Coronavirus: Social distancing trick every supermarket needs

An Adelaide supermarket has gone viral after introducing a nifty system to help shoppers keep their distance. Should the big chains do it too?

Keeping the correct distance from other people is a challenge we are all facing daily as we fight to control the spread of COVID-19.

But one supermarket has come up with a nifty way to help shoppers buying their essential items for self-isolation.

Foodland in Noorwood, South Australia has introduced one way aisles to assist shoppers with social distancing measures.

Photos shared on a local Adelaide satire group show the store’s floor marked with one way arrows using a blue sticky tape, with a shopper clearly heading in the wrong direction up the aisle.

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A Foodland store in Adelaide has introduced one-way aisles for shoppers. Picture: Instagram

“Norwood Foodland have introduced one way aisles to help with social distancing … and it looks to be working well,” Sh*t Adelaide wrote on Instagram.

Despite the snap showing someone going the wrong way, many praised the move and called on bigger supermarkets to roll it out.

“This should be implemented in all supermarkets,” one person wrote.

“This is such a good idea,” another said.

“It should be enforced everywhere,” another chipped in.

While one wrote: “A step ahead at Foodland.”

Supermarkets across Australia have been taking the health of shoppers seriously in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yesterday, Coles introduced stricter hygiene practices across stores after two workers in a Melbourne store tested positive for coronavirus.

The supermarket giant adopted the new COVID-19 Hygiene Practices For Supermarkets released by the Federal Government this week which sets out measures all grocery stores need to do.

The new document states all staff should “regularly wash hands” and avoid touching items such as cash and handbags while working and stressed the risk of infection from touching surfaces, objects and cash was “extremely low”.

It added that the use of protective masks and gloves were not necessary while instructing shoppers to play their part too.

Everyone entering stores would be required to disinfect their hands using sanitiser provided as well as wipe down trolleys/baskets with antibacterial wipes. You should also maintain distance of at least 1.5 metres at all times between other shoppers.

Woolworths recently introduced plexiglass at tills to protect shoppers and staff. Picture: Supplied

A Coles spokesperson told news.com.au it had “reinforced” hygiene practices in all stores by increasing the frequency of cleaning of bathrooms, kitchens and communal areas.

“In our stores we have also increased cleaning, including in high traffic areas such as the checkouts,” the spokesperson said.

Woolworths has implemented a raft of new safety measures too, which include rotating checkout service operators every two hours to limit interactions, protective plexiglass screens at tills and a store greeter whose duties include sanitising shopping baskets and trolleys.

Customers are now also required to bag their own goods, in compliance with social distancing measures.

“The safety and health of our teams and customers remains our top priority as we continue to support the essential food and grocery needs of the Australian community,” Woolworths Supermarkets Managing Director, Claire Peters said.

The retailer previously announced it would be closing some self-service and express check-outs to ensure there was at least 1.5 metres between customers.

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