Safeway implements one-way aisle traffic to limit contact

Photo: Contributed

Grocery stores are taking measures to protect their staff and customers.

As panic shopping fills stores more than ever, Vernon grocery stores are among those implementing new steps to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

At the Vernon Square Safeway, a new one-way aisle system has gone into effect to help with social distancing.

And at Superstore, plexiglass barriers have gone up between the cashiers and customers.

At Walmart, staff were seen wiping down shopping carts with disinfectant on the weekend.

Shoppers in all three locations appeared to be courteous in keeping their distance from one another.

Several local stores have taped lines on the floor at the checkouts to stop people from crowding.

In a statement shared on Safeway parent company Sobeys' website and social media, CEO Michael Medline said:

"The world is facing an issue of enormous scale and uncertainty. It has never been more important for our company to ensure the safety and support of our customers, teammates and communities.

"We view our stores as an essential service. We are working around the clock to serve you. In the 113-year history of our parent company, we’ve never seen so many customers visit our stores. That makes sense. Canadians have never faced anything like the coronavirus outbreak before. And the first thing anyone thinks about in uncertain times is keeping their loved ones safe. I have great confidence in the incredibly robust grocery and food supply chain in Canada. We are working hard to keep our shelves stocked in the face of unprecedented demand for products."

The company is also installing plexiglass cashier shields across the country, and has reduced store hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to allow more time for extra sanitization and restocking. Staff are also asked to wash their hands every 15 minutes.

"I’m incredibly proud of our 123,000 teammates across our family of brands. Their efforts over the last few weeks have been incredible, and we know there is much more hard work ahead," said Medline.

Several other stores have also instituted early shopping hours for seniors and the health compromised only, including Save-On-Foods, London Drugs, Shoppers Drug Mart and more.