One year after surviving the Coronavirus pandemic, the restrictive public health recommendations are now our way of life. Even though they’re important in eradicating the pandemic, they pose a big challenge when it comes to shopping. No one could have predicted this situation, but we have to rise to the challenge and adhere to these regulations to curb the virus.
Grocery shopping has been disrupted tremendously especially now that we have to be indoors for prolonged periods. While most stores have implemented new store hours to cater to important needs, home delivery still remains the most viable alternative.
Delivery companies have partnered with thousands of independent and licensed drivers to help with delivery, factoring timelines that favor customer’s needs. This helps you to avoid the travail of going to the grocery store every time you need something. But just how safe is it to order groceries during this pandemic? Let’s find out.
Why it is necessary
During these pandemic times, it is extremely important to minimize contact with other people or surfaces. Most of us prefer to shop the traditional way, which means that we pick visiting the grocery store to get the necessary items over making orders online. However, you will find it very risky to visit grocery stores at this time due to the pandemic.
It is extremely arduous to discern an infected person and neither can you notice viruses on surfaces. Contact at the grocery store is inevitable. Most groceries that you need require touching to determine the quality. You never know how many hands have been in contact with the item that you are holding and more so their health condition.
Coronavirus is highly contagious. Simple contact with an infected surface means direct infection. It is, therefore, necessary to take up grocery delivery services. According to BigCommerce, more the 100 million people in the UK are yet to embrace grocery delivery. Delivery is easier because you can just stay at home and let the delivery team do the work for you. You can have all you need when you need it, at your doorstep, worry-free.
Time efficiency
Grocery delivery will undoubtedly save you time. You can get your delivery done in the shortest time possible. Beelivery gets your groceries delivered to you within 15-60 minutes of ordering. Save yourself the drudgery of standing in long lines or toting around big grocery bags.
Any commodity you would like delivered is now at the convenience of your phone. Spend more time at home with family or working instead of taking a lot of time to go grocery shopping.
Can Covid be spread by grocery packaging?
The Food Standards Agency stresses that the risk of contracting Covid from food is low. Covid-19 is a respiratory illness – it is mainly spread by droplets of fluid that come out of an infected person’s nose and mouth, which can then be breathed in by people nearby. Coming in contact with these fluids will increase your chances of getting infected.
Reputable chains and good grocery stores have professional, hygienic food packaging. This means there’s minimal risk from fresh delivery packaging.
Most delivery groups issue strict guidelines as to how riders and drivers can make deliveries safely, sometimes without even touching the packaging.
If you consider yourself exposed to the virus, you can take the following measures
- Wash your hands intensively with soap and water after receiving the delivery
- Clean the grocery with clean, running water, especially fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw
- Ensure you get rid of the packaging properly.
Precautions that Grocery pick-up and Delivery Drivers should Take
As we already know, Covid is highly infectious. Delivery drivers and riders are at a high risk of contracting the virus. They constantly come in close contact with the seller, buyer, and the groceries. Potential sources of exposure include having close contact with individuals with Covid when picking up or delivering groceries. Touching surfaces touched or handled by an infected person also puts drivers at risk of getting infected.
Due to this, CDC provides various regulations for drivers and riders to adhere to in order to guarantee you safe delivery of your grocery.
Stay at home if you feel ill
Most of the virus’ symptoms match the symptoms of other diseases. It is therefore confusing to determine if you are infected by the virus without testing.
If you are experiencing a fever, cough, or breathing difficulties, call your healthcare provider and get checked. CDC outlines the criteria to discontinue home isolation. These criteria must be met before you are deemed fit to return to work.
Wear a face covering
As a driver or rider, it is important to wear face coverings, preferably cloth, when in public settings where it is hard to maintain social distance. These coverings help to reduce the transmission of the virus by people who are oblivious of the infection.
Limit contact
Avoid contact with individuals when picking up groceries. Practice contactless deliveries to the greatest extent possible. Practice leaving the delivery on the doorstep and then stepping back to complete verifying receipt of the delivery while keeping distance.
Practice everyday preventive measures
Some common practices that drivers and riders should embrace when doing deliveries are;
- Avoid touching your eyes, ears, and nose.
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Carry tissues in your vehicle. Use them when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of them in the trash afterward.
- Have a spray sanitizer to disinfect areas inside the vehicle that you touch most of the time.
Role of the Delivery Company
The delivery company also has a part to play in ensuring that your grocery order is delivered safely. The company should develop and share a set of Covid health and safety measures, as advised by the Food and Drug Administration.These are meant to educate and help protect delivery drivers and their customers. Some of these measures include:
- Actively encouraging sick drivers and riders to stay at home. They could be a risk to other workers and customers.
- Encourage the use of and help drivers to access hand sanitizers and disposable wipes. Drivers should wipe down frequently touched surfaces.
- Provide drivers and customers with accurate information about Covid and how it spreads.
- Develop policies and technology options that prioritize contactless deliveries. Some of these practices are no-knock, no-signature, and electronic credit card transactions.
With everyone in the industry actively playing their role, it is okay to conclude that grocery deliveries are safe during these pandemic times. Stay home, stay safe, and save that time that you would use to go grocery shopping. As long as it remains safe, grocery delivery could be beneficial during and after the pandemic.