Shoppers Drug Mart among retailers to roll back pandemic protocols as mandates lift

The plexiglass barriers that were used to protect pharmacy workers at a drug store were taken down in June.

One employee told the Financial Post that it was alarming because customers were coming in sick. Customers come in throughout the day for COVID-19 tests, as well as related medications, according to an employee.

The employee said the plexiglass barriers at the pharmacy counter were a last resort after customers were no longer required to wear face masks.

The parent company said in an email that barriers were removed from Shoppers Drugmart stores in early June.

At the peak of the Pandemic, the dividers were put in place to provide a barrier to keep people out of one another.

The company said they had heard from store teams and customers that the dividers made interactions more difficult.

It's just alarming because people (customers) are coming in sick

Pharmacy staff are still required to wear masks even though masks aren't required for customers.

Shoppers is one of a number of retailers that are rolling back or removing the COVID-19 protocols that were put in place during the peak of the H1N1 epidemic.

Public health officials and infectious diseases experts are warning of a potential seventh wave of the Pandemic. Quebec's public health director and Ontario's top doctor both said last week that the seventh wave had arrived.

Tim Hortons said that if a local health unit requires it, employees can choose to wear a mask.

According to Tim Hortons, cremated remains have been rolled back in recent months.

Canada Post Corporation's employees and fellow customers will greet those using the postal service.

Employees, contractors and visitors are no longer required to wear face coverings in Canada Post facilities as of June 16.

The Public Health Agency of Canada guidelines have led to the gradual roll back of temporary COVID-19 health and safety measures.

Floor markers and plastic barriers are not required for postal outlets in a host business.

Legault said that health and safety is their top priority.

The United Parcel Service subsidiary said in an email that face masks are optional for franchisees and staff.

All locations in Canada were provided with plexiglass shields, but the shipping service said it didn't have to remove them.

The Retail Council of Canada said that all protocols depend on the store.

While keeping in mind the potential impact of these decisions on employees and customers, retailers make these decisions.

Most provinces still require businesses to have a plan in place to protect workers from diseases. Many of the council's members have barriers, daily self-screening and high-touch point cleaning policies to which they adhere.

Wasylyshen said that some retailers are replacing and renewing barriers that are showing signs of wear.

She said that they do this as they anticipate they will be required for another wave.

According to Dollarama Inc., plexiglass is still in place for their thousands of stores.

Metro Inc. said in an email that there was no plan to remove plexiglass barriers from their stores.

The measures it had introduced only applied to Shoppers, not its other chains, according to the company.

The United Food & Commercial Workers Canada, a private sector union that represents employees from major companies, said it is making sure that any concerns union members raise about pandemic protocols are properly addressed by employers.

Dpaglinawan@postmedia.com and denise.pglnwn are email addresses.

The Financial Post is part of Postmedia Network Inc.

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