Checking in: Mask and social distancing check at Burlington's T.J. Maxx

We'll spend some time in the coming weeks observing masks worn and social distancing at various locations – both businesses and shared public spaces – and let you know what we see. We hope to better inform decisions you choose to make.

Also, let us know your observations: Are there stores and businesses doing creative, helpful things? Are there places where customer behavior hasn't caught up with the best practices? Email us at news@thetimesnews.com or send us a message on Facebook. We will try to track down some of your observations.

Here are the guidelines Elizabeth Pattman is following for her reporting visits:

Guidelines:

• 30 minutes at each location
• Weekday or weekend noted
• Public places or businesses
• All observations are a surprise to the location

Observations:

• Masks worn
• Masks worn properly
• Social distancing practiced
• Posted guidelines, signage, floor decals marking six-foot separation and signage recommending or requiring the use of masks
• Cleaning protocols

TJ Maxx, Burlington

On Friday, Sept. 11, Pattman walked around TJ Maxx for 30 minutes, from 3:26 to 3:59 p.m.

Here’s what she found:

T.J. Maxx saw a steady flow of customers in and out of its doors Friday afternoon with most adhering well to the latest COVID-19 guidelines.

Three signs varying in size are set up at the store's entryway on windows, doors and freestanding signs noting the face mask requirement. Inside, an employee stands ready with cleaning supplies to wipe down carts. Customers are only allowed to use the carts that have been pre-cleaned and provided to them by that employee.

Thorough cleaning continued throughout the store with high touch surfaces at the registers frequently cleaned. The numerous registers are divided into groups of two with barriers set up between them. Employees were seen wiping down the counters and keypads after each customer Friday afternoon. Hand sanitizer was also available in these areas.

One way shopping markers were also set up on the store floor, though enforcement of this appeared nonexistent. Social distancing markers were only present at checkout.

Employees

All employees wore masks in store Friday and all were seen worn properly. Employees appeared to follow all guidelines, except one stock employee who stood closer than six feet from customers as he worked in multiple aisles.

The employees at checkout that Pattman observed also made efforts to limit contact when handing customers receipts, bags and similar items.

Customers

Most customers kept their distance from one another while shopping, but many were seen without masks or wearing their masks improperly.

On Friday, five shoppers were seen without masks, while seven more were seen wearing them improperly, including three people who pulled their mask off in the middle of their shopping. Another pulled her mask down to talk on the phone and three more left them pulled below their noses.

Pattman did not see any employees talking to customers without masks and/or wearing them improperly.

This article originally appeared on Times-News: Checking in: Mask and social distancing check at Burlington's T.J. Maxx