Dan Powers of Zelienople stocks up on groceries Friday at Walmart in Butler. Walmart has been limiting the number of people in the store at a single time in order to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Starting Sunday night, the state of Pennsylvania will require shoppers to wear masks at all times in stores.

With Gov. Tom Wolf's order that all employees in and customers of essential businesses wear masks on the premises to help slow the spread of COVID-19, businesses are making preparations while health officials worry about enforcement.

Gary Bonelli, the city of Butler's health officer, said while he expects most businesses and customers to abide by the regulations going into effect at 8 p.m. Sunday, it's impossible for the city to ensure compliance.

“It's hard when you're not there 24/7. I'm a part-time employee,” he said. “I do what I have to do, and hopefully when I walk out of their establishment, they'll do what I told them to do, and most of the time they do.”

Bonelli added that he's had to take steps to ensure compliance with the governor's past orders on social distancing in stores by having some businesses put up signs reiterating the guidelines or putting tape six feet apart on floors.

Local businesses are also taking steps to comply with the governor's orders.

Slater's Meats and More in Fairview Township already required employees to wear masks and gloves, but was yet to have the same requirement for customers before the governor's order. Still, owner Zac Slater said, more customers voluntarily wore masks than didn't.

To help ensure compliance with the governor's order, Slater said there is already a sign at the front door informing customers they will need to wear a mask to shop. Slater said he views the order as making “the best of a bad situation.”

“The sooner we get over (the coronavirus), the sooner we get back to normal,” Slater said. “If everybody does it, it's going to help more than it's going to hurt, for sure.”

Some customers, too, agree with the order. Dan Powers of Zelienople said he thinks masks make sense for both employees and customers, adding he think it's a good idea to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

“I think it's good. Let's curb this as soon as we can,” Powers said, himself sporting a mask while shopping at Walmart on New Castle Road in Butler. “It makes sense to try not to spread it and get back to normal as soon as possible.”

Bonelli said he has noticed Butler residents and businesses have complied with previous orders and thinks that past compliance bodes well for the mask order.

“I think the city of Butler's fortunate,” he said. “They have a bunch of good business owners down there.”

Eagle staff writer Seb Foltz contributed to this report.