Stores throughout town are adjusting their hours to serve seniors and vulnerable people, and to keep their premises clean and safe for shoppers.
At Shoppers Drug Mart, hours of operation are still 8 a.m. to midnight, but store owner Bob Brown is encouraging people to consider the first hour of the day “senior-only” time.
“They’re our vulnerable victims right now and if others can respect that window of opportunity then we can make them feel a little more comfortable, we hope,” said Brown. “I think it gives them a safe window.”
He said they won’t turn people away if they show up between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., but he would like to see people respect that time for those who are susceptible.
The modified hours will continue as long as necessary, he said.
“We always hope that there’s an endpoint, but I don’t see that changing any time soon,” said Brown. “I think the demographics and statistics of what we’re dealing with clearly target our seniors as being vulnerable so these types of opportunities, invitations for their public to consider these opportunities I think will carry on indefinitely.”
Other stores in town are also adopting new hours and policies in light of COVID-19.
At Safeway, Save-On Foods, No Frills and Sobeys, the first hour of operation, from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., is set aside for seniors and immuno-compromised people to shop before the general public is allowed in.
“We encourage those people to come in then other people to wait until after 8,” said Mark Salhany, store manager at Save-On Foods Okotoks. “It gives them the chance to get in and out before the rest of the public shows up.”
He said the store is also closing early – at 8 p.m. instead of 11 p.m. – to allow staff the chance to catch up and get a much-deserved rest after their shifts are busier than normal each day.
It’s not just in-store shoppers, he said the online ordering system with curbside pick-up is operating at full capacity daily as well.
Walmart has also adopted new hours and is reserving its first hour of business for seniors, diabled people, and those with vulnerable health conditions.
In a communication sent out to its customers, Walmart president and CAO Horacio Barbeito said its stores would remain open throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Our teams are working around the clock to replenish our shelves to deal with demand,” Barbeito wrote.
To help those self-isolating, he said changes have been made to Walmart’s website to allow grocery home deliveries to customers’ doorsteps.
Krista Conrad, OkotoksToday.ca
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