Plexiglass barriers and increased handwashing for cashiers are just two of the new measures that Sobeys is instituting at its grocery stores to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
A release issued early Friday morning from Sobeys' parent company, Empire Company Limited, said plexiglass cashier shields were tested as another safeguard to protect employees and customers, adding that they "stand out as a strong safety precaution."
The company started installing the shields in stores Thursday night and while they will not be available right away in every Sobeys store, the company said officials are working to have them installed as quickly as possible.
In addition to the new plexiglass shields, the company is also requiring employees to wash their hands every 15 minutes and has added extra resources for cashiers so that they are able to wipe down common areas even more often. Customers may also notice new floor markers at the check outlines, which are being put in place to "help facilitate a two-metre distance between customers."
Store hours are being reduced company-wide so that their locations are now open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in order to allow for extra cleaning and time to restock the shelves.
The latest moves follow other measures that the company had already put into place including a "Senior Shopping Hour" for the first hour of the day, redeploying staff to step up regular cleaning and sanitation, cancelling demos and sampling, and requiring employees who feel sick or who have travelled or been exposed to those who have travelled to stay home in accordance with procedures recommended by health authorities.
You can read the full statement from Empire Company Limited CEO Michael Medline by clicking here.