North Andover Coronavirus: Grocery Store Workers Must Wear Masks

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — Grocery store workers who interact with the public in North Andover are now required to cover their mouths and noses, under a new emergency order issued Friday. Other grocery store workers are encouraged to wear masks.

The Health Department issued the order in response to the coronavirus outbreak, under the authority of the Board of Selectmen's March declaration of emergency.

The order, which went into effect Friday morning, applies to "employees in public facing areas of all grocery stores and other food retailers open to the public." Acceptable face coverings include disposable masks, fabric masks, scarves and bandanas.

The Health Department provided guidance on making masks.

The Board of Health also strongly recommended that members of the public cover their faces when entering grocery stores, to reduce the spread of the virus. North Andover officials including police, building inspectors and the Board of Health will enforce the order.

Latest case count

North Andover has 137 confirmed cases of the virus, as of Friday afternoon. Fifty residents have active cases, seven have died, and 80 have recovered.

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Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.