Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - It's the new normal while grocery shopping. Wear a mask.
And while stopping short of saying they will deny entrance to shoppers without face-coverings during this coronavirus outbreak, local supermarket chains are issuing strong guidelines and urging customers to follow the new Executive Order issued by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo requiring face-coverings in public places when social distancing can't be accomplished.
Tops Markets issued the following statement for WBEN when asked about its policy for customers and face-coverings:
"Tops intends to comply with the mandate set forth by the Governor and we’re awaiting for further guidance from the State. We certainly hope that customers honor the spirit of the executive order and should be wearing a mask when they can’t socially distance in our stores. If there is a situation where a customer does not have a mask we will politely remind them of the Governors mandate to wear one where they cannot maintain social distancing."
Wegmans issued similar guidance for its shoppers, saying:
"We strongly encourage customers to wear a face covering while shopping in our stores in adherence to the Governor’s executive order. We are focused on complying with all local and state mandates, while keeping the health and safety of our employees and customers a top priority, and that includes minimizing the likelihood of conflicts in our stores. Short of refusing entrance to our stores, we are doing everything we can to educate our customers of the mandate and stress the importance of voluntary compliance to keep themselves and everyone around them safe. We have put a number of social distancing measures in place throughout our stores, however we continue to follow the guidance of the CDC, which recommends people wear a face covering when out in public to help slow the spread of the virus."
Under the guidelines announced this week by Gov. Cuomo, everyone must wear a mask or face covering when in a public place and unable to maintain appropriate distance from others. Children younger than 2 and people with a medical reason why they can’t tolerate a mask are exempt from the rule, which took effect at 8 p.m Friday.
Cuomo announced Thursday that the state’s stay-at-home restrictions that have been in place since March 22 will last at least until May 15. He said the extension was made in consultation with officials from other Northeast states and will be reevaluated next month.
