Today is the first day of the health order ( https://www.sccgov.org/sites/phd/DiseaseInformation/novel-coronavirus/Pages/order-health-officer-031620.aspx ) telling us to stay home except for essential activity. Getting groceries is considered an essential activity. The order recommends, but does not require, persons (such as myself and my wife) who are over 65 to stay home, period.
My wife and I usually walk every morning to get the newspaper. We knew there would be no newspaper today, but we had a letter that needs to be mailed. So I decided we’d walk to the mailbox at Piazza’s to mail the letter. If Piazza’s didn’t look crowded we’d go in.
When we got to Piazza’s it didn’t look too crowded so we sent in. It was probably more crowded than it usually is this early in the morning (roughly 8:45 am) but it didn’t seem too bad. Inside we found some shoppers (including ourselves) would keep the recommended distance of six feet. Others would not. While waiting at the butcher counter we had to move several times to dodge people who came right us to us to look at some particular meat behind the counter.
In general the shelves were anywhere from full to empty. Paper products were mostly empty. The only pasta available was gluten-free macaroni. Other shelves were full: the produce section was well stocked. I would say on average the shelves were half empty.
We found the three items my wife wanted to buy and went to check out. The guy behind me insisted on coming up right behind me. I asked him to move back six feet. He said “ok” but he didn’t move. I became increasingly more insistent with the same result. I finally threatened to summon the store manager and he moved back.
This was not a good experience, and I’m sorry I went. From now on, as long as we are so advised by health officials, I’m not planning to go out in any public place. I will rely on food-delivery services, and the kindness of my neighbors and family. Recreational walking is allowed if one avoids other people and I certainly plan to do that. Ditto for biking which is inferentially allowed. But no more shopping for me until this blows over. It was a bummer.
First, I didn’t stick to my statement that we wouldn’t go out in public. My plan had been to use delivery services, but they were mostly broken.
Second, we haven’t gone in Piazza’s since, but our neighbors have and they say it’s must better now.