With distancing, sanitizing, and bans on groups, it would be interesting to discover what our grocery stores are doing to help, not only their customers but their employees. So many people not wearing gloves, people standing at checkout areas a mere 1 to 2 feet away. I hear coughs, sneezes, and what about those conveyor belts? Are they being sanitized between each customer? Are the checkers and baggers wearing new gloves before touching our purchases?

No telling who carriers are, as we might not know until the next day and traces are left everywhere… on cans, fruits, vegetables, wine bottles, plastic bags, paper bags. Hopefully people in the deli are not accidentally sneezing on food as they prepare those pre-packaged turkey slices, fresh sandwiches and salads. Hooray for their wearing of gloves! And the counter they work behind is a decent barrier.

But, some of us would rather hand a runner our list of groceries, have them get it, either let us bag or they can, then check us out… within distancing perimeters.

There are steps that can be taken to lessen the spread. I wipe down every item I buy, and my bagged groceries go in the trunk in a recyclable cardboard box. I use a second box to put wiped-down goods and take them into the house. I wipe down both sides of my receipt… I wear gloves in the store, and discard them after I’ve returned the cart.

Think about how many people have touched your grocery items and bags and everyone else’s that day. The problem is getting access to those sanitizing wipes, or the solution is management’s decision to get creative in better ways to keep the spread contained in the confines of their business.

Mel Skye

Enumclaw