Esther is so angry she is spitting venom at Burnaby stores who are still refusing to reopen their washrooms to customers.
Esther is a local senior who went on a rant to me at the Nesters on Burnaby Mountain because she needs to use the facilities.
“At my age and after having kids, it’s not so easy when there isn’t a washroom available,” she said.
I agree.
If you want people to spend an extended period of time in your store shopping, you need to reopen your washroom facilities.
Some businesses, such as a few Burnaby grocery stores, shut down their washrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic, but have kept them closed despite plenty of evidence that it’s unnecessary.
Many other businesses are keeping their washrooms open, especially restaurants and malls like Metropolis at Metrotown, as well as the Burnaby Walmarts.
If they are keeping their washrooms open, then these others stores should reopen them.
It’s only fair to customers, especially people with disabilities.
Claire Cupples, an emeritus professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at Burnaby’s SFU told CTV News that these washrooms are safe during COVID-19.
“On a scale of one to 10, I’d put washrooms at maybe a three or four,” she is quoted as saying.
So stores aren’t protecting customers. Their staff are already cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, so a washroom should be included on that list.
Seriously, I see staff cleaning and sanitizing the shopping baskets that customers use. I don’t think cleaning the washrooms is any more of a risk.
So let’s get it done.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
