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MARY? >> TAKING SAFETY STEPS AND TALKING ABOUT THE RUSH TO RE-STOCK. >> WE’D LIKE TO SHOW PEOPLE IS THAT THERE’S A LOT OF FOOD IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN. >> THE STOP AND SHOP DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN FREETOWN OVER 300,000 CASES OF PERSIHAB FOODS, ABOUT 200,000 CASES OF DRY GOODS. S&S IS SHIPPING PRODUCT OUT EVERY DAY TO STORES IN MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND AND CONNECTICUT. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET PRODUCTS OUT. >> >> JIM LABRECQUE, VP OF DISTRIBUTION OPERATIONS SAYS , THERE’S NO NEED TO PANIC O STOCKPILE. STORE SHELVES MAY STILL BE EMPTY OF HIGH DEMAND ITEMS SUCH AS CLEANING SUPPLIES AND WIPES, BUT THEY’RE COMING, AND ITEMS LIKE PAPER TOWELS IN TOILET PAPER ARE ARRIVING DAILY. THEY JUST MOVE OUT QUICKLY. AS FOR HAND SANITIZER -- >> IT IS HARDER TO COME BY. >> MEANWHILE STOP AND SHOP AND , OTHER SOME LOCAL CHAINS ARE ERECTING PLEXIGLASS PARTITIONS BETWEEN CASHIERS AND CUSTOMERS. YOU’LL ALSO SOON WEE REMINDER SIGNS ABOUT KEEPING 6 FE APART. >> STOP & SHOP OFFICIALS ADMIT THAT SHOPPING PATTERNS CHANGE AS INFORMATION DOES, SO TODAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR WILL CERTAINLY AFFECT ATTEMPTS TO KEEP PRODUCT ON THE SHELVES. GETTING SHIPMENTS

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Companies operating hundreds of grocery stores across Massachusetts are planning to add new physical barriers between customers and employees at checkout lines, in an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus.Stop & Shop, Shaw's and Star Market are all planning to install the precautionary barriers in the near future, according to corporate statements. "Beginning this week we'll be installing Plexiglass shields at each of our registers," said Stop & Shop spokesperson Jennifer Brogan. "That's to protect both our cashiers and our customers who are checking out." A spokesperson for Albertsons, which operates Shaw's and Star Market, said the company plans to have the shields installed at over 2,200 of its stores within two weeks. Both companies have also started placing signs reminding customers and staff to maintain 6 feet of physical distance from each other throughout the grocery stores. Albertsons compared that distance to "essentially two shopping carts.""We'll be putting tape on the floor to show customers how far back 6 feet is from the pin pad and how far they should be standing away from other customers while they're waiting in line," Brogan said about Stop & Shop stores. Stop & Shop, Shaw's, Star Market and numerous other stores have also scheduled designated shopping times for senior citizens and adjusted store hours to allow for restocking and cleaning. Grocery stores are considered essential services and will stay open even as Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday ordered other businesses to close. Baker also instructed the Department of Public Health to issue a stay-at-home advisory.Baker drew a distinction between his orders and a mandated shelter-in-place, saying he did not believe that he "can or should order U.S. citizens to be confined to their homes for days on end."He emphasized that he is urging people to stay home and avoid any unnecessary activities."What this means is that everyone can still buy food at the grocery store, get what they need at the pharmacy and, of course, take a walk around the block or at the park," Baker said.PHNjcmlwdCBpZD0iaW5mb2dyYW1fMF85MTUyMTg3My03NmRhLTQ0ZmUtOTA0Ny1mMTllZWFlZGFjNmQiIHRpdGxlPSJDb3JvbmF2aXJ1cyBpbiBNYXNzYWNodXNldHRzIiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZS5pbmZvZ3JhbS5jb20vanMvZGlzdC9lbWJlZC5qcz9yeXoiIHR5cGU9InRleHQvamF2YXNjcmlwdCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+Cg==Every county in Massachusetts now has at least one case of the coronavirus as of Sunday, an analysis of state health department figures and reports from state hospitals shows. The islands had been the last areas in the state without detected infection, but one case emerged on Martha's Vineyard on Saturday and Nantucket Cottage Hospital reported its first positive test on Sunday.Five deaths in Massachusetts are being attributed to the rapid spread of the coronavirus, as cases across the state surpassed 600 in Sunday's report.