Shoppers welcome measures to keep virus at a distance

ACROSS the island people are shopping, queuing and buying goods over two metres apart as social distancing measures are introduced at supermarkets.

Julie Cook is a volunteer who was at the Co-op to pick up medical items for someone she was helping. She welcomed moves by shops to enforce social distancing rules. (Pictures by Sophie Rabey, 27627845)

Shops, including the Channel Islands Co-operative, Alliance, Waitrose and Iceland, have enforced a number of strategies to combat the coronavirus, including card-only payments and a one-in, one-out rotation of customers into the store.

Shoppers have been approving of the plans to combat any spread of the virus.

Julie Cook went out as a volunteer for the Guernsey Isolation Support Group, picking up medication from the Bridge Co-Op Locale store for a stranger.

‘I’m only out because I’m getting a prescription for someone else,’ she said.

‘I don’t know them, but I’ve offered my help in getting something for other people who can’t get out. It’s a great initiative and I’ll drop this in a box outside their house.

‘The measures are important, people should take them seriously to tackle this, I’ve got used to them now.’

Henry Hulme, who had gone to shop at the St Martin’s Co-op store for several people, said he thought it was a great idea to limit the number of people going into stores at one time.

‘Nobody knows what to do really. It’s unprecedented what’s happening,’ he said.

This sign is displayed prominently in Co-op shops.(27627855)

‘Usually I’m very critical of the States, but what they’ve done has been very good.

‘I think whatever needs to be done has got to be done.’

Signs and posters on shop windows gave advice and reassurance to shoppers on what was being done in store to help reduce the spread of the virus.

The Co-op advised customers it was reducing the number of customers in the stores and, at times, introducing a one in, one out policy and asking shoppers to keep a metre distance, as well as closing some shopping aisles for short periods throughout the day to enable them to replenish stock.

Alliance has dedicated hours, effective from tomorrow for healthcare professionals with ID to shop on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday between 7.30 and 8am, and also from 7 to 8 on Thursday evening.

‘We know that these people may be finding it hard to shop for their groceries during this ongoing situation, so we hope that this new measure enables people who are on the frontline and vital to our ongoing health and wellbeing, the priority they deserve at this difficult time,’ a spokesman said.

Waitrose, which is part of the John Lewis Partnership, has asked that shoppers be mindful of the social distancing advice and have placed a three-item limit on certain products.

All Iceland stores across the Channel Islands are opening 30 minutes earlier every day for vulnerable groups, including the elderly, pregnant women and anyone with underlying health conditions.