Maya McFadden Photo
“What’s the big deal about wearing a mask?” Tonya Harris reflected while waiting outside of Ferraro’s Market on Grand Avenue with a face covering she had made.
She and others interviewed at local stores seemed to be all on board with a gubernatorial executive order requiring shoppers to bring along face masks when inside retail establishments during the Covid-19 epidemic.
Harris waited outside of Ferraro’s for about 15 minutes with her daughter, who was in a wheelchair wearing a mask handmade by her mother. Harris’s masks were each made from a collection of her bandanas.
“I made them as soon as I heard about it. That was easier than having to go out and find two for us,” Harris said.
Daisha McPherson’s mask.
Also in line at Ferraro’s was Daisha McPherson. McPherson wore a bedazzled mask made and personalized by a friend.
Before Gov. Ned Lamont’s April 17 executive order, McPherson said she didn’t wear a mask when out. “It’s the norm now, so I feel OK about wearing it,” she said.
Outside of Ferraro’s on Saturday.
Carmen Colón, a medical worker, used a mask she got from her job while waiting in line to shop at Ferraro’s. “I think it’s a good thing everyone has to wear them now,” she said.
Behind Colón was Anna-Marie, who used a scarf to cover her nose and mouth. “Yesterday I was able to borrow my husband’s mask because he was home. But he is out today so the best I have is this,” she said pointing to the blue and green scarf.
Two weeks ago Fair Havener Amanda Brady placed an order for 100 face masks online. It took 12 days for the order to arrive. Now Brady headed out to CTown Supermarket in Fair Haven with a “real mask.”
“Before we were just wearing some thin and uncomfortable ones that we made,” she said, referring to clothing items that she and her three family members wore before receiving her online order.
Outside of Walmart on Saturday.
Another CTown customer, Ivy Askew, said she luckily had a box of masks stored away at home which she would typically use for cleaning.
“If I didn’t have that box, I would’ve had to scramble,” she said.
While waiting in line with her daughter, Barbara Hilaro wore a used mask she saved from work as a pharmacist. Her daughter wore the only mask she was able to purchase while her husband and son who are also both pharmacists similarly reuse the masks they use at work.
Walmart on Foxon Blvd.
A Walmart customer who asked to go by her initials T.F. said when wearing a mask, she finds it harder to breathe. To avoid wearing her mask T.F tries to make as few trips out as possible.
“It’s hard because I also have to shop for my older family members. But the longer I’m in the store the more dangerous for me and my daughter .who has severe asthma,” T.F said.
T.F., who got her mask from a generous patient at her job, said she had to visit Walmart twice last week.
Mandating masks now is like starting birth control after your pregnant. If this was such a grand idea, it should have been done a long time ago.
The theater continues - be smart people. Distance. Avoid crowds. If you're sick, stay home. Don't cough or sneeze on people. Simple.
Oh, and stay out of parking lots at our hundreds of acres of parks because covid lingers in the parking lots according to the mayor.