has entered without a mask.