Supermarkets are upgrading with glass panes

Photo series with 13 pictures

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Distance markings on the floor, “spit protection” at the cash registers, cashless payment as well as disinfectants and gloves for employees: supermarkets and discounters want to limit the spread of the coronavirus with a variety of measures and at the same time protect their cashiers from infection.

However, extended opening hours, such as those made possible by the new regulations in Bavaria to equalize the number of visitors, are hardly an issue, as a survey by the German press agency among supermarket and discounter chains on Saturday showed – also to spare the employees.

In many branches of Aldi, Lidl, Netto, Rewe and Penny, plexiglass panes are currently being installed at the cash registers, the respective spokesmen said. This so-called spit protection is intended to protect cashiers from droplet infection with the new virus Sars-CoV-2. In some markets, operators also install plastic films hanging from the ceiling in the checkout area.

Employees get disposable gloves

“As one of many preventive measures, additional disinfectants and disposable gloves are provided at short notice to protect our employees,” said a spokesman for Aldi Nord.

These are also measures that the other companies have also taken. Customers everywhere are also recommended to pay without cash if possible, but with a card – so that there is as little direct contact between people as possible.

An Edeka supermarket in Schleswig-Holstein: Instead of glass sheets, plastic foils are supposed to protect cashiers from a droplet infection with the corona virus. (Source: Frank Molter / dpa)

A Lidl spokeswoman said: “Employees can always contact their managers with questions or comments, and there is also an internal hotline for all questions about the virus.” In the event of symptoms of illness, you should consult a doctor in good time. No company reported that customer flows would be restricted by access restrictions.

Markings on the floor

In order to protect customers, the chains have floor markings stuck in the checkout area of ​​many branches, according to a spokeswoman for the net brand discount branches, for example, at a distance of two meters. Similar notices are posted in Aldi and Lidl branches. The net spokeswoman also referred to self-service checkouts in more than 100 net branches.

A spokeswoman for Aldi Süd said: “We also ask our customers to pay attention to the important hygiene and clearance rules.” It is about the so-called cough and sneeze label: in the crook of the arm instead of in the hand or even completely unprotected across the room.

A similar appeal came from the spokesman for the Rewe Group: “Our customers can also make an important contribution to protection by keeping their distance and being prudent and respectful.”

Keep your distance – especially at the fresh food counter

No general answers can be given for the Edeka branches, as a spokesman said, “because the situation differs depending on the region and location”. The self-employed Edeka merchants always tried to find individual and pragmatic solutions with a view to the local situation. Here, too, there are often requests to keep your distance from other customers and staff – especially at the fresh food counters and at the checkouts.

The meat counter of a supermarket: Here too, customers should keep their distance. (Source: Philipp von Ditfurth / dpa)

In order to equalize the rush in supermarkets, Bavaria has expanded the possible shop opening hours. You can now open on weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sundays and public holidays from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m. However, none of the companies surveyed makes use of this.

One reason: “Our employees need periods of rest in order to gather strength, relax, spend time with their partners and families,” said the spokeswoman for Aldi Süd.

Employees at the limit of resilience

The spokesman for Rewe and Penny argued similarly: “Our employees have been doing great things for weeks. They urgently need a day off.” In many places, the employees are at the limits of their resilience, it said.

The net spokeswoman also made it clear once again that the supply of food was still guaranteed nationwide. “We are observing that there is an increased demand in some product ranges, such as long-life foods such as pasta and canned goods or also hygiene products. Nevertheless, we can continue to ensure the daily supply of the markets with sufficient goods via our logistics centers.”

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