COVID-19: Practical Tips for shoppers
Practical Tips for Shoppers During COVID-19
Consider ordering online or by telephone. Some stores are organized for quick pick-up of preordered and prepaid items.
Keep a running list of household items needed at home and shop as infrequently as you can while still providing good quality, fresh food to your family
Bring the grocery list to the store. You’ll shop more efficiently.
Shop off hours when the stores are least busy and crowds are smallest.
Some stores such as London Drugs or Shoppers Drugmart have clearly defined hours for seniors or other vulnerable groups. Check with your local store.
Shop by yourself or with one other person and leave pets at home so more households have access to groceries.
Larger stores may have longer lines than local stores. Waiting lines may extend outside the store so that those inside the store can practice physical distancing which makes shopping safer for everyone. Please patiently wait in designated areas.
If the store is crowded, return at a later time.
Wearing gloves and a homemade mask are unnecessary if you are healthy. Even if you decide to wear a mask, you must remain 6 feet or 2 meters away from others.
If someone in the store is sick, notify the store manager and remain more than 6 feet away from the sick person.
Use hand sanitizer upon entering the shop if possible and again on exiting.
You may want to wipe the handle of the shopping cart or basket with antiseptic wipes.
As soon as you have touched anything in the store, assume that your hands are contaminated until they have been washed for 20 seconds with soap and water. Hand sanitizer can be used as an interim measure.
As a courtesy to others, assume your hands are contaminated and only touch items that you intend to purchase.
Try to remain 6 feet (2 meters) away from everyone in the store at all times.
Assume that any surface that is commonly touched by other people is contaminated. Examples include: the cashier’s counter, touchpad for credit cards, handles of shopping carts and baskets.
Consider giving the store manager a copy of the BC Government’s guidance for grocery stores if you don’t see evidence of adequate physical distancing measures.
Inside the store, traffic jams are best met with a smile. Be patient and allow time for others to make a selection or to pass you at the appropriate distance. Thank others for doing the same for you.
In the cashier’s line-up, stand 6 feet apart. If needed, ask others to do the same. Stores should have obvious markers that encourage social distancing
Although many stores request payment by card, it is important that they accept cash too since not everyone owns a credit or debit card. If you tap your credit card instead of inserting it, you will touch fewer contaminated points.