Big-boxed in

When New York City moves to phase one of reopening Monday, bookstores and clothing stores and jewelers and toy stores and the rest of the businesses previously deemed non-essential will get to welcome customers again, though only to curbside pickup or delivery.

Small retail store owners, while eager, are also worried. Under the state’s current guidelines, it may be many more weeks before shoppers get to step inside, even if they remain masked and keep their distance.

We scratch our heads, hard, understanding how it makes sense to keep people out of brick-and-mortar stores when supermarkets and giant everything stores such as Target or Costco — which sell both essential items, such as food and toilet paper, alongside clothes, toys and books — can let customers walk the aisles. Remember, tiny, cramped groceries and bodegas are open.

Long before anyone heard of COVID-19, the likes of Bill de Blasio lamented how momand-pop shops were getting a raw deal versus the Amazons and Walmarts of the world. Now, New York institutionalizes disadvantages.

Recognizing this unfairness, Los Angeles County amended its reopening rules for retailers to allow some in-person shopping late last month.

Scientists’ understanding of coronavirus keeps changing, but many now believe face coverings are much more effective than previously realized at preventing the virus’s spread. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control now believes touching infected surfaces is not a significant way the virus spreads.

Let the businesses that can reopen safely with masked customers and social distancing do it. Large, medium or small.