SALT LAKE CITY -- The Salt Lake County Health Department and Mayor Jenny Wilson announced last week restrictions on wearing masks for employees but stopped short of requiring them for customers.
“It's an extra layer of precaution that people can do to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Andrew Wittenberg, marketing and research manager for the Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development.
Their best practices can be found on the department's website here.
Wittenberg told FOX 13 it has been a difficult time, and their department is here to help through it -- especially when it comes with how to deal with personal protective equipment and safety efforts.
Places like barbershops and nail salons where close proximity is needed are requiring masks to be worn in their stores.
Large grocery stores such as Costco and Kroger are also doing the same because of long lines.
"We haven’t been swamped like your Costcos or your grocery stores," said Matt Caputo, CEO of Caputo's Market. "As a specialty food store, we’ve been really lucky with the community support that we’ve gotten, but it’s been a far cry from the mob scene.”
Caputo’s Market has implemented several safety measures and has a good space to distance so they haven’t felt like they must require masks from customers in their stores.
Their locations around the Salt Lake Valley have implemented things like a strict sick policy, face shields, face masks, sanitizing of surfaces every 30 minutes, and marking social distancing on floors.
Through this time, Caputo has been astounded at the amazing support from the community, but also from his employees who he says have been incredible.
“A really great food community showing up for us, and then our crew being able to turn in pivot for us on a dime… Cheesemongers doing delivery now, chefs packing online orders… Things they never signed up for but they’re just doing it with a smile… We feel like we are really lucky,” Caputo said.
But ultimately, it's up to the store, Wittenberg says.
“it’s something each individual business owner will have to make a decision on their own what they want to do," he said.
