Covetiquette: Navigating the grocery store

KUOW has reached out to its audience, staff, and a few knowledgeable experts about common concerns, questions, and pet peeves that have emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In other words: How can we all practice good covetiquette? Because these days, it's not just about having good manners. It's about being safe and even saving lives.

Over the past few episodes, one particular place has commonly come up whether it’s talking about kids or talking about masks. So this week, we take a trip through the grocery store.

To tackle this issue we have reached out to some of Western Washington’s grocery stores, namely QFC, Albertsons, and Safeway.

WHY ARE YOU SO CLOSE TO ME IN LINE?

Yes, that was originally written in all caps.

This not only relates to a common concern at grocery stores, but something we’ve previously talked about on Covetiquette – speaking to other people at the store.

We are still supposed to stay 6 feet apart from each other in the store and elsewhere. So if someone is perusing apples, you just have to wait, 6 feet away, until they move on.

Not everyone is comfortable with the interaction of telling people they need more space. So you might have to play this by ear, especially since there have been negative confrontations around this issue. And some stores are wary about creating negative situations. Ultimately, be safe.

• Dr. Paul Pottinger with UW Medicine told me that one approach could be to tell others in line that you are trying to make sure you don’t get them sick.
• Personally, I put it on me and say something like, “Hey guys, I’m trying to keep my 6 feet, for safety.” And that seems to go over fine. At least, it goes over fine in a Seattle way – I'm assuming that after they leave the store they immediately go and silently rant about it to a friend or post something on Twitter.
• When I spoke with the folks over at QFC, and they said,“We support kind and friendly reminders to anyone forgetting to keep a 6 foot distance between others.” So they got your back as along as everyone is kind and friendly, not “Hey jerk, back off!”
• And finally, there is the option of being the bigger person and asking them if they would like to go ahead of you. Let them move along in front, so the rest of us can be responsible.

If you touch it, you buy it.

I’m going to admit something – I've said this. And I’ve said this knowing it is not a standard that anyone can strictly adhere do. I mean, you got to make sure you’re getting a good avocado.

In reality, if you touch it, you don't have to buy it. There are a few reasons why.

A Safeway/Albertsons spokesperson told KUOW: "Based on information from local health departments, this is not a necessary rule. The health departments never advised retailers that there was any risk of the virus spreading via product packaging, and in fact the CDC just reported that they now have evidence that the virus 'does not spread easily' from contaminated surfaces."

The CDC recently updated its own website on how the virus spreads. And while it is possible for it to spread via a person touching a surface and then their face, this is not the primary way it is spreading. The main way the coronavirus is getting around is ... us. It's people hanging around each other -- coughing, talking singing, sneezing.

And if you are doing what you should be in the first place -- washing your hands, using sanitizer, and not touching your face -- this is a minor issue.

• The folks over at Safeway and Albertsons also told me one little trick if you are still concerned about this. Use one of the plastic bags they have around the produce area to touch food items.

WHY won't people follow the one-way signs in aisles? WHY?????

I certainly have walked through a few aisles before I noticed the arrows under my feet. We’re all gonna have to have some patience on this. Eventually, folks will catch on, especially if they keep exiting an aisle only to see our faces staring at them, waiting patiently.

I think of it this way. Grocery stores have changed their operations a lot for this crisis. There are special shopping times for older people and people with compromised immune systems. Mandatory checks on staff. There are new sanitation schedules.

Following the arrows down the aisles (and also wearing masks, staying 6 feet apart) is what we can do to contribute. It seems minor, but this is our part of the battle.

One QFC spokesperson said "We are noticing some changes in customer behavior. Sadly, but importantly, customers are avoiding each other. Gone are the days of stopping to chat to a neighbor in the aisle of the grocery store. Our goal is to get the customer in and out of the store as quick as possible. We are pleased to notice customers wearing masks and following social distance guidelines."

One final thought

This is not from any industry officials -- this is just from me. There are always going to be bad apples.

There are going to be people who won’t wear a mask when they could, or stay far enough apart, or flout common sense during a pandemic.

Personally, I don’t let them ruin my day. You shouldn't either. If they aren’t wearing a mask, stay away from them. If they are not staying 6 feet away, make sure that you are. Treat them like the plague, because ... well ...

We can debate how right or wrong all this is later. I’m coming at this from the perspective of staying safe and healthy. And I'm more concerned with getting us all to the other side of this. And just as with other crises our community, our country, or this planet has faced, it's going to take good people being extra good, and responsible. Even if there are some people who aren’t.