Shoppers think COVID precautions aren’t enough

EDDYSTONE » Shoppers at Walmart and Target in Vermont and Michigan, among other states, are infuriated by state bans on the sale of nonessential goods, yet another effort to limit the spread of COVID-19.

That, according to Business Insider.

Typically, it doesn’t take long for Pennsylvania legislators to jump on the bandwagon and add similar policies to a growing list of emergency orders aimed at keeping citizens safe.

Judging by input from Delaware County shoppers, the superstores could get away with implementing rules which would effectively cut off sales of toys, electronics and clothes and such.

Moreover, most of the Delco residents interviewed Wednesday at the Walmart on Chester Pike in Eddystone and the Target at Baltimore Pike and Woodland Avenue in Springfield felt the current restrictions don’t go far enough. Some of purchased what could be deemed nonessential products.

“I think it would be a good idea,” Helynn Garnett, a resident of Chester said at the Walmart said of limiting sales to essential goods. “At this point a lot of people have a tendency just to come to the store to get out of the house. And I understand that because you’re spending so much time at home. Things like unnecessary clothing and furniture, we don’t need that right now. And more people shopping make it more difficult for people who actually have to come out and get essentials, get into the store. They have longer wait times. I can understand it.”

Based on square footage, the Walmart megastore in Eddystone can accommodate up to 700 shoppers under the state emergency measures.

The Target on the Golden Mile in Springfield allows up to 350 shoppers.

Both stores have personnel count the patrons entering and exiting. Both encourage hand sanitizing, mask and social distancing guidelines.

Thomas Hoy and John Heller, both of Ridley Park, had a suggestion for not only the big-box stores like Target, where they shopped Wednesday, but all establishments open to the public.

“I think they need to be more strict,” Heller said. “You see people walking around without a mask on. They shouldn’t be allowed in the store. My opinion is they shouldn’t let you in the store if you don’t have a mask on. As far as the products, if you don’t need it to survive, why should it be available? This virus is bigger than people thought. I thought it was a joke at first. I don’t now.”

Hoy believes that fewer people shopping, whether it’s for essential or nonessential products is a good thing. Like Garnett, he figures there are people walking the stores unnecessarily. Banning sales of nonessential goods by blocking off the aisles or such eventually would cut down on browsing

“It should be that way right now just to keep people home,” Hoy said. “You have the doctors telling you, mid-May it will be better but there’s a tsunami of cases coming. Hopefully the precautions are taken, and this blows over.”

Clifton Heights resident Mike Hanahan, among other shoppers, wouldn’t object to Target limiting purchases to essential goods although he also concedes his purchases are essentials.

“If that’s what they’ve got to do it, doesn’t matter to me,” Hanahan said. “Everybody has got to pull together. Everybody needs the essentials. Some bottled water, protein shakes. The nonessentials, it doesn’t matter to me.”

Stephanie Pavese of Folcroft is aware of the big-box stores trending toward offering only the essentials, if you will. The Target shopper is concerned about the way different products are defined.

“What could be essential to one person might not be essential to another person,” Pavese

said. “I don’t know what the answer is. It all stinks. I think we all would survive whatever they do. But I’ve been working from home since the 12th of March. So, I’m starting to get a little antsy.”

While Pavese shops for nonessential items for her family online, there are families that don’t have that ability.

Then there’s Jon Litwin of Ridley Park, who doesn’t like the “cattle chutes” formed for customers to

walk through at superstores like the Walmart.

“It’s hard to trust what anybody is telling us right now,” Litwin said outside the Walmart. “I understand (the virus is) hitting the elderly and people that already have issues and things. I don’t see it hitting or hear about it hitting anybody that’s healthy. So, keep your distance, stay put. Shopping for essentials, that’s fine. But there’s graduations, there’s other things that are coming up. People need to be happy right now. Everybody is scared.”

The protective masks, on the other hand, have at least

made shoppers feel safer. Walmart customer Rosie Doyle, who resides in Chester, thinks the masks not only help limit the spread of the virus but alleviate fear in people who have to be out and about.

“If they passed the masks out nobody can say they didn’t have it,” said Doyle, who would like to see masks as easily obtained as hand sanitizers.

Garnett would appreciate more mask-awareness for people who may not be seeing the big picture when it comes to wearing the protective gear.

“What I’ve seen is that some people haven’t taken

the care to protect themselves properly,” Garnett said. “If it’s not mandatory, you’re putting everybody at risk. It’s not just about you. It’s about your neighbors, the elderly person in the store, the child whose mom may not have day care, so she has to bring her children with her. What choice does she have? She’s putting herself at risk just to get some essentials. So absolutely it should be mandatory.”

Garnett’s mother Jacqueline smiled and nodded yes.

“If this virus is everything they say it is,” Jacqueline said, “then why not wear one?”