NORTHAMPTON — The city’s public health director issued orders Friday that stops all self-service food and drink options and prohibits customers from going inside restaurants in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The orders from Merridith A. O’Leary, the city’s public health director, mandate that customer orders must be placed online or by phone as all restaurants are prohibited from letting customers inside, according to a statement issued by the city’s health department. Orders must either be picked up curbside or delivered, the statement said.
All self-serve stations, “including but not limited to coffee and soft drinks,” are prohibited. O’Leary’s orders went into effect on Saturday morning.
“O’Leary issued the orders using her authority as the city’s health director as part of a multi-pronged approach to help stem the transmission of the coronavirus,” the statement said.
Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.