Supermarkets across the nation, including ShopRite, continue to up the safety standards, protecting both employees and shoppers, including now taking the temperatures of employees.

 

It's been two weeks since News 12 learned two employees at ShopRite in Wall Township tested positive for COVID-19. Employees at more than two dozen other locations in New Jersey have also tested positive for the virus.

In efforts to protect everyone inside the store, all ShopRite locations will now take the temperatures of employees before starting their work shift using a no-contact forehead thermometer. 

 

At the same time, ShopRite and other markets and Home Delivery services continue to look for more employees to help with the rush. Chuck McDonald, who lost his job as a blackjack dealer, picked up a new job – delivering groceries to homes through the shopping app InstaCart. 

“You have some that are no contact, leave the groceries at the front door, some have small children and don’t want to risk being at the store, and some are elderly and don’t need to be out,” says McDonald. “We don’t want to put them in that position anyway. I enjoy doing it especially for the elderly customers.”

ShopRite and other stores hiring new employees are offering incentives, such as $2 wage increases, benefits, and other perks. As for the third-party shopping apps, McDonald says sometimes it can take a few hours, to a few days, for deliveries to reach their front door.

The location in Wall Township took measures earlier this month, adding protective Plexiglas panels at all registers and high impact areas, intense cleaning to keypads and carts and food areas, and providing masks for all employees. 

Gov. Phil Murphy also signed an executive order, requiring all shoppers to wear protective masks while inside the store as of last Friday. This location, like other supermarkets, have set aside early hours for shoppers deemed high risk by the CDC to do their shopping before the store opens to the general public.