DEERFIELD — The town recently joined a growing list of communities in recommending that employees, residents and visitors of the town wear face masks when entering essential businesses.
Essential businesses, as defined by the governor’s COVID-19 executive orders, include restaurants, grocery stores, farm stands, pharmacies, home improvement stores, liquor stores, banks, ice cream stands and convenience stores, according to the town advisory. Face masks can be anything that covers the nose and mouth, whether that’s a fabric or disposable mask, scarf or bandana, or something similar.
The town posted the advisory — which “strongly encourages” the use of face masks in such establishments in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 — to the town website on Wednesday.
“We’ve been discussing this quite a bit, with MAPHCO and with (the Franklin Regional Council of Governments), trying to decide the best step forward,” said Trevor McDaniel, a member of the Deerfield Board of Health. “We really believe that wearing a mask is the smartest thing, the safest thing to do, if you’re in a business or out in town.”
He said conversations pertaining to masks also addressed the question of enforcement.
“I felt it wasn’t something you could enforce,” McDaniel said, adding that if 80 percent of people do wear masks in public, the remaining 20 percent might feel shamed into also wearing them. “Wearing a mask is such an easy thing.”
He said not only are people stepping up to make masks for themselves and others, but Health Agent Richard Calisewski has been visiting essential businesses to provide masks to employees.
McDaniel said some Deerfield businesses have already posted signs on their storefronts, requiring all customers wear masks before entering the establishment.
“You’re always going to have people fighting back,” he said. “But I think the majority of people recognize that they want to be safe and they want to protect others.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 263. Twitter: @MaryEByrne