Despite a provincial order prohibiting all mass gatherings, large grocery stores have been given the green light to have more than 50 people inside their building.
That’s the latest message from the B.C. government.
In a press release issued Sunday, the province said it is acceptable for “large grocery stores” to have more than 50 people in their building at any one time, as long as physical distancing can be maintained.
“Many retail food and grocery store owners have asked whether or not the [Provincial Health Officer’s] order prohibiting mass gatherings of 50 or more people applies to them. While this order does not directly apply to the retail food and grocery industry, the spirit of the order should be followed. This means that, for example, in large grocery stores where it is feasible to have more than 50 people present at one time, it is permissible,” the province said in its release.
Additionally, the province says it has created a formula that food retailers can use to determine the maximum number of people allowed in their store at any one time.
“A good rule of thumb when calculating a maximum number of persons in a retail or grocery store at any one time is one person per 2 meters squared or 4 square meters of retail floor space,” the province said.
Also included in the release were new guidelines and recommendations for large grocery and retail food stores to “consider” amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Among the recommendations, food retailers should be providing clean carry-out bags for purchased food and grocery products, placing hand sanitizer with at least 60 per cent ethyl alcohol in dispensers near doors, using physical queue-line control and enhancing the store’s sanitation plan.
There are 884 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in British Columbia as of March 28.
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