For much of last summer, my partner and I dedicated our Saturdays to grocery shopping. We’d leave the kids at home with our eldest in charge and hit the stores—grocery store, Costco, Target—you name it—to gather supplies for our family of five. We donned masks, maintained social distance, scrubbed our hands before and after each visit, and aimed to keep our trips brief, all in hopes of minimizing our COVID-19 risk. This was essentially our only outing each week, and we believed we were doing our part to curb the virus by limiting our excursions to once weekly and focusing solely on essentials.
However, everything changed in late October when my partner was hospitalized for septic shock. Upon returning home, she was suddenly at high risk for COVID-19 complications. Our grocery runs swiftly transitioned to curbside pickups or home deliveries. Health experts now advise that anyone who can should adopt similar practices, especially in light of the new COVID-19 variant.
Dr. Tom Friedman, former director of the CDC, tweeted about grocery shopping, suggesting, “Minimize time spent indoors around others. Shopping for five minutes is significantly safer—six times better—than spending 30 minutes there. Opt for curbside pickup or grocery delivery if possible.” This guidance is especially pertinent regarding the B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the UK, which has spread to 50 countries.
The primary concern with this variant isn’t increased lethality; rather, it is its heightened transmissibility. According to a VOX article, it is at least 50% more contagious. Harvard epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch noted, “In less than two weeks, you could see double the cases. In a month, it might be four or five times as many.” Thus, spending time in grocery stores during this pandemic raises the risk of contracting the virus.
Take Southern California as an example. NBC4 reported 146 outbreaks at supermarkets in LA County and Orange County last month alone. It’s unclear whether these outbreaks involved the new variant, but the implications of a strain that is 50% more contagious could be alarming.
The real challenge lies in controlling the virus’s spread before it mutates further. A recent article in Science Magazine noted that the B.1.1.7 variant has not shown resistance to COVID-19 vaccines yet. Philip Krause, a WHO vaccine expert, warned, “The not-so-good news is the rapid evolution of these variants suggests that if the virus can evolve into a vaccine-resistant form, it may occur sooner than we’d like.” Each new infection gives the virus more chances to replicate and mutate, which is how variants like B.1.1.7 emerged in the first place.
This situation is concerning for families and grocery store employees alike. Marisela Rivera, a produce worker at a local grocery store, shared her anxiety about the risks she faces daily. Fortunately, many grocery stores offer curbside pickup, which my partner and I have utilized for months now. It’s convenient, often without added costs, provided you spend at least $35. Additionally, many stores deliver groceries straight to your home. If those options aren’t available, you should follow Dr. Frieden’s advice to make your shopping trips as streamlined as possible. Enter with a pre-planned list, maintain social distancing, and wear a well-fitted mask.
Our overarching goal is to reduce the number of people in grocery stores. By utilizing curbside services, we not only protect ourselves but also the employees, decreasing their exposure. Surprisingly, our shopping time has halved since switching to curbside pickup. Adjusting to this change can be challenging, but if something as simple as curbside pickup can save lives, it’s definitely worth it.
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In summary, with the ongoing threat of COVID-19 and more contagious variants, it’s essential to adopt safer shopping practices, such as curbside pickup or delivery, whenever possible. These options not only protect shoppers but also safeguard grocery store employees from potential exposure, making them a valuable choice in these challenging times.