The statement below is by Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr., in regard to self-service food and beverage items sold in retail stores.

“Our country is engaged in a fight for our lives, one that will take complete cooperation from all parties to win. Unfortunately, recent reports from county health inspectors have revealed a distressing level of disregard for measures put in place to stem the spread of coronavirus and protect the lives of Camden County residents. In far too many instances, retailers are continuing to operate self-serve beverage and food offerings such as coffee, grill rollers, and more.

The order to suspend all self-serve items and operations in Camden County was part of the Freeholder Board’s revised emergency declaration issued on March 18. To any retailer who believes they can continue to put our residents’ lives at risk without penalty, you are wrong. We will not tolerate these dangerous, short-sighted actions. Our only goal at this time is to stop the spread of coronavirus, flatten the curve, and reduce the number of lives ultimately lost to this pandemic. Retailers who do not share these goals and take the required actions to comply with the measures put in place by the Board will be penalized to the maximum extent possible.”

###