60 Groups Urge Government to Exempt Food, Beverage, and Consumer Packaged Goods Facilities from State and Local Gathering Bans and Curfews Prompted by Coronavirus
This week, 60 food industry associations penned a letter to federal, state, and local elected officials, urging them to clarify which businesses are exempt from local gathering bans and curfews--nationwide measures suggested by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to curb the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
On March 15th, CDC recommended that gatherings be limited to no more than 50 people, but that businesses were exempt. Whether or not to follow that recommendation is up to state and local governments. According to the letter, some state and local officials have clearly exempted food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods manufacturing facilities, but others have not.