BC Government releases guidance for grocery stores operating during coronavirus

The BC Government has released some clear guidance for retail food establishments and grocery stores that are continuing to operate amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Stores across the province have already been taking unprecedented measures to slow the transmission of coronavirus, and the government has provided further clarity and instruction for these businesses.

“Recently, [Dr. Bonnie] 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. Employers in the retail food and grocery store sector are asking for clarity about what this means for them,” read the release.

The statement goes on to clarify whether the Provincial Health Authority (PHO) order prohibiting mass gatherings of 50 or more people applies to places like grocery stores.

It outlined that while the order does not directly apply to the retail food and grocery industry “the spirit of the order should be followed.”

“This means that, for example, in large grocery stores where it is feasible to have more than 50 people present at one time, it is permissible to do so provided that appropriate physical distancing can be maintained.”

• See also: 
  • Watch adorable penguins explore the Vancouver Aquarium (VIDEOS)
  • Orcas spotted in Burrard Inlet during the pandemic shutdown (VIDEO)
  • Downtown Vancouver shops are boarding up their storefronts (PHOTOS)

Other key considerations the statement outlined includes not selling self-serve bulk items, ensuring cones or tape markers are in place every two metres in queues, and enhancing the store’s sanitization plan and schedule.

Check out the detailed guidelines for retail food and grocery stores operating during the coronavirus pandemic below and learn more online.

• Enhancing the premise’s sanitation plan and schedule, and ensuring staff are practising proper hygiene. This includes frequent hand washing, only coughing or sneezing into an elbow, and avoiding touching one’s face.
• Placing hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% ethyl alcohol in dispensers near doors, pay stations and other high-touch locations for customer and staff use.
• Ensuring washrooms are always well stocked with liquid soap and paper towels, and that warm running water is available.
• Providing clean carry-out bags for purchased food and grocery products; customers should not use their own containers, reusable bags or boxes.
• Posting signs at each check-out indicating that no customer packaging is to be used or placed on check-out counters.
• Ensuring cones or tape markers are in place every two metres to provide customers with visible queues that support physical distancing.
• Using physical queue-line controls, such as crowd control cordons at entrances and in check-out lines outside the stores.
• Do not sell bulk items, except via gravity feed bins or where staff dispense the bulk items.
• Anyone with COVID-19-like symptoms, such as sore throat, fever, sneezing or coughing, must self-isolate at home for 14 days.