Just keep your distance
Local supermarket shoppers flouting rules at check-outs
COLES customers are flouting social distancing rule by lining up less than a metre from each other at check-outs.
The Geelong Advertiser has been told customers at supermarkets in Corio and Torquay are breaching the Federal Government’s 1.5m distancing recommendation introduced to limit the spread of COVID-19.
It comes as the supermarket giant is spending $1 million a week to “extensively clean” stores in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Meanwhile Woolworths has closed some self-serve check-outs and committed to installing protective plexiglass screens at all stores including in Geelong during coming weeks.
At Woolworths in Highton customers are being encouraged to stand on stickers that space them out as they line up.
In a statement, a Coles spokeswoman did not answer questions about closing checkouts or introducing markers to maintain social distancing in its stores.
“Customers are advised to use the length of a trolley as a guide for the distance between themselves and other shoppers and asked to please sanitise their hands before entering stores,” the spokeswoman said.
A Woolworths spokeswoman said its customers were also being asked to use trolleys as distance markers, and “advised to follow floor markings at check-outs”.
“We know it’s not always easy to maintain social distancing at our check-outs, so we’ve started installing plexiglass screens as an additional safeguard for our team members and customers,” she said.
“The screens will be progressively rolled out across every store, including in Geelong, over the coming weeks.
Woolworths will also have staff at store entrances to wipe down baskets and trolleys.
“We are also closing some registers in the self serve and express check-outs to provide additional space between customers in those areas,” the spokeswoman said
Trading hours at Woolworths Newcomb will be cut in a bid to better service customers who are elderly, have a disability, or compromised immunity, and those in mandatory isolation.
At Woolworths a dedicated shopping hour from 7am to 8am for the elderly and people with disability will continue until tomorrow.
At Coles, emergency services and healthcare workers will be given priority access to its stores during the first hour of trade on Tuesdays and Thursdays from today.
On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, those customers with a government-issued pensioner concession card, Commonwealth seniors health card, companion card, seniors card, disability card and health care card will be given priority access.