HOLYOKE — Starting Sunday, customers at essential businesses must wear a face covering, the city recently announced.
Employees at essential businesses must also wear masks or other face coverings if they are not able to practice social distancing, according to the order signed by Board of Health director Sean Gonsalves. Employers must provide clean cloth face coverings or masks for workers for each shift and replace them if they get dirty.
“While I’m grateful that many Holyoke residents have been abiding by the city’s mask-wearing guidance,” Mayor Alex Morse said in a statement, “it’s true that the efficacy of such actions are maximized by more people following the rules, that is why our guidance is now a public order.”
Northampton recently put similar measures in place, and Holyoke adopted its order from Northampton’s policies, a statement from the city says.
Any sort of secure cloth covering, including a scarf or turtleneck, is sufficient for customers, the order says.
Children under 2 do not need to wear masks, nor do residents when outdoors if they can properly socially distance themselves.
A first violation will result in a warning, and violations after that will result in a $300 fine. “Continued violations may result in closure of the business establishment,” the order reads.
“Residents should not take it upon themselves to approach people in violation of this order,” it says. “Residents are urged to focus solely on their personal compliance with this order.”
Greta Jochem can be reached at gjochem@gazettenet.com.