The Reason Some Stores Are Banned From Selling Nonessential Items

The Reason Some Stores Are Banned From Selling Nonessential Items

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Exactly what is — and what isn’t — essential has become part of our national debate. While it’s generally agreed that things like food, medication, and toilet paper fit the essential need category, states have varied greatly across the United States when defining other essential services. For example, in California, medical cannabis is considered an essential good as well as pet supplies, hardware, appliance repair, gas stations, and banks. Rhode Island local news WPRI reports that firearms stores are considered essential, while bookstores are a nonessential retail business that must close. And now retail stores in counties in Colorado, Missouri, Indiana, and the state of Vermont are expanding these shutdowns to include specific sections of stores like Target, Costco, and Walmart — even while the rest of the store remains open. Michigan has not mandated section shutdowns, but strongly encourages retail stores to close off furniture, carpeting, paint and gardening sections.

So does that mean consumers can’t get items on the nonessential list?

So does that mean consumers can’t get items on the nonessential list?

How to get nonessential goods during the pandemic

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The effort to combat contagion seems to vary widely between states and counties, but purchasers can rest assured that online shopping is still widely available, even as new restrictions are updated in rapid-fire during this pandemic.