Supermarkets and other retailers have added limits to the number of customers inside stores in an effort to maintain social distancing during the Easter shopping rush.
On Sunday, Woolworths announced it “will be limiting the number of customers allowed in store from time to time”.
The company’s managing director Claire Peters said store managers will use “common sense discretion” to determine the number of customers allowed into each store at any one time.
The queues outside the store will be marked with cones and maintained by centre managers, security and police to “ensure customers are keeping at least 1.5 meters apart from each other”.
Coles said it will also be rolling out queuing this week. “Team members will be at store entrances to provide assistance and let you know when it is OK to come in,” chief executive Steven Cain said on Sunday.
A very different shopping experience at Coles #Nowra today. Waiting in line to enter the store, and told to use a shopping trolley to maintain safe social distancing. Sadly, not everyone feels the need to follow the rules. #COVID2019AU #SocialDistancingSavesLives pic.twitter.com/3WWGElkkm7
— Steven (@booragal) April 6, 2020
A supermarket spokesperson told 10 daily additional hourly cleaning have been added to checkouts and self-service areas, as well as more wipes for baskets and trolleys.
ALDI will allow between 70 and 100 customers inside a store at one time, depending on the size of the shop, the ABC reported.
No snags, but big lines at @Bunnings today.
Customer numbers limited in-store:
1 out, 1 in; 4 customers per aisle.Similar rules soon to be rolled out at @Coles & @woolworths
Details @7NewsBrisbane tonight at 6pm pic.twitter.com/0a5E9tL0vk
— Jo Hayes (@johayesjourno) April 4, 2020
Similar rules have been introduced at Bunnings in recent weeks, including limits on the number of customers in stores and in busy aisles.
