March 2023 COVID Update:
Masks Recommended, not required, for customers starting Thursday, 3/16
Mask-Required shopping available 9am-11am daily
This March marks the 3rd year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 3rd year of the Co-op’s Collective Management thoughtfully navigating how to continue to serve our communities while keeping our staff and shoppers safe.
In 2020, the Collective Management decided that masks would be required for all shoppers and staff inside the Co-op. We’ve continued to uphold the mask requirement – even after most businesses have dropped theirs – to maintain the safest-possible environment for staff and shoppers, especially those who are immune-compromised.
After careful consideration and much discussion, our Collective Management has decided to shift our policy to Masks Recommended for customers, instead of required, starting on Thursday, March 16th. However, to make sure that safer shopping options are available, we will reserve 9am-11am daily for Masks-Required Shopping.
This means that masks will be required for customers only between 9am-11am daily, and that masks will be recommended, not required, from 11am-9pm.
The Curbside Pickup program will still be available as a safer shopping option.
Thank you for understanding. Please email questions and concerns to info@peoples.coop.
Why are you making this change?
Oregon Health Authority will lift mask mandates in health care settings in early April. With this in mind, the Collective Management decided that after 3 years of upholding this policy, we need to shift our energy toward our own safety, the store itself, and our other means of providing a safer shopping experience. This was a challenging decision to make, especially with our immune-compromised community members in mind. This is why we will continue to have Mask-Required hours at the beginning of the day, when the air and surfaces are fully refreshed. The CM made this decision through our consensus decision-making process, which makes space for clarity, thoughtful discussion, and for all co-managers’ voices to be heard.
