COVID-19 has shuttered the doors of non-essential businesses but those that remain open, like grocery stores, have been steadily adopting measures to keep their staff and the community safe.

Ella Commons, the manager of Riverside Grocery on Lowe Street, said in an interview it’s unprecedented times.

“We are doing OK,” said Commons. “This is something we haven’t experienced before, and we are taking it day-by-day.”

Commons said the products people have been purchasing the most are dry pantry goods as well as beans, grains and legumes in bulk.

To help combat the spread of the virus, Commons said, they have increased their cleaning regimen.

“We have more cleaning protocol right now,” said Commons. “We have an antiviral cleaner for all surfaces, door handles to every cooler and we recently got lots of sanitizer.”

Unlike other businesses still open, Riverside does not have plexiglass at the register, but Commons said it’s on their radar.

They haven’t had the need yet to limit the number of people in the store, she added.

“The morning times are quiet and there are no rushes at opening,” said Commons. “If we were to get crowded, we have a plan for that.”

During this time, Commons said, the customers have been good and understanding. For those people who don’t want, or can’t make it to the store, Commons said, staff have put in measures to help them.

“We’ve been doing tons of curbside pickups,” said Commons.

“We didn’t offer delivery, but now we do. You can email us a list then we will call you back to check it over. We drive around after work delivering.”

Save-On-Foods has 178 stores in four provinces and the Yukon. Store manager Ryan Nesbitt said the territory’s location is following the directives laid out by corporate officials, and include:

• increasing our already high standards on food safety, sanitation and cleanliness;

• encouraging team members to wash their hands regularly and frequently disinfecting high-touch areas;

• encouraging social distancing in all our stores with decals separated by two metres; and

• limiting the number of customers in stores at peak times.

Other measures include Plexiglas shields at all checkouts, and a shopping hour for seniors and those at risk from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. The store has also changed its hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Nesbitt said the health and safety of workers and clients is the priority.

“I’d like to thank the team members for their hard work to take care of the community,” said Nesbitt.

On Thursday, Save-On-Foods received Girl Guide cookies to sell in the store. Locations in other provinces received one pallet, but the Whitehorse store got six to service the entire territory, said Nesbitt.

A box of cookies will be sold for $5 and all proceeds will go to Girl Guides of Canada.

Nesbitt said they will make sure the cookies are on prominent display when people enter the store.

Kathleen Lundgaard, the franchise owner of Mrs. Grocery Yukon, will do groceries and delivery for those who cannot, or do not want to leave the house.

“It’s been steady,” said Lundgaard. “Especially older people. I’m giving seniors priority, I get to them first. Then it’s mostly families who are not out in public.”

Lundgaard said she is mostly doing groceries for people but will also pick up prescriptions and go to the big box stores like Walmart and Canadian Tire.

While shopping, Lundgaard, said she sanitizes the cart and wears gloves. She blocks out two hours to shop and deliver to a person so no orders get mixed.

When she arrives, people can meet her outside or pick up their order from the curb.

Since Lundgaard is spending lots of time in stores, doing three to five shops a day, she feels the stores are doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“They have the plexiglass barriers and sanitizer everywhere,” said Lundgaard. “At (Real Canadian) Superstore, the workers clean the self-checkouts after every use. Things are organized better.

“Walmart isn’t as drastic a change but they are monitoring the situation.”

Lundgaard will deliver as far as Judas Creek and the Mayo Road.

For those in the communities who don’t want to travel to Whitehorse, Lundgaard will buy, package and ship their order for them.