Wearing A Mask Or Face Covering At Supermarkets, Grocery Stores Now Mandatory In Southampton Village

A new executive order from Southampton Village Mayor, Jesse Warren will mandate that those who enter grocery stores or any venue that deals with food sales and/or distribution must don a face mask or face covering. Masks or face covers need to shield both nose and mouth areas.

“This executive order will protect the health and safety of our residents as well as our work force in these respective businesses,” Mayor Warren said in a press release. “Face covers blunt the airborne projection of COVID-19, and this executive order will work to flatten our curve and reduce the spread of the Coronavirus.”

The executive order will go into effect on Friday, April 10, 2020, at 12 a.m.

“We are happy to set the example for other communities in this specific mandate,” Mayor Warren added.

As recent studies found that a significant number of individuals with Coronavirus do not exhibit symptoms and even those who don’t develop symptoms right away can transmit the virus to others prior to exhibiting symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed their stance on face masks, advising that “wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.”

The CDC notes that cloth face coverings should: “fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face; be secured with ties or ear loops; include multiple layers of fabric; allow for breathing without restriction; and be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape.”

“This is absolutely what our Village needs, and will help us further flatten our curve,” Southampton infectious disease specialist, Dr. Rajeev Fernando said about the executive order.

Mayor Warren has partnered with Dr. Peter Michalos, founder of The Hamptons Health Society, to secure 3 ply surgical masks for Village residents. Any resident that is in need of a complimentary mask for grocery shopping may email [email protected].

“This mirrors what was done most effectively around the globe, such as in South Korea and the Czech Republic – both countries had some of the lowest infection rates and deaths,” Dr. Michalos noted.

Dr. Michalos and Mayor Warren also joined forces to raise more than $300,000 in just 72 hours, which was used to procure ventilators, oxygen helmets, N95 Masks and other PPE for Stony Brook Southampton Hospital

Those interested in learning how to make their own face covering or mask can watch tutorials on the Rogers Memorial Library’s Instagram (@rogersmemoriallibrary), the Mayor’s personal Instagram (@mayorwarren) or visit www.cdc.gov.