Guidance on COVID-19 for Retailers
This page will be used to share information regarding guidance for grocery stores during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This page will be updated regularly as more resources are available.
Federal Resources
What Grocery and Food Retail Workers Need to Know about COVID-19, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19, U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA)
Resources for Businesses and Employers, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
What every American and community can do now to decrease the spread of Coronavirus, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Kansas Resources
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is coordinating all information and updates on the State of Kansas response. Please consult the KDHE COVID-19 Resource Center for the most up-to-date information.
Key Resources from KDHE for retailers:
COVID-19 and Food Safety FAQ, Kansas Department of Agriculture
Kansas COVID-19 Food Establishment Guidance, April 3, Kansas Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and COVID-19, Kansas State Research and Extension
Best Practices for Volunteer Engagement During COVID-19, Kansas Volunteer Commission
Additional Resources:
Here are some resources from around the country. Check with your local and state health department for current recommendations.
Business Continuity Planning Resources, Ready.gov, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Independent Grocery, National Grocers Association (NGA)
Guidance for the Food Industry: Coronavirus Outbreak, Best Practices and Planning for the Immediate Situation, The Food Industry Association (FMI)
COVID-19/Emergency 14-Day Meal Kit for Rural Grocery Stores, University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
Guideline for Communicating during emergencies like COVID-19, LiveWell Colorado
Tips for Small Town Stores: Curbside Pickup and Delivery Model, University of Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships
Ways that rural communities are adapting to COVID-19
Rural communities are innovating in order to address the needs of their communities. Here are some examples:
- Community groups in Trego County partnered with Malay's Market to offer Family Food Boxes for Trego County families.
- Sheriff's offices took on grocery delivery to senior citizens, veterans and other vulnerable populations, seen here in Bourbon, Greenwood and Osage Counties.
- Some grocery stores closed their doors to the public entirely and offered remote shopping only - by phone, email, facebook messager, and/or through a store-specific google form. Examples include Cecil K's Hometown Market and St. Paul Supermarket.
- Ellsworth County Economic Development worked with Gene's Heartland Foods in Ellsworth, KS to develop an online grocer ordering system and is strongly encouraging shoppers to use the online of call-in options to do their grocery shopping.
- Providing priority shopping hours for senior citizens from 6 - 7 AM like at G&W Foods.
- Cecil K's Hometown Market in Holton, KS is provided daily updates live on facebook at 10:15 (Central) every day.
- Shared letters to communicate how the store is adapting to address concerns related to COVID-19. Examples include:
Brothers Market in Tonganoxie, KS
White's Foodliner stores
Ray's Apple Market stores
- The Garden of Eden in Little River added directional arrows to their grocery aisles to ensure customers and staff are maintaining at least 6 feet apart at all times.
- Restaurants in rural communities like Pretty Prairie and Arlington that do not have grocery stores in their town are adjusting their offerings to include groceries.
