Businesses are continuing to enforce strict COVID-19 protocols as hundreds of Barbadians rush to The City to do their last minute shopping.
And managers of several of the larger stores told Barbados TODAY that while they expect the foot traffic to increase over the next few days, they won’t be ignoring or adjusting any of their strict protocols.
Some businesses said they have no choice but to enforce the measures implemented, since members of the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit are out in their numbers visiting establishments, even advising where loop holes need to be tightened.
Minister of Health Lt Col Jeffrey Bostic, in an address to the nation on Sunday evening, urged businesses not to let their guards down as it relates to playing their role in containing the spread of the virus which has been having a negative impact on the economic and social fabric of the country.
Location Manager of Duty Free Caribbean Barbados Mark Clarke said Cave Shepherd’s protocols implemented when the store reopened for business have been running smoothly and tightened where necessary.
Clarke said Cave Shepherd stores have received several visits from officials of the Monitoring Unit.
“We have had compliments also from the Monitoring Unit and if there are any minor things to be done we made the changes, but these were very minimal.
“Interms of managing the crowd we have our security who actually make counts during the day. When you enter the stores you are asked to remove your mask, we sanitize your hands and the store is being sanitized throughout the day, from the time we open until we close. And I must say that the customers commend us for that and we are doing the best that we can at this time,” he said.
Clarke added that while it has been an unpredictable Christmas season, Cave Shepherd has benefitted from two weekends of additional discounts and is now seeing an increase in foot traffic.
“But it is nothing compared to last year,” Clarke said.
Managing Director of Woolworth Martin Bryan said that while there has been an increase in the number of shoppers entering the stores, all of them are being monitored. Bryan assured that no customer or staff member will be allowed to enter the store without a mask, being sanitized or having their temperature checked.
“We have had some people who refuse to put on a mask and they have been refused entry. We have had some people who refuse to be sprayed and they have been refused entry. So to come into the store you must have those three things done, if not you cannot come in. We are very strict with our protocols and we will continue to be strict with them,” Bryan said.
Managing Director of Abed’s Eddy Abed said he was pleased to report that customers who have kept workers busy in recent weeks, have been complying with the store’s protocols.
Abed also reported that representatives from the Monitoring Unit who visited the store commended the strict protocols and offered advice on how and where improvements must be made.
“We have just implemented that our people behind the wrapping counters are going to have on shields. Our staff members all wear masks and we continue to sanitize. As you look around, there are x signs on the floor where we want to socially distance people. People understand the seriousness of the virus and they understand that you can’t drop your guard,” Abed said. (anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)
