COVID-19

Updates on Georgia's response to COVID-19

GFIA is here for you! 

 As your trade association, we are in constant communication with the Governor’s office and the federal government through the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), the National Grocers Association (NGA) and the National Association of Convenience stores (NACS) as well as various agencies at the local, state and federal levels.

We have also increased communications to GFIA members so that you are kept informed of the latest policies, mandates and guidelines:
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  • Join us each weekday at 10:00AM EST for the latest industry updates.
    • ​​Call in at (657) 220-3242
      ​Enter 855-950-682 to join
  • We’re working to add resources to our website, including best practices, food safety, and guidance from governmental and regulatory agencies  
  • We’ll be posting updates and ideas on our social media channels 

Finally, this is a groundbreaking, evolving, changing crisis. Please know that the GFIA is doing everything we can to support the grocery industry and will do our best to keep you informed and answer your questions. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any question, rumor or relevant information at any time.
  
As resources are developed, we will continue to update this page, so please check back often for updates.

fOOD INDUSTRY Q&A
(last updated 03/19/2020)

March 16, 2020 
Transportation:  An emergency declaration has been granted waiving hours of service requirements for motor carriers hauling relief supplies for COVID-19. Specific to food, the regulatory relief is related to food for emergency restocking of stores. Direct assistance does not include routine commercial deliveries, or transportation of mixed loads that include essential supplies, equipment and persons, along with supplies, equipment and persons that are not being transported in support of emergency relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks. The waiver terminates when a driver or commercial motor vehicle is used in interstate commerce to transport cargo or provide services that are not in support of emergency relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks or when the motor carrier dispatches a driver or commercial motor vehicle to another location to begin operations in commerce. Effective 3/13/2020 through April 12, 2020, or until termination of the emergency, whichever occurs sooner.
President Trump Signs Emergency Legislation (HR 6201)

This legislation requires all companies with less than 500 employees to provide up to two weeks of paid vacation to workers affected by COVID-19. We are working on a summary document explaining how this legislation will impact the food industry. Stay tuned for more updates.
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What is the protocol for an employee who tests positive for coronavirus?

According to Natalie X, Food Safety Division Director for the GA Department of Agriculture, employers are NOT required to report positve test results for employees. However, the suggested protocol is for the employer to report the positive test results to their local health department's infectious disease office to aid in their efforts with regard to disease containment. 

According to CDC guidance, the employee may return to work after 7 days without symptoms and 72 hours without fever.  

*also refer to the document
FDA's Guidance on Food Safety & the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
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Should I allow employees to wear gloves while working?

There is no official guidance on employee use of gloves. However, it is important to stress to your employees that even though they are wearing gloves, they should still adhere to best practices as recommended by the CDC, such as to avoid touching their face, and washing their hands often. Gloves will not prevent the spread of the virus from the surface of the glove to other surfaces. 
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What is the guidance regarding salad bars and self-service food items?

At this time, there is no official ban regarding salad bars and self-service food items in Georgia. Retailers are encouraged to conduct additional cleaning and sanitation measures to prevent the spread of disease on serving utensils.
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Georgia Price Gouging Law is in effect from March 14 thru April 13

Retailers ARE allowed to increase pricing levels if their costs to procure the items have increased due to demand. Margins must remain the same. 

The specific language of the law is:
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Retailers should expect an increase in SNAP & WIC sales due to emergency measures 

The federal government has implemented several measures that will equate to an increase in SNAP sales for Georgia's retailers.
  • a waiver of SNAP work requirements for able bodied persons. 
  • additional SNAP benefits for free or reduced lunch participants to help defray the costs of students eating at home while schools are closed (P-SNAP)
  • emergency SNAP benefits for families, up to the maximum allowable family benefit amount
​An additional $500M in funding has been approved for Georgia's WIC program to assist the families of workers who have lost their jobs or experienced reduced work hours. 
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I am a Georgia WIC Vendor. How do I deal with out of stock inventory on WIC approved items?  

We have notified the Georgia WIC Department about our retailers' challenges to maintain minimum inventories on WIC items. At this time, we do not anticipate that WIC officials will be conducting compliance visits.

We have inquired about the ability of WIC vendors to make substitutions of like items, and are waiting for guidance from WIC on this issue. 

We have also informed WIC officials of the distribution issues for formula. We will update you as soon as we have information.
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Am I exempt from curfews imposed by local governments?

Grocers and food manufacturers are considered to be "critical infrastructure" by the US Department of Homeland Security, and are therefore exempt from curfews.
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The CISA and Department of Homeland Security released guidance on March 19, 2020 to help state and local jurisdictions and the private sector identify and manage their essential workforce while responding to COVID-19. This guidance states that: 

"If you work in a critical infrastructure industry, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, such as healthcare services and pharmaceutical and food supply, you have a special responsibility to maintain your normal work schedule.”   

https://www.cisa.gov/news/2020/03/19/cisa-releases-guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workers-during-covid-19

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INFORMATION & RESOURCES PROVIDED BY FMI
click here to view FMI's coronavirus webpage

FMI has a number of resources designed specifically for the food industry, including:


Visit FMI's website for more information regarding federal mandates, best practices and guidance
FDA's Guidance on Food Safety & the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

This document provides guidance for industry members and consumers on COVID-19 and food safety.

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