Vermont state officials are ordering large retailers that sell critical items such as food and prescription drugs to stop the in-person sale of nonessential products, and at least one Massachusetts city is following suit. The directive was announced by the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development on Tuesday. The agency hopes it will reduce the overall number of people going into stores to purchase items such as clothing, electronics and toys during the state's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order.Local retailer explains why its adding 2% surcharge to all purchasesWhenever possible, stores such as Walmart, Target and Costco must stop the sale of nonessential items and require online or telephone ordering, delivery and curbside pickup.“Large ‘big box’ retailers generate significant shopping traffic by virtue of their size and the variety of goods offered in a single location,” Agency of Commerce and Community Development Secretary Lindsay Kurrle said on Tuesday. “This volume of shopping traffic significantly increases the risk of further spread of this dangerous virus to Vermonters and the viability of Vermont’s health care system."What's considered nonessential by the state? According to the state, large retailers must cease in-person sales of items that include, but are not limited to:Arts and craftsBeauty suppliesCarpet and flooringClothingConsumer electronicsEntertainment (books, music, movies)FurnitureHome and gardenJewelryPaintPhoto servicesSports equipmentToysThe state says stores must restrict access to nonessential goods by close aisles, closing portions of the store or removing items from the floor. The order says "showrooms and garden sections of large home improvement centers should be closed."While Massachusetts has not implemented any similar measures, one city in the state has. Chicopee police posted on social media that Walmart, Home Depot and BJ’s Wholesale worked with the Chicopee Board of Health ordered stores block non-essential aisles and items in order to cut down on unnecessary roaming.

Vermont state officials are ordering large retailers that sell critical items such as food and prescription drugs to stop the in-person sale of nonessential products, and at least one Massachusetts city is following suit.

The directive was announced by the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development on Tuesday.


The agency hopes it will reduce the overall number of people going into stores to purchase items such as clothing, electronics and toys during the state's "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order.

Local retailer explains why its adding 2% surcharge to all purchases

Whenever possible, stores such as Walmart, Target and Costco must stop the sale of nonessential items and require online or telephone ordering, delivery and curbside pickup.

“Large ‘big box’ retailers generate significant shopping traffic by virtue of their size and the variety of goods offered in a single location,” Agency of Commerce and Community Development Secretary Lindsay Kurrle said on Tuesday. “This volume of shopping traffic significantly increases the risk of further spread of this dangerous virus to Vermonters and the viability of Vermont’s health care system."

What's considered nonessential by the state?

According to the state, large retailers must cease in-person sales of items that include, but are not limited to:



Arts and crafts

Beauty supplies

Carpet and flooring

Clothing

Consumer electronics

Entertainment (books, music, movies)

Furniture

Home and garden

Jewelry

Paint

Photo services

Sports equipment

Toys

The state says stores must restrict access to nonessential goods by close aisles, closing portions of the store or removing items from the floor. The order says "showrooms and garden sections of large home improvement centers should be closed."

Chicopee Police/Facebook

While Massachusetts has not implemented any similar measures, one city in the state has.

Chicopee police posted on social media that Walmart, Home Depot and BJ’s Wholesale worked with the Chicopee Board of Health ordered stores block non-essential aisles and items in order to cut down on unnecessary roaming.

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