In response to the increase in COVID-19 cases in our area and concern over limiting exposure to the virus, we’re taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of our shoppers, Owners, and employees. Since the advent of the pandemic, we have followed guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and our state and local health authorities, and we will continue to follow their advice as we update our policies and procedures.
UPDATE: Starting March 10th, 2022, face coverings will be requested but not required while shopping at the co-op. Employees will continue to wear masks during their shifts. This change in our policy reflects the most recent guidance from the CDC. Owners and shoppers should be aware that we will require masks in the future based upon updated guidance from the CDC or our state and local health authorities, or if there is a sudden surge in cases in our community.
We encourage anyone who wishes to wear a mask to continue to do so, and we will continue to have masks available at customer service.
Thank you to everyone who has treated our staff kindly and sacrificed comfort for the sake of community. We appreciate your kindness. Wearing your mask helps keep our staff safe so we can remain open and continue to provide good, healthy food for our community.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
- We require all employees to wear cloth or paper face coverings at all times while in the store. The only exception is for employees who are eating in our break room, and we only allow two people in the break room at any given time.
- We sanitize and disinfect high-touch areas (e.g., freezer door handles, bathrooms, bulk food bins, shopping carts, check stands) frequently throughout the day.
- We screen all employees for temperature and symptoms before each shift.
- All staff self-monitor and stay or go home if sick.
- We require documentation of a negative COVID-19 test before employees return to work after illness.
- We ask all employees to practice social distancing in the store and in other public spaces.
If you have any questions about our COVID-19 policies, please contact Amber Quesenberry, Interim General Manager.
COVID-19 CASES AMONG OUR EMPLOYEES
In the Interest of transparency, we will post here when one of our employees tests positive for COVID-19.
February 18, 2022 – We have learned that one of our employees has tested positive for COVID-19. They last worked in the store on Thursday, February 17, and wore a face mask for their entire shift. Their exposure came from a significant other. They are isolating at home in accordance with CDC guidelines.
February 17, 2022 – We have learned that one of our employees has tested positive for COVID-19. They last worked in the store on Thursday, February 17, and wore a face mask for their entire shift. They do not know where they were exposed to the virus. They are isolating at home in accordance with CDC guidelines.
February 13, 2022 – We have learned that one of our employees has tested positive for COVID-19. They last worked in the store on Friday, February 11, and wore a face mask for their entire shift. They do not know where they were exposed to the virus. They isolating at home in accordance with CDC guidelines.
February 11, 2022 – We have learned that one of our employees has tested positive for COVID-19. They last worked in the store on Monday, February 7, and wore a face mask for their entire shift. They were exposed to the virus outside of work. They isolating at home in accordance with CDC guidelines.
January 22, 2022 – We have learned that one of our employees has tested positive for COVID-19. They last worked in the store on Thursday, January 20, and wore a face mask for their entire shift. They do not know where they were exposed to the virus. They are experiencing mild symptoms and are isolating at home in accordance with CDC guidelines.
We have informed their coworkers and encouraged them to seek testing. Our co-op has a generous sick leave and vacation policy, and we will work with staff members on a case-by-case basis to ensure that they have the support they need. As part of our standard policy, we ask that any employee exhibiting any symptoms of respiratory illness or fever stay home, contact the GM, and notify their physician.
January 21, 2022 – We have learned that one of our employees has tested positive for COVID-19. They last worked in the store on Wednesday, January 19, and wore a face mask for their entire shift. They were exposed to the virus outside work and have experienced no symptoms. They are isolating at home in accordance with CDC guidelines.
January 8, 2022 – We have learned that one of our front-end staff members has tested positive for COVID-19. They were exposed to the virus outside work. The employee last worked at the co-op on Wednesday, January 5th, and wore a face mask at all times while working.
October 22, 2021 – One of our coworkers has tested positive for COVID-19. This person last worked in the store on Tuesday, October 19th, and they wore a face mask while at work. They were exposed outside work. They are fully vaccinated and have experienced no symptoms. They will remain isolated at home for at least 10 days as recommended by health authorities.
September 30, 2021 – We have learned that one of our front-end staff members has tested positive for COVID-19. They were exposed to the virus outside work, and this case is not related to the one we reported on September 20th. The employee last worked at the co-op on Saturday, September 25th, and wore a face mask at all times while working. They are isolating at home.
September 20, 2021 – We have learned that one of our staff members has tested positive for COVID-19. This is only our second COVID case since the start of the pandemic. The employee last worked at the co-op on Saturday, September 18. They have experienced no symptoms at all. The person works in administration and has limited contact with the public. They wore a face mask while working.
December 20, 2020 – In the interest of transparency, we want to inform you that we have learned that one of our staff members has tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This is our first COVID case.
The employee last worked at the co-op on Wednesday, December 16. They sought testing on Thursday after exposure to someone outside the co-op who had tested positive. Our employee received their positive result Saturday and informed us later that day. They never exhibited symptoms while at work.
This employee works in the grocery department receiving and stocking freight and has moderate contact with the public. They wore a facemask at all times while working and did not have prolonged close exposure to other employees or shoppers. (Prolonged close exposure is more than 15 minutes within six feet of another person.)
Throughout the pandemic, we have followed recommendations from state, local, and national health authorities. We are contacting the Alaska Department of Health & Social Services and will follow any additional guidance.
