Costco Canada -Priority Access Update (include Pharmacists and all hospital employees with a hospital ID)
Location: All Canada Warehouses
Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to make sure people know about the latest update Costco has made to its Priority Access for Healthcare Workers and First Responders. In this newest update, Pharmacists and all hospital employees with a hospital ID are specifically mentioned in the new policy. I have recently heard of some inconsistencies in how Costco has applied the policy and I’m sure anyone included in these categories will be happy they are now included!
There was also a new Face Mask Requirement which was included in this latest update which states that if a Facce Mask is required to be worn in public, as determined by provincial policy, this would be enforced at Costco as well.
For the official update, please visit the following website: https://www.costco.ca/coronavirus-response.html
NEW POLICY: Updated April 23, 2020
OLD POLICY: Updated April 9, 2020
Stay safe and remember to wash your hands with soap and water often!
CLICK HERE for the Costco Flyer & Costco Sale Items for Apr 27 – May 3, 2020, for BC, AB, SK, MB
A quick reminder that if you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, you should be self-isolating for 14 days. Each province has their own Health recommendations based on the provinces individual risk assessment and I would recommend that you follow the recommendations for your specific province. Information can be found at the following websites.
Saskatchewan COVID-19 Information
If you are out in public, please practice social distancing which means:
- Limit activities outside your home
- Use virtual options to connect with others
- If you are out in public, try to keep 2 metres between yourself and others.
- Keep your hands at your side when possible
- Stay home when you are sick
- Cough into your elbow or sleeve
- Avoid social activities in large gatherings.
Stay safe and remember to wash your hands with soap and water often!
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Costco is membership based, just like a fitness club membership or a social club. They can and should enact whatever polices they want. If you don’t agree with any of them, then cancel your membership. Whining about here isn’t going to change anything.
I have yet to see any masks for sale except at inflated prices on line and never at Costco. If they can’t provide them they should not insist on customers wearing them.
Fuels potential social conflict and confusion at a time when we need distancing,..counter productive poor decision which I believe is based on American financial interests rather than care for first responders. Jmho
Let’s not overreact now. I don’t understand why people have suddenly become upset about how ALL healthcare workers including those who procure supplies for chairs, stationery, office equipment, and more can jump the queue. Some were already taking advantage of this before the announcement. Furthermore, the above notice says hospital workers only. What about an MD who has his own practice?
Anyway, if you wanted to freak-out this policy, it is my opinion you should’ve done so early on when Costco first allowed this group to jump the queue. It’s not like Costco employees are trained to spot fake hospital and first responder IDs.
From the beginning, it seems most people here were in favor of group receiving priority treatment. What has shifted? BTW. Some parts of BC Costcos have already been informing shoppers of the new policy effective May 4 and how BOTH they and the employees MUST wear masks. I can’t imagine (actually I can) reading all the comments here at that time.
I agree with Karla, you cant expect Costco to grill and look up employees in their data base to see if you are a legit health care worker. They can only do so much and trying to get ppl in as quick as they can (everyone has seen the long lines).
What bother’s me are the ppl who are blatantly inside leisurely going up and down the aisles just “browsing”….a lot of ppl are going in and out and they know what they need and are looking for. I ran into a couple who couldnt decide if they were going to plant trees or not this year and then couldnt decide what kind of tree….omg.
I see the facemask requirement message above but when I click onto the Costco.ca link, there is no mention of facemasks. Costco US requires facemask. Thanks for the blog; it’s much appreciated
I’m a nurse but do not consider myself as frontline staff (office job type of nursing). I do appreciate Costco making this policy for the frontline staff who often may have to stay overtime due to short staff, etc so I hope those who are hospital staff/healthcare workers and are not directly dealing with COVID do not take advantage of this. Let’s leave this special consideration for those frontline people, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. I will stand in line with everyone else. (PS the lines aren’t actually all that bad especially now that the weather is nicer! Just keep your distance, good hand washing, and you’re golden. Let’s all be kind please).
I agree with you. I am a frontline healthcare worker but the two times I have gone to Costco on my days off I have waited in line because I had the time to do so. That being said I am really hoping to a few staple grocery items sometime in the next few days and if the line is going to make me late for work I’ll show my ID and skip it. I hope people are courteous and use good judgment around this.
Just checked at our local Costco (Langford BC) – masks are NOT REQUIRED for customers, but are required for employees.
If I’m only picking up my medications at Costco pharmacy do I still have to stand in long line ups. I have a compromised immune system and my hubby is 80 and picking up the meds as I can no longer do the crowds
if you talk to a Costco employee whos outside manning the line up, let them know you are just picking up prescription. When I went weeks ago, the employee was telling ppl in line that they dont need to line up and they can just go through another door
This new policy is ABSURD if it came into effect. In other words l could take my old EMT jacket out of the closet, which l haven’t worn for years, put it on, make a bogus ID badge and have priority to enter the store. This craziness the government has over us is disgusting .
So face masks are now standard in bc??
Though im all for the first responders, last figure I heard was 19% of covid cases here in bc are linked to first responders. They should give them full access END of day, from 6 to 8 or something.. smarter safer move, this line jumping announcement is just silly..due to mismanagement I will now cut costco from my places to shop until this is over..
End of the day? When everything is gone? Some of us like to shop at the end of our night shift just before we go home so the last thing we can think about when we wake up is buying groceries. We do change and clean our stuff and think about the public when we go out after work. It’s not like we’re coughing all over people. Keep your distance and only go out when absolutely necessary so you don’t have to worry about these first responders getting you sick.
American chains like Staples have not paid their rent to Canadian reits. Costco is an American chain, looking after American financial interests. Pr positive announcement is worth more than Canadians safety, I won’t be leaving health decisions to an American corporation. Health authority should be setting these rules not an american foreign corporation.
I’m with you there!
This fantastic. Now the cafeteria and barissta’s can jump the queue too and everyone will they think they’re a doctor, nurse or first responder.
Thats really an unfair comment. Are you saying porters, and janitors are not health care workers and you must have a doctorate degree? these employees are always on the floor/units helping doctors and nurses, think of what they are exposed to helping and/or cleaning.
Good to see it is a little more defined. My first and only experience using this with my official hospital ID was getting told it is only for doctors and nurses.
I’m a care aide and I get priority access