Efforts are being made in local retail grocery stores to maintain social distancing for shoppers.
As the challenges caused by the COVID-19 outbreak continue to shift, the BC government and provincial health officer (PHO) Dr. Bonnie Henry are taking unprecedented measures to slow the transmission of COVID-19, including in the retail food and grocery store sector.
Recently, Henry issued an order under the Public Health Act prohibiting the gathering of people in excess of 50 people at a place of which a person is the owner, occupier or operator, or for which they are otherwise responsible.
According to a media release from the provincial government, many retail grocery store owners have asked whether or not the PHO’s order prohibiting mass gatherings of 50 or more people applies to them. The release states that while this order does not directly apply to the retail food and grocery industry, the spirit of the order should be followed.
Quality Foods manager Chris Rueschmann said the store started with allowing 50 customers, and they are slowly upping it. He said if it feels like they are pushing the limits, they’ll bring it back down again.
In order to control the numbers in the store, all shoppers must use a shopping cart, and Quality Foods is requesting only one person per shop, rather than doing it as a family, for example.
“A large buggy creates a bit of social distancing,” said Rueschmann. “Because I know how many buggies I have, if my buggies are all empty, I know I’m at my capacity.”
There are also markings at the checkouts to ensure people keep their distance. Only one person is allowed to put groceries on the belt at one time, so Rueschmann said one customer has to be clear of the checkout stand before another can move in.
The store has shields being installed to provide further protection for the cashiers. Wherever possible, the store has been spacing out its tills so they are only using every second one. Once the barriers are in place, Rueschmann is hoping to open up more tills.
Pacific Point Market owner Tod English said the store had already done a number of the recommended items two weeks ago. He said what’s important is people respecting the rules.
“We are educating our staff to be helpful; we want to be nice about it but you also have to be firm,” said English. “We have a system where the customer puts the food on the counter, we back up, and as soon as they put the stuff on the counter, we get them to stand on the white line 10 feet away from us while we do our thing. We put the items in bags and when they pay, we back up again while they are using the machine.”
English said there are two exit doors so people can egress the building without being near to someone.
“We also sanitize our counter, our debit machine and our hands every customer transaction,” said English. “We wear gloves and have spray sanitizer.”
Because of the layout of the market, people are walking around the store in a perimeter, which can help distancing. Signage is posted to remind people about good social practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re doing everything we can,” said English. “If everyone does their part this is going to work, but we can’t have half the population thinking this isn’t a big deal.
“The frontline people are listening and doing everything they are supposed to be doing. I think all of the stores are doing a good job to keep people safe and supplied.”
Attempts to reach Mitchell Brothers by telephone were unsuccessful, but a Facebook post dated March 28 indicates that due to lack of staff, the business is reducing operating hours to 10 am to 4 pm daily.
The post asks customers to leave reusable shopping bags at home and states that there are no bottle returns until further notice.
