Another grocery trip yesterday.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

I scheduled a pickup this time, instead of walking inside that store like I did a couple weeks ago.

Once again, like last time. I saw NOBODY entering or leaving that Kroger store who was wearing a mask. (I observed them while waiting for the groceries to be brought to my car.)

The young guy who brought the groceries (ordered and paid through the Kroger app) was very nice, putting the groceries in the trunk after I popped it open. He wasn’t wearing a mask either, though, and looked surprised to see my mask when he gave me the receipt through the open car window.

I was curious if I’d see more masks THIS time, but nope! (Other Ohioans here at DU had shared their grocery experiences in the meantime, writing about the many mask-wearers THEY saw.)

That particular store is close to an area where I saw lots of Trump signs in 2016, so maybe that helps explain it.

[sarcasmo]

1. Same thing in my smallish Wisconsin town. No workers or shoppers wearing masks.

I go an hour before closing.

[ProfessorGAC]

39. Different Here

Small town too, but not in the middle of nowhere. 60 miles from downtown Chicago.
Most staff at stores & gas stations are masked. Probably greater than 80%.
As to patrons, probably 50%. Maybe more like 2 in 5. No worse than that, though.

[sarcasmo]

40. I pay for delivery twice a month so I can stay out of the store.

[ProfessorGAC]

42. No Such Luck Here

No stores, absent the pizza joints that always did, are offering delivery.

[Ferrets are Cool]

2. We have begun doing something I never, ever thought we would do...

having our groceries delivered. So bourgeoisie.

[dewsgirl]

7. We started this last week, it was great.

[Ferrets are Cool]

11. The only thing that bothers me is that my wife

is now addicted to spending money online.

[ellie]

3. Here in Colorado,

Gov. Polis issued an executive order saying that grocery store workers must wear masks. I work at King Soopers and we are issued masks at the start of our shift.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

5. That should be done here too!

I’ve given Gov. DeWine some props for the early stay-at-home orders, but I don’t think it’s sufficient.

[eleny]

19. I did a pickup the other day at Lakewood Soopers on Quail St. and the fella wore a mask

No gloves. So I hope that comes soon for all your safety.

I can't express enough appreciation for you.

[ellie]

35. Thank you!

We do wear gloves in my department, the deli, but I don't think there is a mandate for others who are not handling food to wear gloves.

[eleny]

36. I was thinking about those deli gloves just yesterday

So glad that they haven't disappeared from suppliers!

[Corgigal]

4. Same thing here,

the grocery store was Kroger, and no one was wearing any PPE.

However, went to pick up at Walmart yesterday, they had masks and gloves.

[Ohiogal]

6. NE Ohio here

A visit to Walmart last Monday... more mask wearers than non mask wearers. By far. In fact the non mask wearers stuck out (at least to me) looking like idiots.

Mr. O went to small hardware store. Not a mask to be seen anywhere on the dozen or so customers in the store.

My son, who works in a grocery store, says the store requires the workers to wear masks, now, and Giant Eagle (one of their competitors) does the same.

Kroger had better get with it!

I have a feeling Gov. DeWine and Dr. Acton are going to issue an order soon for all people in stores to wear masks, both customers and workers. Just watch the Trumpers’ heads explode!

[Buckeye_Democrat]

10. Opposite corner for me... SW Ohio.

I hope you’re right that it becomes a requirement.

Any kind of covering is better than nothing!

[demmiblue]

8. I shop at Kroger, but I am in Michigan.

The last time I went, I would say that 90+% were wearing masks. Many people weren't following the one-way aisle guidelines, though.

I was happy to score some frozen corn... our frozen veg aisle has been decimated and I don't do canned (except beans/tomatoes).

[MrsMatt]

9. Went to two this morning.

Mixed bag of compliance.

The Co-op was better in terms of staff/shoppers wearing masks and gloves, observing social distancing. The independent family owned store (local chain of four stores) had some staff with masks/no gloves or gloves/no masks, very few with both.

[Tipperary]

12. Why would you go to two stores?

That is just about as bad as not wearing a mask.

[MrsMatt]

26. Co-Op didn't have a few things I needed

FWIW, I was masked and gloved. And wiped down with Lysol wipes between stores.

Thank you for your concern.

[Tipperary]

41. Lol.

Continue to expose yourself and others.

People seem to think that somehow they are above these lockdowns. Obviously not just the rethugs.

[MrsMatt]

43. Key word "needed"

as opposed to "wanted"

Needed was a commonly carried item at the first store. They didn't have it.

Hope the next time you NEED something it's in the first store you visit.

[Politicub]

13. I picked up takeout for the first time since we starting hunkering down. I wish I had not.

I've been leery of picking up food because I don't know how much people in the kitchen are minimizing risk. But I wanted to support a local place, and thought I would give their curbside pickup a spin. I was also tired of cooking every night.

The person who came out was not wearing a mask, and he took my credit card to insert into a portable payment device. He left the device with me so I could finish approving the transaction and signing my name. I had sanitizing wipes with me, so I careful wiped down my hands and credit card after I handed him back the machine. I couldn't believe he wasn't wearing a mask. Who knows if the people in the kitchen were wearing masks or practicing proper hygiene practices?

We ended up eating the food, but I'm to going to try takeout again. There were too many vectors for infection and I am already nervous about taking the risk last night.

Your safety is only as strong as the weakest link in the chain.

[matt819]

14. I've cut back on my grocery trips.

Previously, I'd go every day or everything other day since we're pretty good at sticking to fresh foods. Now I'm down to 2-3 times per week. At the two chain groceries, masks and gloves are in the majority, easily 60% more more. And one of the stores is restricting the number of shoppers (and shopping is almost a pleasure). Still annoyed by the shoppers with "plus-ones." How difficult is it to leave the spouse in the car? You're taking up another shopper's slot, and you're just in the way.

In the local food co-op, masks and gloves are close to 100%.

There are more cars parked on the street, though there has been no obvious change in store openings. And there are more cars at my office building, though it's still pretty quiet in here.

This is in SW New Hampshire.

[OKNancy]

15. I go to the Walmart pickup near my house

I've been doing pickup since I had knee surgery and got spoiled and kept doing it.
I go at the special hour for old folks.
They all had masks and gloves. They sign for you know so there is no contact.
My last trip yesterday was super exciting.. LOL I got toilet paper.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

16. Congrats for the TP!

And the more safety-conscious there.

I came across a couple giant bundles of TP sitting on a skid (near the Kroger deli of all places) around the time the “lockdown” started here, and bought one. Still have plenty of it.

Probably TMI, but my stools have been solid and “clean” every day since I left my job, so I haven’t needed to use much of it.

I’m probably just less-stressed now, but I sometimes wonder if droplets from coworkers caused me more problems in the past. My diet hasn’t really changed, and the restrooms in that place showed that many of those coworkers had some major intestinal issues. Lol.

[Marrah_Goodman]

17. In RI it is mandatory for workers and customers to wear masks now

I hope other states will follow.

[Ms. Toad]

18. When I ventured out about a week ago I saw between 15% and 25%.

Not nearly as many as I should have.

[marlakay]

20. I live in a conservative city in a blue state

So I have noticed if either my husband or I go to Trader Joe’s or Costco or a organic store totally following rules masks, etc but Safeway and other stores not. Walmart just started having a few rules but people going in not wearing any same with Lowes that does very little.

My pizza take out started by letting people in the small waiting area or curbside but is curbside only now.

People are very very restless around here as most watch Fox and I see very mean things on FB everytime my governor from Oregon posts from the republicans. A old neighbor guy I really like but we don’t talk politics is angry he can’t have his friends over for his weekly pool game.

I put off going to my small neighborhood pharmacy for over a month until I can pick up all 3 for us. When I went a month ago they still let you inside. She told me today I have to call when I get there.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

21. Yeah, there seems to be "pockets" of conservatives...

... almost everywhere.

I might try another store next time. It’s farther away, but it’s in a more liberal area near me.

[marlakay]

22. Obviously the difference is the liberal

Store owners believe in science or at least are aware their customers do!

[cwydro]

29. I live in a very red county.

I’m seeing a lot of mask wearing, also gloves.

I don’t go out to the store nearly as much as other DUers seem to, but I pass stores on my way to take my dogs out - I even see drivers with masks on in their cars.

[marlakay]

37. Well that explains the high ratings

Of people that say no matter what not going out yet.

[cwydro]

38. Not sure I understood your post.

But I agree, it’s not good to go out unless necessary.

[luvs2sing]

23. At a Kroger in Columbus this morning.

Almost all customers were wearing masks, and almost all female store employees. Most of the male employees were not wearing masks and were not doing a good job at social distancing. I’m a senior, but showed up at the end of senior hour and pretty much had the store to myself. I also found TP, paper towels, and a small selection of cleaning supplies. For the first time since the end of February, I was able to shop leisurely AND get everything on my list.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

32. Ugh, the males not wearing masks.

They have to act “tough” about it, I’m guessing.

I’m a guy too, but I’m obviously not going to “beat up” or intimidate a virus. Lol.

[Liberal In Texas]

24. Depends on the store here.

All the Whole Foods employees are now wearing masks. The customers not so much. Other chain stores about half the employees bringing orders out wear masks.

I haven't been in a grocery store since March 15. In doing curb-sides I pull up to the on-line order sign, call the phone number or open the app and after letting them know I'm there I pop the rear hatch and get back into the front. I put my mask on.

After they drop off the food in the back I ask them to put the receipt there too so we don't have to get near each other.

When I get home we go through the order with gloves and wipes and note what we didn't get and what we got that was substituted from what we actually wanted. (Doesn't matter if you check the "no substitutions" box. Ah well.) We are quite appreciative of these employees and try to either tip or tip extra for curb-side and delivery.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

25. Sounds like what I did except...

... I was surprised by the receipt and took it through the window. (Edit: I had put on the mask thinking that I might have to interact with the employee in some way, but didn’t really know the procedures. I’ll request the receipt in the trunk next time. Thanks!)

Put it on the passenger floor (where it still sits) and used hand sanitizer after touching it.

[Baltimike]

27. EVERYONE is wearing masks in Baltimore County Maryland. EVERYONE

it feels so much safer as a result.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

28. I'm jelly!

Glad that some communities are being responsible!

[Baltimike]

31. Our republican governor issued a state wide order

Hogan has done a good job, and he isn't kowtowing to Twitler at all. Before then, Anne Arundel County, to my south had a county wide order, so I would drive there for shopping.

I am still careful. Still social distancing when I can (it's IMPOSSIBLE in a grocery store and I shop for my elderly mother and special needs nephew) but it just FEELS better, and lots of the Mom and Pop shops now have masks and gloves for sale.

[shanti]

30. I had an Instacart delivery

from Costco on Monday. Two women arrived with my order, huffing and puffing and NO masks for either of them. One of them was around my age too (64)! I was very surprised at the no masks, and I'm in a red zone (971/36).

[Demsrule86]

33. I live in Cleveland and I see many masks ...where is there a Kroger?

I like Kroger but have seen no Kroger here.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

34. It appears that NE Ohio is acting more responsibly.

There’s lots of Kroger stores around SW Ohio.