insights

Grocery Workers at COVID-19 Risk from Returning Travelers

March 31, 2020 — A recent study by Innovative Research Group (IRG) has revealed a startling figure: In households where someone has recently traveled abroad, 75% visited a grocery store upon returning to Canada. This statistic is not only concerning for the public at large, but for staff who are working in grocery stores.

In response to the results, IRG president Greg Lyle said, “This is scary. Canadians returning from outside Canada in the past 14 days don’t appear to be following medical guidelines.” This is especially scary for food workers who are still working during the COVID-19 pandemic due to grocery stores being declared an essential service.

Grocery store staff are working on the frontlines of the pandemic. Re-stocking empty shelves with high-demand product, cleaning and sanitizing frequently, and checking out long lines of customers are just some of the ways they are supporting the pubic during the crisis. Working in the current climate also increases their risk of exposure to the coronavirus, a risk that is not taken lightly.

For those who have traveled abroad in the past few weeks, the government is demanding that they stay home and quarantine themselves for 14 days. Unfortunately, it appears that this is being ignored, with 3 out of 4 Canadians making trips to their local grocery store upon returning back home. This puts grocery store workers at risk of contracting the virus from those who have traveled and have a higher chance of having the virus in their system. This also is a concern for other customers who visit the premises and who may be exposed to the virus on surfaces an other items.

Quarantining for 14 days means not leaving your household in any way; asking family members to get groceries or using food delivery services is highly encouraged. If Canadians follow these guidelines as required, they can help stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect those working in essential services.