MONTAGUE — Although Plexiglas barriers have appeared at some chain grocery stores’ checkout counters in recent weeks, they’ve typically been installed as part of companies’ precautions against spreading COVID-19, rather than a requirement handed down by town officials.
But in the case of Montague, as of Saturday, the Health Department is explicitly requiring Plexiglas barriers, explaining the move as the town’s enforcement of Massachusetts’ emergency restrictions on businesses.
The state government’s emergency rules have most notably included a temporary ban on all non-essential business. Retailers that are still allowed to operate are required to somehow encourage social distancing of customers and employees. Montague Health Director Gina McNeely explained that the social distancing rule is what Montague is using to require retailers to install barriers between their cashiers and customers.
“The checkout counter, I think, is a public health problem,” McNeely said.
After the Health Department issued the order on Saturday, McNeely said most retailers installed the barriers by Monday and only a few had issues with compliance. A deadline of Friday at noon was set for all retailers to install the barriers, or else be shut down by the Board of Health.
The biggest concern was Family Dollar, which was apparently having problems communicating with its corporate offices, McNeely said. She added that she had personally tried to call Family Dollar’s corporate offices several times on Monday, all unsuccessfully. But by Tuesday, the store manager had installed Plexiglas barriers.
By Wednesday, only the Cumberland Farms and F.L. Roberts had not yet installed barriers, McNeely said. As of Thursday morning, both businesses had installed Plexiglas barriers.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.