Announcement from the French Broad Food Co-op:
Today we learned that a Co+op worker has tested positive for COVID-19. Our part time worker has very limited exposure to the store and customers, as their shifts occur while we are closed. In situations like this the county protocol suggests that we remain open and continue operating as is. However, we have decided to continue to operate above and beyond those expectations, and so we will close for three days to clean our space and fully eradicate exposure to any potential contaminants.
The decision to close does not come lightly, but it is imperative that we keep our staff and community safe. We will continue to support our workers by paying them in their absence, just as we have issued hazard pay retroactively to March 16 and provided additional paid time off for everyone.
We believe transparency with our community is integral to our mission, and we understand that many people are afraid, but now more than ever, we ask for your support when we re-open on Friday, June 5th, 2020 at 11am. We hope that the knowledge of our diligence and hard work to keep you safe encourages this support.
We also wish to notify you of the newly installed city-wide curfew. Until further notice, all Asheville residents are under a mandatory curfew. The full link is below and here are the parameters:
- Requires individual to remain at home with the exception of medical emergencies and acquiring goods or services that are necessary to sustain the well-being of themselves or their families;
- Does not apply to medical professionals, public safety workers, medical or healthcare workers, military personnel, public transportation personnel, public utilities personnel, and media;
- Restricts travel within the city limits of Asheville;
- Violators will be charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Click here for news article: Asheville Mayor declares State of Emergency, issues curfew
The underlying principle for these situations is the same:
LIVES MATTER MORE THAN PROPERTY AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS.
This principle extends to protesting the treatment of our Black and Brown community members and to our collective COVID-19 response. We are your trusted, downtown, community owned grocery. We care about the health, safety, and welfare of all members of our community.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
The French Broad Food Coop Team
Editor’s note: The citywide curfew is in effect beginning June 2 at 8 p.m., until 6 a.m. the following morning. The nightly curfew will continue until lifted by order of Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer.
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