Shoppers react to province’s latest COVID restrictions

A sampling of Sault residents, approached by SooToday Saturday, offered differing opinions of the provincial government’s stay-at-home order and its effect on their shopping experiences.

The stay-at-home order, which came into effect Thursday in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, is directing people to leave their homes for only essential purposes such as grocery shopping, work, healthcare or exercise.

Ontario will be under the stay-at-home order for at least 28 days, lasting until May 6, but the order may be extended if the government determines it to be necessary.

Since Thursday, larger retailers in the Sault and provincewide have sealed off certain sections of their stores, along with certain types of merchandise, to combat the spread of COVID-19 (small businesses have been cut down to curbside service only, restaurants limited to takeout and delivery during the current state of emergency).

Food, personal care items and pharmaceutical items, whether prescribed by doctors or off the shelf, are still available for sale.

But many other items, including clothing, though clearly visible on store racks and shelves, are not for sale.

“I’m impacted because my son’s birthday is next week,” said shopper Melanie Francis, with clothing, sports gear, toys and greeting cards sealed off from customers with ropes or yellow tape.

“Last year we had a lockdown (during her son’s last birthday). He couldn’t see anybody, couldn’t be in contact with anybody (outside his home). When they said ‘impending lockdown’ I rushed to the stores and I tried to buy birthday supplies because he needs to have a birthday, he needs to be able to do something (in the face of government imposed COVID-19 restrictions)...I can’t even get him a birthday card.”

“If you get a new job, how are you supposed to get (new) clothes?” Francis said.

“My two sisters-in-law home school their kids. They can’t get school supplies. Why? They should be able to go to a store and get pencils and paper and crayons.”

“It is a little extreme, having things tied off,” Francis said.

“I think that people should be able to buy whatever they want at this time. Really. There’s no need to box off certain areas,” said a shopper who identified himself only as ‘Larry.’

Other shoppers took it all in stride.

“Doesn’t bother me...(we have to) do what we have to do to keep people safe,” said shopper Donald Ringuette.

“It limits the traffic in the stores (hopefully limiting the spread of COVID-19, according to governmental and public health authorities). If you need groceries, you’re just going to go for groceries. The other stuff is non-essential items at this point and I think people can wait until it opens up again,” said shopper John MacKinnon.

“You accept it. To beat this COVID, there’s got to be restrictions. They’ve got to get results...the numbers haven’t come down yet, but we’re only a couple of days in (under the stay-at-home order). Hopefully you’ll see some better results at the end of it. It’s something you get used to. I’ll put up with the restrictions. I don’t mind them at all. The first shutdown wasn’t fair, where these big box stores were open and our small businesses in town were restricted.”

At the Sault’s Giant Tiger location, the clothing department, for the most part, was sealed off with yellow tape, as were shelves with bed sheets and towels, toys, and kitchenware. 

Aisles at Dollarama’s Northern Avenue location were not sealed off, but stickers could be seen in many parts of the store informing shoppers “these items cannot be sold at this time.”

An officially posted list of 'not for sale' items at Dollarama included school and office supplies, crafts, linens, clothing, kitchenware, novelties, candles, toys, seasonal items, home decor, glassware, closet and bathroom items, jewellery and hair accessories, artificial flowers, books, greeting cards, souvenirs and party items.    

At Walmart, clothing and shoes for men, women and children were clearly visible but not available for sale.

In certain places, clothing was sealed off with rope, the barriers reinforced with stacks of non-perishable food items.

Toys were sealed off, but strollers were available for sale.

Items such as disposable cutlery weren’t up for sale, but toilet paper was (with a limit of one package per customer).

Electronics, books, stationery, toys, automotive products (such as windshield wipers and floor mats) and garden furniture were not accessible for sale, but insect control sprays, garden fertilizers, outdoor power tools and grass seed were.

There were no visible ‘not for sale’ items at Shoppers Drug Mart on Great Northern Road.

“I don’t think we (in Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma region) should be painted with the same brush as the hot spots like Peel, Toronto, but it is what it is,” said John MacKinnon.