New Rules for Grocery Shopping
April 4, 2020Cornwall Ontario – Local grocery stores have changed how they operate in an effort to help combat the spread of COVID-19.
For a number of weeks now, grocery stores have increased cleaning and sanitizing efforts, extending them to sanitizing shopping carts and baskets between each use. Now, additional measures are being employed to limit the number of shoppers in a store at any time.
The measures follow an order by Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit. In addition to placing limits on the shoppers, grocery stores are now required to post employees at the store entrances to manage crowd control. Store aisles must now be marked as “one way” and customers waiting in line for the cash must maintain a minimum separation of 6 feet.
Many grocery stores had already implemented the measures outlined by public health officials, such as plexiglass shields to protect cashiers.
“Our customers have been awesome up to now so this shouldn’t be a big challenge,” says Marc Renaud, Farm Boy Store Manager. “Effective today, we will be limiting access into the store. Not only the number of people but also the amount entering at the same time to help with spacing. We understand people miss interacting. But we can’t allow it to happen in our store during this crisis. Get in, find your products, get out so that those waiting outside can get in.”
The City has released a video to help guide local residents on grocery store etiquette and has stepped up its efforts to increase public awareness of the need for everyone to play their role in keeping Cornwall safe and healthy. Residents are urged to follow these tips when shopping:
- Limit your shopping trips to once a week
- Plan ahead with a shopping list to minimize the time spent in the store
- Limit the number of people shopping per family to ONE
- Shop for seniors in your family
- Maintain physical distance from other shoppers
- Wash your hands before and after shopping
- Be kind and patient
For more information on local community efforts, please visit the City of Cornwall website at www.Cornwall.ca/coronavirus.
We summarize the latest news about the impacts of COVID-19 on Cornwall businesses on a daily basis. Click on the following link to view: