When we talk about people on the front lines of the virus, we typically think about nurses and doctors and other first responders coming into contact with ill patients on a daily basis.
But there is another group of people who are also on the front lines in many ways.
These are people working in our grocery stores and other stores like Walmart and Target.
These people are at risk of getting exposed to the virus on a daily basis as they come into contact with shoppers all day long. Considering how asymptomatic rates of the virus could be as high as 50%, it could be impossible for many of these employees to avoid contact with carriers.
And unfortunately we are starting to see the first deaths from different grocery stores and places like Walmart. Most recently, there were two deaths at the same Walmart in the Chicago area and we also have seen reports of deaths from other stores like a Trader Joe’s in New York.
Grocery stores are trying to implement some measures that will decrease the risks for their employees and for customers. For example, they are putting up sneeze guards at some cashier stations and also implementing new rules like one-way directions for shopping aisles.
I’ve also heard of others offering things like masks and gloves along with hand sanitizer.
But I think that we owe these people working in the stores a lot right now considering that they are allowing us to get our essential needs.
The stores are offering slight pay increases of a couple of bucks to many workers who are willing to join them temporarily.
But this is beginning to be a hard sell for many people who don’t feel like the wages are justified risking their health and potentially their life just to provide a temporary service.
I think what we can do as citizens is try to limit our trips to the grocery store and make sure that we are abiding by all of their rules. We don’t need to show up at the store with our entire family and we can also make sure that we are implementing social distancing, especially whenever it comes to the employees.
Also, if you have a mask/face covering then be sure to wear one.
Hopefully more measures can be put into place that will protect vulnerable employees at these shopping centers and grocery stores because they truly are putting themselves at risk.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.
How about the delivery people who are putting themselves at risk? We provide essential services and expose ourselves at both ends. but no one will let us use their bathrooms. Restaurants need us to deliver their food to stay alive, but refuse to let us use their bathrooms. Gas stations who are suffering business slow downs want us to buy their gas, but won’t let us use their bathrooms. Uber Doordash and Lyft do nothing to help solve the problem. They don’t even give us a means to complain about it.