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'No Mask, No Service' Policy Spreads in Toronto
Some Supermarkets Require Shoppers to Wear Masks to Shop
Critics say stores are 'encouraging
civilians to take away medical equipment that's already in short supply'
Shoppers
in certain areas of Toronto are noticing a disturbing new trend at local
supermarkets: a "no mask, no entry" policy. This is leaving people wondering
if these policies are mandatory or even legal, and if they're encouraging
civilians to take away medical equipment that's already in short supply from
healthcare workers.
Staff members at both Field Fresh Supermarket and Sunfood Supermarket
confirmed over the phone that customers would not be allowed inside the store
unless they were wearing masks. In fact, there's a sign up at Sunfood
Supermarket notifying customers that they must wear protective masks when
shopping in the store.
It's unclear to what degree these policies can legally be enforced but one
shopper, Matthew Dang, told blogTO he tried to enter Sunfood on March 28 and was
denied entry by an employee because he wasn't wearing a face mask.
blogto.com
Downtown Vancouver shops are boarding up their storefronts as COVID-19 outbreak
drives crime rates up
Storefronts
in downtown Vancouver are boarding up doors and windows, as property crime rates
in the city have risen amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In a release last week, the
Vancouver Police Department (VPD) said it reported 86 commercial break-ins
around Vancouver from March 1 to 15.
The number of break-ins spiked the following week, with 81 taking place from
March 16 to 24. A total of 35 of those incidents took place in downtown
Vancouver, where the biggest increase in break-ins has been reported.
Many businesses across the region have voluntarily shuttered on their own
accord as a preventative measure for their staff and customers, while others
were forced to close due to new government restrictions.
dailyhive.com
Meanwhile in Toronto, Major Crime Drops While COVID-Related Crime Spikes
Calls
for service may be dropping in some Canadian cities and major crime is
falling in Toronto — but police across the country are busy battling on a
new frontier of lawbreaking: COVID-19 crime.
As businesses have closed and Torontonians have holed up inside, early trends
show the shifting nature of crime in a pandemic: since March 16, calls for
non-emergency service have sunk and reports of assaults, break-and-enters,
robberies and car thefts have all dropped, police said Monday.
And yet amid global efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus,
police have been busily slapping charges on those finding novel ways to
profit, scam a few days off work or flout public safety regulations.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre is taking in a higher-than-normal
volume of reports, despite its hotline temporarily shutting down due to
reduced staffing. Since March 6, the centre has received 111 reports from across
the country about COVID-19-related fraud.
thestar.com
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COVID-19: Health officer says large supermarkets can let more than 50 people in,
subject to strict guidelines
'This order does not directly apply to the
retail food and grocery industry'
In a prepared statement, Dr. Henry said that she had been contacted by
employers in the retail food and grocery store sector asking for clarity
about whether a recent Public Health Act order prohibiting mass gatherings of
50 or more people applied to them.
Specifically, the order prohibited “the gathering of people in excess of 50
people at a place of which a person is the owner, occupier or operator, or for
which they are otherwise responsible.”
Noting that retail food and grocery stores were deemed and essential service,
Dr. Henry said “While this order does not directly apply to the retail food
and grocery industry, the spirit of the order should be followed. This means
that, for example, in large grocery stores where it is feasible to have more
than 50 people present at one time, it is permissible to do so provided that
appropriate physical distancing can be maintained.”
vancouversun.com
Meet the man in charge of coronavirus-proofing Walmart stores in Canada
Michael Gill has made countless little
tweaks and changes inside stores to stop the virus from spreading to customers
and staff
Though
dressed like a store clerk, with a name tag and a blue vest, the 27-year-old
is in charge of redesigning Walmart Canada Corp.’s 408 stores for the
coronavirus era.
The Mississauga, Ont.-based chain has a COVID-19 task force consisting of dozens
of people working on human resources, supply chain, logistics and operations.
Gill’s job specifically concerns the front end, making changes inside the store
to stop the virus from spreading to customers and staff.
Like supermarket chains across Canada, taking cues from grocers in harder-hit
countries around the world, Walmart has installed Plexiglass shields to
protect cashiers and put tape on floors to keep customers two metres apart in
checkout lines.
He pointed out other little tweaks that regular shoppers might never notice:
cashiers putting receipts in the bag instead of a customer’s hands; attendants
at self-checkouts poking touchscreens with a stylus instead of a finger; staff
excusing themselves to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes to wash their hands;
and a big tarp draped next to the produce section that hides a row of
decommissioned bulk bins.
financialpost.com
Retailers in Canada United in Condemning Price Gouging
Retail
Council of Canada (RCC) and our retail members stand together in denouncing
unacceptable price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic. Price gouging is
unethical, especially now. The Canadian retail community knows
manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers are doing everything they can to keep
prices in check. Even though there is currently upward pressure on price as
the Canadian dollar falls and increased costs are passed through the supply
chain, we are united in supporting that price gouging is unacceptable. The
economic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic are unprecedented. The
incredible, sometimes devastating, impact is being felt by all citizens.
newswire.ca
COVID-19: Canada layoff tracker
Nordstrom Launches Canadian E-Commerce Site After Shutting All Stores Amid
Coronavirus
Reitmans lays off 90% of retail staff as coronavirus shutters stores
Frontline Peel Regional Police officer tests positive for COVID-19
Alberta gun owners stocking up on ammo, firearms amid COVID-19 fears, say
retailers
‘Be patient and kind’: London Drugs staff face threats before, during virus
pandemic
York, ON: Man who allegedly beat cop in mall parking lot now charged with
attempted murder
York
Regional Police have named a 22-year-old man accused of severely beating one of
its officers, allegedly with his own expandable baton, in the parking lot
of a mall in Richmond Hill on Friday afternoon. Investigators said that at about
3:40 p.m. on Friday, an officer was parked in his cruiser at Hillcrest Mall,
near Yonge Street and Carrville Road, near the Marshall’s store in the mall.
A man approached him and allegedly began to hit him as he sat inside his
cruiser. A witness told CP24 the suspect then got the officer out of the vehicle
and continued to strike him numerous times. Investigators say the officer was
able to radio for help. The officer, who has served in York Region for four
years, remained in hospital Saturday with serious but non-life-threatening
injuries.
ctvnews.ca
Edmonton, AB: Three charged with more than 70 offences after store robbed,
witness shot at
A Monday night armed robbery that ended with one suspect firing their weapon at
a witness and a chase involving police dogs and a helicopter has led to three
men being charged with more than 70 offences. Three men entered a store near
83 Street and 160 Avenue wearing masks and carrying guns at approximately 9 p.m.
on March 16, a city police news release said Wednesday. The men demanded money
and began emptying the store’s safe. Once the men noticed a witness taking a
photo of their truck the men began shooting their guns. No one was hurt. One
of the men fled into a residence but they were all eventually taken into
custody.
edmontonjournal.com
Calgary, AB: $50K in rare Fantastic Four comic books stolen from shop
Three rare Fantastic Four comics worth about $50,000 were stolen from a
southeast Calgary shop. Although police have made one arrest, they're still
looking for a second man as well as the missing books. Because of a previous
store break-in, he believed they would be safer in his home, where thieves would
first have to make it past two 120-pound dogs. Two men grabbed Robicheau,
threw him to the ground and stole the briefcase. The two men ran to a nearby
vehicle, but when they realized the store owner was still watching them, they
took off on foot, according to police.
cbc.ca
Kingston, ON: Police investigating pellet gun shooting at mall
Portage la Prairie, MB: Shoplifting Spree Ends With Suspect in Custody for
Unrelated Matters
Robberies & Burglaries
●
C-Store - Greater Sudbury, ON - Robbery
●
C-Store - Calgary, AB - Armed Robbery
●
Comic Shop - Calgary, AB - Robbery/Assault
●
Grocery Store - Dinsmore, SK - Burglary
●
Grocery Store - Windsor, ON - Robbery
●
Mac's - Hamilton, ON - Armed Robbery
●
Pharmacy - Leamington, ON - Armed Robbery
●
Pharmacy - Pembroke, ON - Armed Robbery
●
Unnamed Store - Edmonton, AB - Armed Robbery
●
Variety Store - London, ON - Armed Robbery
●
Walmart - St. Albert, AB - Burglary
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