A Wisconsin grocery store is giving free bracelets to shoppers and employees to signal to others how comfortable they are interacting as the COVID-19 pandemic comes to a close.
Metcalfe’s in southeastern Wisconsin is offering red wristbands for individuals who want to have no contact with others, yellow for those okay with an elbow bump and green for people willing to share a hug or a high-five, according to WISN 12 News. Thus far, the store has seemingly gotten positive feedback from customers.
Store offers color-coded bracelets for shoppers to show comfort levels https://t.co/Kv8zOjUk6r
— WISN 12 NEWS (@WISN12News) June 17, 2021
“If nothing else, it will probably put a lot of other folks at ease,” customer Howard Ellis told WISN 12. (RELATED: Watch 7 Vaccinated World Leaders Meet On A Windy Beach In June And Awkwardly Bump Elbows Hello)
“I think it’s great. I like shaking hands and hugging, so I’m getting me a green,” said customer Melissa Thomas.
“As we continue to experience relaxed restrictions and updated recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention related to COVID — vaccines, face coverings, social distancing and so on — we realized there would be different comfort levels with these changes among our team members and shoppers,” said Metcalfe’s president and co-owner Tim Metcalfe.
“Everybody’s not ready to just open up, take their mask off and hug everybody,” another customer added.
The store is not requiring face coverings for vaccinated customers or employees. Unvaccinated shoppers and workers will have to continue wearing a mask, with the exception of children under age five or a medical condition making it difficult to wear one.