Local grocery stores forced to adjust around COVID-19
The Coronavirus has forced several businesses across the state to shut down to limit the spread of the illness– but grocery stores still remain open as essential businesses.
Gov. Mike DeWine and the Director of The Department of Health, Dr. Amy Acton, have been acknowledged for their strong hand in imposing strict social distancing guidelines in the state at the beginning of March when the virus had reached Ohio.
On Mar. 15, DeWine ordered the shutdown of all bars and restaurants to effectively limit large gatherings to flatten the curve. With the news of restaurants closing, many residents across the state and country began to flood the grocery stores in preparation of what was ahead.
Shortly after, DeWine ordered the closing of all non essential businesses in the state. With this, the Governor communicated that all businesses deemed “essential businesses” would remain open, including grocery stores.
Gregory Klebs, a college student who works at the Giant Eagle on Howe Ave. in Cuyahoga Falls said the week of March 15th was one of his hardest weeks on the job.
Employee
“That first week was draining physically and mentally,” said Klebs. “I was working 10 hour shifts, surrounded by hundreds of customers all day,” Klebs continued.
Effective Mar. 15, the company announced temporary changes with their store hours to “maximize shopping conditions” in order to restock shelves after an increase of customers buying things like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, non perishable food and clorox wipes.
The Company also shared in their press release that the cut of hours was to give team members time to properly sanitize the building at the end of each business day.
Klebs stated that at his location in Cuyahoga Falls, the store only had a limited amount of hand sanitizer and gloves for employees to use.
“Customers were coming in left and right and all I could think was how am I supposed to go home to my parents after this?,” said Klebs. “If I ever get this and give it to my parents, I don’t know what I would do,” Klebs finished.
According to the CDC, the virus is thought to spread from person to person, mainly through respiratory droplets produced when someone who is infected with COVID-19 coughs or sneezes. The CDC says the spread of infection is more likely to occur when people are in close contact.
Shortly after a few weeks of normal operation with customers in and out of Giant Eagle on Howe Ave, the store decided to temporarily close to the public on April 9th and will only allow curbside pickup services to help limit the spread and control the amount of gathering in their facility.
For Greg, this was both good and bad news. “I think what we have in place is a good system for now. My hours have gotten cut a little which sucks, but when I go back now there’s a small sense of security,” said Klebs.
Other local grocery store chains in the area will remain open to the public and still follow the Governor’s orders to limit the people in stores to practice proper social distancing protocols.
Sarah Upton, a customer service representative for Acme Fresh Market on West Market St. in Akron shared how her store has been adjusting since the pandemic.
“Basically, my job has completely changed since all of this started. Our biggest change has been how we operate as a team,” said Upton.
“Basically, my job has completely changed since all of this started.”
Sarah Upton, Acme Fresh Market Customer Service Representative
On Mar. 22, the company announced changes to increase social distancing in a press release shared on their website.
“We have tape on the floors where customers are encouraged to stand to ensure social distancing, and we have a limit of how many shoppers are in the store,” said Upton. “Last week we got plexiglass barriers on each of the registers, pharmacy and customer service counters to protect customers and employees,” continued Upton.
Going from 6-10 online orders a day that one associate typically handled , Upton also said the store has had to rework their online order routine within a few days.
“We used to have maybe 6-10 online orders a day that one person could get done, but now we have around 270 each day with about 40+ people working on them,” said Upton. “Employees are even working overnight to make sure the orders for the next day get done,” Upton clarified.
Other employees work make sure the store stays clean and safe for shoppers.
“I spend my ten hour shift sanitizing ever single cart that gets touched in here. Nobody is getting sick on my watch,” said Sarah Brean, a coworker of Sarah’s at the Acme on West Market St.
As of now, both Giant Eagle and Acme Fresh Market chains across the state are still offering grocery services to customers whether it is through curbside pickup or in store to provide essential items.
