Council officers visit EVERY Sheffield supermarket to check people are following Covid rules

Environmental health officers from Sheffield Council to visit all of the city’s supermarkets along with smaller, independent stores to check they are complaint with Covid-19 rules.
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Local authority workers will be undercover carrying out unannounced coronavirus secure compliance checks and also to offer advice to businesses.

Officers from Sheffield City Council started visiting stores to carry out the spot-checks on February 2, deliberately starting their visits in the areas of the city that have shown an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases.

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While visiting, environmental health workers will speak to duty managers at the shops to ensure they have the correct virus measures in place and check staff are following social distancing rules, helping to make queuing safe and wearing face coverings unless they are exempt.

Environmental Health Officers will visit every supermarket in Sheffield to check they are Covid-19 compliant.Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images.Environmental Health Officers will visit every supermarket in Sheffield to check they are Covid-19 compliant.Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images.
Environmental Health Officers will visit every supermarket in Sheffield to check they are Covid-19 compliant.Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images.

Stores which are classed as non-compliant or are not following good practice after the assessment will receive another visit to check improvements have been made and a discussion with the manager to identify issues.

If there is continued non-compliance from businesses, the local authority will pursue further enforcement action.

However Sheffield City Council confirmed that their findings have shown most premises are sticking with and enforcing the current lockdown rules.

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So far, officers have made their first visit to 81 major supermarkets across the city, which were all classed as compliant with no follow up visits required and 360 convenience stores – where workers gave advice on floor signs, face coverings and posters.

Councillor Mark Jones, Cabinet Member for Environment, Streetscene and Climate Change, said: “As our supermarkets have remained open throughout the pandemic and have had to adapt to lots of changes, it’s really important that we make sure they have the relevant measures in place to keep people safe and prevent virus transmission.

“It’s our duty to check, support, educate and enforce where necessary and we take this role very seriously.

"So far, most stores are working hard to adhere to the rules, and some have needed further advice.

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"Where businesses willingly flout the rules and guidance, we cannot allow this and will take further action.

“Our visits will continue, but we also encourage people to report any issues they come across whilst out shopping so that we can deal with them swiftly.

"During what is a very stressful time for many, I also want to remind people to be aware of and patient with others while out in public, and to thank everyone for playing their part for all of us.”

Sheffield director of public health Greg Fell added: “Typically supermarkets have not been one of the main sources of outbreaks in the city, but as one of the only places people can visit during lockdown it is essential that they continue to uphold the high standards and adjustments needed to bring down our infection rate.

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"Using the data, which shows where cases are increasing, we can target those areas and along with other interventions hopefully prevent a further rise in the city.”

Only essential shops and services are permitted to remain open during the third lockdown and people are only allowed to leave their homes for essential reasons such as going to work, education, medical appointments, exercise and essential shopping.

People can report issues around non-compliance and business breaches to the council at [email protected].

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.