Howard County commissioners are pulling back an ordinance they put into effect over the weekend restricting essential businesses from selling non-essential items. This past weekend residents were out of luck if they wanted to purchase games, books, music and other non-essential items locally.
The updated rule now allows people to buy any item, but mandates “one shopper, one cart.”
“The concept of ‘one person, one cart’ is we want people to get in the store and get out as quickly as possible,” says Howard County Commissioner Paul Wyman. “And the retailers want that because they are trying to protect their employees just as much. They want people to get in, get what they need and the concept of one cart is whatever you need, what fits in your cart, get that. Please do not take long shopping excursions. You're trying to focus on what you need and get out.”
Wyman says communication of the policy was horribly handled.
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The county is extending the travel advisory for another three weeks, and he says the modified rule of “one shopper, one cart” will be in an effort to get similar results but not restrict locals from purchasing non-essential items.
“As we looked and we were reviewing the policy, we realized going out another three weeks that not purchasing those items would be unsustainable for families,” says Wyman.
He says single parents and those needing assistance will still be able to shop with others.
Contact Samantha at shorton@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @SamHorton5.
This is a rapidly evolving story, and we are working hard to bring you the most up-to-date information. However, we recommend checking the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Indiana State Department of Health for the most recent numbers of COVID-19 cases.
