Peabody Store Owner Does 'Right Thing' In Coronavirus Case

PEABODY, MA — Heather Scanlan knows as well as anyone how serious contracting the coronavirus can be.

The owner of Ginger's Closet Consignment in Peabody said in March her mother — a Nahant resident — was the 38th person in the state to die of complications from the virus that would become a worldwide pandemic.

So, when Scanlan was told a person in her women's clothing shop on Lynn Street on Nov. 19 had tested positive for the virus, she was not about to take any chances or keep any secrets from her customers.

She said she immediately reviewed the security footage to see when the person was in her shop, what that person touched, and to verify the level of contact she had with that person. She said she then promptly notified the Peabody Health Department.

"Peabody was shocked I was calling them," she told Patch. "They said no companies like that have been calling them. I told them if they want to come by and check whether I am compliant they can. I am an open book.

"I was like: 'Why isn't everybody that has something like that happen calling them?' It's important just to be transparent."

Scanlan called to notify two people who were in the store the next day of the possible coronavirus exposure and posted a message on social media letting everyone else know.

"(While) we were both were wearing masks and stayed 6 feet apart, I still will be tested," she posted. "After viewing my security cameras, I can positively confirm that no one else was in the store at the time and for two hours after her departure. Should my test be negative, I can legally open right away, however, (I've) decided to wait 10 days and reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Should my test be positive, I will open at a later date.

"My business will be disinfected during this shutdown. Let's continue to wear our masks. It's no joke. You are more than welcome to share this post."

Scanlan said while she tested negative for coronavirus, she is experiencing symptoms that can be related to disease, and thus will keep herself quarantined for 14 days and plans to reopen Dec. 4.

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"I just don't know how to do it any other way," she said. "It's kind of important that people know. I am not mad at the person who transmitted it. It's not something to be ashamed of or scared of. I am more upset at myself for not being be more strict (about enforcing guidelines)."

She said that while she has plexiglass in place around the register, she will now be extra vigilant about having all customers sanitize their hands upon entry and keep their masks up over their nose at all times to take every precaution.

"Most people are grateful and thankful that I've been that public about it," she said. "They were genuinely very nice about it. I am sure some people won't come back because they are afraid there's been COVID in there. But that's OK. If someone else doesn't get it because I did this, then that's good."

Scanlan said that she was reassured when friends and customers dropped her off plenty of Thanksgiving turkey during her quarantine.

"It would be nice if other businesses came forward when something like that happens," she said. "But some restaurants may be scared. And I understand that.

"I just thought it was important to do the right thing."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)