TORONTO -- Several grocery stores in Canada are opening their doors early for seniors and those with other health concerns to give them an opportunity to shop with fewer customers around amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health officials have identified the elderly and those with other medical concerns as the most vulnerable to the novel coronavirus.
In light of their increased risk, companies have introduced designated hours at their stores when only seniors and those with other health concerns can buy their groceries with a decreased chance of close contact with other customers.
On Monday, Galen Weston, the executive chairman of Loblaw Companies, announced that some of his company鈥檚 Loblaws grocery stores and Shopper Drug Mart pharmacies would open early for seniors and people living with disabilities so they can shop before the crowds.
鈥淲e all agree that food and drug stores are essential services and we must do what we need to in order to keep them operating and serving every community in the days and weeks ahead,鈥 he wrote in a statement.
Weston also encouraged customers who can鈥檛 shop in person to take advantage of home delivery services.
Loblaws and Shoppers Drug Mart aren鈥檛 the only retailers offering extended hours for seniors and those with special needs.
In Toronto, that all of their locations, except for the one inside the Eaton鈥檚 Centre, would open early for the elderly and those at a higher risk of infection.
鈥淲e ask that all of our guests respect this dedicated shopping time for those in our community that are most vulnerable,鈥 he said.
Also in Toronto, will offer a 鈥渃ommunity wellbeing hour鈥 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. every morning for seniors and other at-risk members of the community.
In West Vancouver, a 鈥淪eniors Shopping Hours鈥 on Wednesdays and Fridays between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, they would hold a temporary dedicated shopping hour for seniors, those with disabilities, the immunocompromised.
鈥淭his is designed to help ensure these customers are able to shop in less crowded aisles in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic,鈥 the chain said in a statement on Facebook on Monday.
In Edmonton, also took measures to ensure seniors were looked after by reserving 50 per cent of its toilet paper stock for them after people cleared out shelves and stockpiled packages.
Grocery stores in the U.S., such as Woolworths, Coles, and H-E-B, also began introducing early opening hours for seniors this week in response to the pandemic.
