SoBol Offering Curbside Pickup, Delivery, Amid Coronavirus

LONG ISLAND, NY — SoBol, a health food eatery specializing in acai bowls, smoothies, granola and soups, is one of many establishments across Long Island preparing orders for takeout, curbside pick-up and delivery as the country battles the spread of the new coronavirus.

"We want to keep our customers healthy and safe during this time and we are willing to take all precautions to do so," Angelina Perry, owner of the SoBol locations in Hauppauge and Ronkonkoma, told Patch.

New York State mandated all restaurants and bars to close down in-store service indefinitely as a method of combating the spread of COVID-19. Perry wants to encourage "distance socially, eat locally," and dispel the notions that establishments are closed altogether, or it's not safe to order from them.

"I think there is a lot of confusion and many people don't realize most of these restaurants are still open for take out and delivery options," Perry said. "Many restaurants are relying on this take out and delivery business to keep their businesses going during this pandemic. The risk of contracting COVID-19 from the food-service industry remains low. Members of the general public should not fear ordering from their favorite places during this time."

As of Wednesday, there is no evidence of food being associated with COVID-19 transmission, according to both the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Eater reported. The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before preparing or eating food.

"It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads," according to the CDC. "In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from food products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient, refrigerated, or frozen temperatures."

SoBol's Long Island locations include Babylon, Commack, East Meadow, Farmingdale, Hauppauge, Huntington Village, Islip, Long Beach, Manorville, Massapequa Park, Mastic Beach, Melville, Merrick, New Hyde Park, Oyster Bay, Patchogue, Rockville Centre, Ronkonkoma, Sayville, St. James, Syosset, Wantagh, Westhampton Beach and Jones Beach Field.