Grocery Shopping In Westwood In The Time Of COVID-19

Note: This is only my experience. I have no incentive to go to the places I mentioned in the story.

On Friday morning, I went out to stop by the bank and go grocery shopping. In this time of physical distancing, here is what that was like. I used my card to let me in to use the ATM at Rockland Trust. I made my deposit in the ATM area—the rest of the branch was walled off with its security grill.

Next stop: Wegmans. I started entering in the left entrance after I mailed a letter in their mailbox. The Wegmans’ employee who was at that door politely advised me to go to the right-hand door. Once there, I joined a line of about a half-dozen people who were biding their time and waiting to go into the store. Signs reminded us to distance ourselves “one cart length apart” from each otherm an easy reference for the recommended six feet.

I wore a bandana over my nose and mouth. A healthcare professional friend of my mother’s recommended it, although official opinion on whether it is helpful seems to be mixed. The bandana did stop me from touching my face. About three-fourths of the shoppers who I saw wore a surgical mask, an N95 mask, or a makeshift mouth covering.

I had left my usual reusable bags at home. When we entered the store, wipes were available for us to wipe down our carts (I also had a small bottle of hand sanitizer in my pocket, which I used liberally). A Wegmans’ security guard as well as a member of the Westwood Police Department waited with us. Once one shopper exited, another would be permitted to enter.

In the store, shoppers were respectful of physical distancing. Workers were filling shelves constantly, but there were many empty shelves. I was able to get most items on my list. Flour, boxed macaroni and cheese, toilet paper, paper towels, and eggs all had posted item limits. There were no disinfectant wipes or spray disinfectants on the shelves.

Every Wegmans employee who I interacted with was cheerful and helpful. Checking out involved getting into a roped-off line, then an employee told each shopper which cash register to go to for check out. A new plexiglass window is between the cashier and the shopper. I did not see any workers wearing masks or gloves, although Wegmans’ corporate office says that they may. My groceries were bagged in usual Wegmans plastic bags and my wine bottles were placed in a paper bag, which was then put in a plastic bag.

Although physical distancing makes routine, essential household errand-running slightly more complex, it is doable. As always, people being considerate goes a long way.