Instacart to offer free COVID-19 screenings to shoppers

Dive Brief:

Instacart will offer its shoppers access to free COVID-19 screenings and virtual medical consultations through a partnership with Doctor on Demand, the company announced in a press release.
Any Instacart shopper who thinks they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 can take an online assessment through Doctor on Demand to determine if they need more medical attention. From there, they can schedule a free telemedicine appointment to evaluate whether they need a test or not.
Instacart first piloted its partnership with Doctor on Demand earlier this summer in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. The program will run through the end of the year.

Dive Insight:

Instacart caught some pushback from its contract workers early in the pandemic, but its latest effort is a reminder that the company has made progress in offering health and safety initiatives for its shoppers and customers throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

The company said it wants to ensure its contract workers have access to healthcare as they continue to serve an essential role during the pandemic. Through Doctor on Demand, Instacart says it's able to offer a quick, cost-effective option for its personal shoppers.

Consistent with Instacart’s policies throughout most of COVID-19, any shopper who is diagnosed with the illness will be eligible to receive up to 14 days of extended pay.

Instacart also said it will begin asking all shoppers to wear face masks in stores and when they interact with customers, and requests that customers do the same as an increased safety measure. The reminder will show up in consumers' Instacart apps. Although masks are widely mandated in large grocery stores like Albertsons and Kroger, Instacart also works with independent retailers who may not have the same corporate policies in place.

To make sure workers who need masks have one, the company has been distributing free kits with washable masks and hand sanitizer. To date, Instacart has sent out nearly 450,000 of the kits. Shoppers can still request a kit even if they’ve received one already.