Dear Friends and Neighbors:

Based on personal observations and reports from others, many, if not most, grocery stores and other essential retail outlets in our area do not appear to be in compliance with the current New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) “Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection for COVID-19 For Retail Stores.”

How We, as Individual Citizens, Can Help

As citizens, we can help increase public COVID-19 awareness and retail store compliance by urging stores to come into compliance with the Guidance and by contacting state and/or local public health officials to report instances where the NYSDOH Guidance is not being followed. This is no joke, needless to say: indeed, today’s Poughkeepsie Journal reports that one of the employees at the LaGrangeville ShopRite tested positive for COVID-19.

NYSDOH Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection for COVID-19 For Retail Stores

On March 16, 2020, NYSDOH released “Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection for COVID-19 For Retail Stores.” The guidance contains both mandatory and recommended public education and hygiene measures for retail stores. Below are excerpts from the Guidance.

Accommodations for Individuals at-risk:

 To support individuals who are at-risk in their communities by reducing the risk for COVID-19, retail locations:

• Must provide hand sanitizing and cart/basket sanitizing stations at the facility entrance with prominent signage promoting usage.
• Must have procedures for sanitizing checkout stations including self-service kiosks, payment pads, counter tops and other frequently touched surfaces after each use.
• Should consider alternative service models for older adults and those with serious chronic medical conditions. These may include pickup and/or delivery services, and providing dedicated hours of operation after performing the recommended cleaning and disinfection described [in the Guidance], in order for individuals who are most at-risk to obtain necessary supplies in a setting which has decreased density and maximizes ability for social distancing.

Identify and routinely clean and disinfect high-risk locations even before a confirmed case of COVID-19 occurs on a regular schedule as operational considerations allow, at least daily.

Examples of high-risk locations include:

Check In/out Stations and Frequently Touched Surfaces

• High contact surfaces that are touched by many different people, such as carts and baskets, check out stations and payment pads, light switches, handrails, store entrance push/pull pads/doorknobs/handles.

Restrooms

• Clean and disinfect all restroom surfaces, fixtures, door knobs, push plates, and switches (at least once daily).

Dining Areas/Breakrooms

• Clean and disinfect counters, tables, and chairs regularly (at least once daily).

To read the complete Guidance, go to https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2020/03/doh_covid19_cleaningdisinfectingretailstores_031620.pdf

Other Recommendations for Grocery Stores and other Essential Retail Services

 >Prominently post signage, at a minimum at the store’s entrance, on social distancing, handwashing, and other basic hygiene measures. (Some relevant signage is currently available from NYSDOH’s website as pdfs. I have written, via the State’s COVID-19 contact form, to request the State to offer a pdf specifically on social distancing.)

 >Prominently post signage, at a minimum at the store’s entrance, on the store’s hygiene protocols for staff.

 >Train staff to model social distancing themselves and to monitor and counsel customers on social distancing where needed.

 >At high density hours, limit the number of people who can be in the store at one time.

I hope you find this information helpful. Please also feel free to share it.