Grocery stores in Massachusetts will have to operate at 40% of their standard occupancy under an updated guidance, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said Tuesday.

The guidelines, which will be released later in the day, will impose occupancy restrictions on stores in hopes of preventing the spread of COVID-19. The occupancy restrictions will apply to both employees and customers, Polito said during a news conference at the Massachusetts State House.

The increased restrictions come after Market Basket announced an employee at its Salem store died from an illness related to the coronavirus, and two others tested positive.

As of Monday, 13,837 people have tested positive for the coronavirus and 260 people have died, according to figures from the state Department of Public Health.

The state does not specify how many of those who tested positive are grocery store employees, who are considered essential workers in Massachusetts.

Two weeks ago, the Baker administration implemented guidelines that require grocery stores to set up a marked “social distancing line” at least 6 feet from all checkpoint counters. Under those rules, stores must also close at some point in the evenings to give employees time to restock shelves.

Those same guidelines instructed grocery stores to set aside hours for older shoppers to keep them away from the masses and minimize their exposure to the coronavirus.

Due to the risks grocery store employees face at work, some grocery stores have offered increased wages or bonuses.

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