Gov. Pritzker issues stronger guidelines for grocery stores
SPRINGFIELD - (WICS/WRSP) — Grocery stores are perhaps the most essential service open right now, which means large crowds and unsafe distancing can quickly form within them. As a result, Governor JB Pritzker is issuing stronger measures for all grocery stores to begin following.
"We've continued to work with the Illinois Retail Merchants Association to make shopping a safer experience. That continued reassessment has resulted in a new best practice that grocery stores will be rolling out in the coming days. In fact, several new procedures," Gov. Pritzker said in a press conference Saturday.
You may have already noticed some changes at your local grocery store, but new measures such as cashier barriers and six-foot markers on the floor spacing out customers at a safe distance will start to become more commonplace.
At Food Fantasies in Springfield, they say that not all these new guidelines are practical for stores of their size.
"It's kind of a small grocery store so it would be kind of difficult. I have seen other places where there's lines in front of the register and a certain distance away. I don't think we have that kind of space to do all that," Food Fantasies cashier Caleb Smith said.
If stores are capable, the new measures ask them to prohibit the use of reusable bags and encourage more curbside pickup and delivery services.
"I think we've kept things a lot cleaner and tried to take certain precautions on things. I think it's changed enough," Smith said.
Health officials say the safest options inside a store is to use self-checkout and cashless payments when possible.
Many large grocery chains have created dedicated store hours for seniors and vulnerable populations during this time.
