Greenwich Coronavirus Updates: Store Employees Must Wear Masks

GREENWICH, CT — First Selectman Fred Camillo said the town will now require employees at grocery stores and establishments handling food to wear masks in an effort to best combat the spread of the new coronavirus.

During a press update Wednesday afternoon, Camillo said he had gotten feedback from some residents about grocery store employees not wearing masks, prompting him to reach out to the town attorney and inquire if he had power as the first selectman to require them to do so. (To sign up for Greenwich breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"The answer was yes," Camillo said during the press update. "If you're out in public and see somebody that's not wearing a mask in any of those [types of] establishments, please let us know and we will contact them."

Camillo said the requirement will go into effect "immediately" and anyone who does not adhere to it will be warned. Should they continue to disregard the requirement, there could be some type of punishment issued, Camillo said.

"We're requiring [employees] to do it, so my preference would be to have them do it and be done with it," Camillo said. "I guess if you tell somebody to do something and they don't do it, then the hammer has to come down, so then you would have to have some type of fine or punishment for not following the order."

The first selectman also emphasized the town is not looking to punish people, but simply put a requirement in place to further protect residents and businesses.

"We've made a practice to warn people of they're in violation of an executive order or an emergency declaration; if they follow it, then that's the end of it," Camillo said. "We're not looking to punish people or make their lives any harder than they are right now, but certainly if someone disregards the warning...then there will be consequences."

Camillo also recommended those who do not have access to facial masks wear a cloth or a scarf over their face. During Tuesday's press update, Camillo encouraged residents without masks to make them at home.

"Wearing [masks] outdoors when you do need to leave your home for groceries or other essential items will help curtail the spread of the virus," Camillo said in a statement Tuesday. "Many people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic, meaning they can transmit the virus without knowing they have it."

Easy to follow instructions to make cloth facial masks can be found on the Center for Disease Control's website.

Camillo said the town will be reaching out to establishments and start "checking in...and enforcing" the mandate this week. He also also noted the town is more than willing to help businesses if they do not have access to masks.

"We stand ready to work with people," Camillo said.

Numbers Update

Camillo also announced that, as of Wednesday, there are 234 Greenwich residents who have tested positive for the virus, also referred to as COVID-19, according to the town's health department. That number is up from the 217 confirmed cases reported by town officials Tuesday.

Greenwich Hospital reports that as of noon on Wednesday, April 8, there were 111 COVID-19 positive patients being treated in several different hospital units.

So far, 136 patients have been discharged from the hospital and continue their recuperation at home. To date, 2,656 people have been tested at the hospital's outpatient tent with 1,022 testing positive, town officials said.

"All of these numbers reflect patients who live in Greenwich as well as from other municipalities in Connecticut and Westchester County [N.Y.]," town officials said in a statement.

During Monday's press update, Camillo encouraged residents to continue taking necessary precautions.

"As the number of positive cases grows, it is imperative for everyone to continue social distancing, wear facial coverings when outdoors and continue all of the other safe practices including frequent hand washing, using hand sanitizer," Camillo said in a statement. "This is especially important as Fairfield County continues to be the epicenter of new diagnoses every day."

Last week, Camillo advised residents to continue social distancing during the Easter and Passover holidays, a time when many families typically gather together to celebrate.

"I would continue doing what you're doing," Camillo said. "Nothing has changed, regardless of what the holiday is. The virus doesn't take the day off, so we have to remain vigilant."

He also recommended residents get creative with ways they can still enjoy the holiday.

"If you have a computer, this would be a great time to try out an Easter gathering over Zoom," Camillo said. "It's probably not the same as being there in person, but it will certainly be memorable and it will certainly make you look forward to next year."

While Town Hall continues to be mostly closed to the public, Camillo said town departments continue to operate smoothly even though most residents' needs must be met either online or over the phone, and he has not received any complaints.

"For the most part, I have not been contacted by anyone who has been having a hard time," Camillo said.

Over the weekend, a resident even reached out to him for help regarding getting married in town.

"I reached out to the town clerk, and that was all taken care of," Camillo said. "People are cognizant of the fact that there are not too many people on site [in the building]. Residents can access the website and do things over the phone and online...it seems to be working."

See also: Greenwich Coronavirus Updates: 217 Residents Test Positive

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COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that's a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past.