How do you feel when you see others not wearing a masks or gloves?

Unfortunately, in most areas this is not mandatory. If not mandatory it is difficult for an employer to mandate that it be done. The mask protects others from YOU, not YOU from others. Do know that virus can pass through any mask other than an N95. We don't have supplies even for medical personnel in our country now. So unlikely we would have them for people even if they DID wish to wear them. Do shop where you find those protecting you from themselves the best, and do so infrequently.

We have a large grocery chain here in Cleveland/Akron Ohio, Giant Eagle. I was there this week and noticed very few of the employees wearing masks although all were wearing gloves. There are plexiglass shields by the cash registers and marks of the floors for distancing. I’m constantly getting emails from the store chain saying how proactive they’re being with cleaning and sanitizing. But the truth is, our governor has not declared martial law regarding wearing masks wherein our streets and stores will be patrolled by military forces who will arrest people who don’t comply. You cannot force people to wear masks or gloves unless our governor does issue a mandate saying people will be warned first and then fined for not complying. I understand your point, but I wonder how the stores would control customers or juvenile delinquents who come in and cough all over the food. I sanitize all my food when I bring it home. I don’t like counting on other people to do the right thing.

I should name and shame, Need. Outrageous!

Rouse’s, amirite?

Most of those cute homemade masks are NOT effective; a FRESH N-95 is the only type of nose/mouth mask that really offers protection. As for gloves, unless the user is changing them frequently in the correct manner, they are pretty useless, and offer a false sense of security while spreading germs from one surface to another. I agree with the Whole Foods manager. If you want to shop somewhere else and feel better about that, then go for it.

Igloo,

Rouses said that it wasn’t a corporate decision, so they are letting employees decide if they want to wear them. They don’t care that John Bel Edwards has asked all of us to wear masks.

The Fresh Market is wearing masks, as is Whole Foods. I know my friend that lives in Metairie told me Trader Joe’s and Dorinac had issues and even closed for cleaning. I think they even had employees test positive for Covid. It’s a shame.

I know that Rouses are all over now. They put one in Baton Rouge. My daughter is at her last year at LSU and she said Rouses opened a store in Baton Rouge. She shops all over, Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Trader Joe’s, Winn Dixie and Walmart.

Joy,

Are you spending a lot of time sanitizing food and packages? We are.

Yeah, it’s unnerving to think about. My husband is wiping down everything!

He literally wipes everything that he touched too. You know, steering wheel, shift on car, radio knobs, car handle and door knobs, etc.

It doesn’t bother me because of the people I see wearing masks aren’t even wearing them right. I see adults with their nose exposed and children wearing masks that constantly slip down and they pull it up after touching everything in sight. And most people here don’t know the first thing about cross contamination so the gloves are create more of a problem than anything and stores here are starting to tell people not to use them. Because people aren’t changing them when they should do. And our number of COVID cases have been steadily rising despite more and more people wearing masks. We have 119 confirmed cases but the real number is higher because they aren’t testing people.

And if governors want to force everyone to wear masks then they need to get off their asses and secure a supply of masks for their people. It can be done if they try hard enough. I can’t stand our governor but he’s been able to find supplies despite the shortages. There’s a group of CITIZENS in my county that have been able to acquire 200,000 masks to distribute through out the community.

I've said on another thread my mask is not to protect me, it's to protect you from me - I'd personally be much happier if everyone was wearing something when I have to go to public places like the grocery store. As for gloves, they are basically useless in the ways they are being used, better to have hospital/clinic style hands free sanitizer stations at entrances and exits.

We can only control what WE do, as human beings. Our local grocery store does not force their employees to wear masks or gloves either. In reality, have you ever worn a mask for any great length of time? To say it's uncomfortable is a gross understatement. In fact, my daughter is a front line nurse in a big downtown Denver hospital which is finally supplied with N-95 masks which were not available in the regular COVID units (just ICU) prior to this week. These masks create SUCH issues on these poor people's faces, you just have no idea. Their noses are bleeding, literally.......their skin is chafed and peeling off, bruises are all over the place, the list is endless. The masks are fit to each person's face, and they are fit to be SO tight, that's what causes the main issues.

Here is a link with some selfies taken by medical staff on this very subject:

https://time.com/5807918/health-care-workers-selfies-coronavirus-covid-19/

When my DH goes to the store, HE wears a mask and gloves, which is all HE can do right now. When he gets home, he unloads the groceries onto the floor in the hallway, strips and puts all his clothing into the washing machine. I unload the groceries and disinfect them, put them away, throw out all the trash, undress myself and add my crap to the wash, then use Clorox on the underside of his shoes.

That's it. Doing our part to stay safe in this pandemic. While it's a 'recommendation' for everyone to wear masks in public, like Worried said, half of everyone is wearing them WRONG to begin with, so what's the point? My favorite was a photo of Schumer wearing a mask out in public while patting himself on the back for doing so.........not even covering his nose; just his mouth.

I have always noticed that many public figures in all walks of life are not nearly as concerned about YOUR EXPERIENCE until it also becomes THEIR EXPERIENCE.

In the places that I have gone to (lately I just pull up and get groceries in trunk) all of the employees were wearing masks. Most, wore gloves as well. I expect this and it's very much encouraged, if not required in my state. Most places are complying and they seem to want to do it. Now, citizens are a different story. I don't know what in the hel* they are thinking, but, they act like they WANT to infect others. To me, it screams ignorance and arrogance. I would say that I see about 50/50 of citizens wearing mask, but, almost 100% of workers.

Recently, when I was sitting in the parking lot waiting for groceries to be loaded into my trunk, I saw a lady brazenly walking into the grocery store to shop. I heard an employee, who was in the parking lot, WITH mask, advise her she needed one. (I had my window cracked and heard it.) I couldn't tell what else he told her when he got closer, but, she continued into the store. I hope he told her they were providing free mask and to get one as soon as she entered. IF you don't have a mask, you can create something from scarves, shirt, or cloth.

Do folks not get that we need to protect workers in grocery stores and other retail establishments?

Unfortunately nobody is wearing masks here except government employees, not anywhere that I've been anyway (which is limited to a couple of stores). And as for the ones that are 🙄, some dude driving around solo in a truck picking up leaf bags certainly doesn't need one.

As for gloves, I am not sure what benefit it has since you can sneeze on the glove and touch a surface which someone else could touch with their gloves then touch their face and become infected even though all parties wore gloves. I believe the key is not in the gloves, but rather not sneezing on your hand and instead sneeze into your arm or some area that does not touch surfaces. Of course, do not touch your face and wash your hands frequently. As for masks, I feel better about those than gloves but most people have gaps around their nose and they cannot be fail proof. I assume however they reduce germs from reaching further beyond point of origin. Remember, it was just a few weeks ago we were told masks did not even help so the guideline on masks is somewhat recent. All this said, I still do it all and wear gloves and a mask if I have to leave my house. My hands are dry from washing so much, and my house is cleaner than ever. I sure hope it helps somewhere.

The level of ignorance that I have observed with this pandemic is astounding. It's scary that adults live in this country and walk around daily while appearing to be normal. Then, something happens and we get to see just how pathetic these people are. Thank goodness for the awesome, smart, brave, devoted citizens that have risen to the challenge to be heroes, but, the losers standout nonetheless. I'm not sure how you fight that level of stupid. (I'm referring to citizens who live in shelter at home jurisdictions, who throw parties where 50 of their best friends attend and then they REFUSE to disburse when police arrive and then after being forced to disburse, continuing to return throughout the night, so that police must stand vigil at the party house to keep visitors from returning. Or parting on the beaches, hugging, kissing, hanging all over each other, as if there is no pandemic.)

Looks like the virus might be starting to heat up in rural areas. Some governors are smart enough to put regs in place before the explosions and learn the lessons of Italy, Spain and NYC. The results remain to be seen, of course.

Good luck all. NY appears to be starting to flatten the exponential level of infection.

Laboring, asymptomatic women in NYC are being tested at admission; at one reporting hospital, 14% are COVID positive. A friend at another hospital tells me their rate is 27%.

That's the rate of infection among folks with no symptoms. I'm not pressing anyone to open ANYTHING. We are still in very dangerous territory.

I found this very helpful video on How to Grocery Shop During the Coronavirus. I got more tips to add to my current strategy when going out.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S7G8KoYgniY&list=WL&index=3&t=33s

That's the thing, it IS a mystery; the "experts" cannot agree about masks, gloves, distancing - though they're all pretty sure that helps. Gloves and masks both have user issues of their own; even many health care workers hate them, for several reasons. Yesterday I read a report from a mathematician who has followed the virus and realized that the countries that did nothing have very much the same results as those who did harsh lockdowns, gloves, and masks - go figure.

I would rather see someone wear a home made mask than an improperly fitted N95. People forget they need to be "fit tested" for them,, they are not one size fits all! Gloves seem silly to me as people touch everything and its brother with them on,, and don't "purell"them after touching. We even "purell" them at the hospital ( yes indeed we are wearing them all the time, between patients) And I do find it funny to pass a car with a single driver alone in there, with a mask on..?

I went shopping today for our 3 weeks groceries. Have not been out of the house for three weeks. I had called the supermarket and asked if employees were wearing masks and gloves. I was told most were and following protocol. Most of the customers were wearing masks and gloves, but an employee a young stock person did not have a mask or gloves on. He sneezed a few times into his sleeve and was heading toward me. I was uncomfortable and disgusted and reported this behavior to the staff and to the general manager. The manager was very upset and apologized to me. He is going to look on the surveillance cameras and find out who the worker was and warn the worker. He said it was an ongoing problem, but they are working on it. He did not want to suspend him, but asked me what I thought would be appropriate action. I told him he should be wearing a mask and gloves. I am so careful, staying in the house for three weeks and following all guideline and more. and then someone sneezes two feet away from me. Boy I 'm not too happy. Glad I reported him!!

We actually had a man arrested for making a threat on facebook to do a mass shooting at one of our grocery stores this week. He was upset that so many people are out in public not wearing masks....in Florida that is a 2nd degree felony, so he is looking at serious time in prison. I get aggravated too, especially when i see used gloves and masks thrown on the ground, people coughing and sneezing without a mask on and most of us stay home except the necessary meds and grocery trips every 2-3 weeks. I am making lots of masks for the people in our apt bldg, mainly elders with health issues. Gives me something to do since i cant go to pool for exercise.
i hope everyone is safe and we will come out of this pandemic better and stronger as a nation. Blessings to all..,Liz

From my reading, several experts have advised those of us out doing our limited shopping runs should _not_ wear gloves and instead wash our hands or use a sanitizer. When I am required to hand someone my credit card, I place sanitizer in my right hand and after accepting the card back in my left hand, use the sanitizer to clean both the card and my hands before touching anything inside the car, like the window switch or the steering wheel.

Testing has shown home made washable masks using the right materials are as effective for short term use as m95 masks. The fit and using a combination natural and synthetic material is important - most t-shirts apparently have the right "material". If you are going to take the mask on and off repeatedly, it is going to lose much of its usefulness as the surfaces on both sides will become contaminated, as well as your hands. I put my mask on just before rolling down the window for a pickup and leave it on until I have completed all my stops (so I would be one of those single people driving around with a mask on), then take the mask off and place it on one of the bags of stuff I just picked up, then use sanitizer before continuing to drive home.

When I get home, the mask and my purchases are brought into a limited area of the home. The mask goes immediately into the washer and all items are cleaned as they are removed from the bags. Bags go into the trash and the "staging" area is cleaned.

I don't spend a lot of time cleaning my car because (1) I don't use it much so any virus cells should have died during 8-18 days between trips; and (2) it's warm enough now the car interior gets heated each afternoon.

While ideally I think everyone should wear a mask in public areas where they expect contact with others (inside stores but not necessarily in a park where you stay away from others), you need to remember guidance about using masks has been very mixed, masks are not available to the general public in many areas, and many people may believe they cannot make a mask. I love the surgeon general's demonstration of folding a t-shirt around rubber bands to make a mask because it's something everyone can do.

If you are limiting your shopping trips, wearing a mask in public areas, keeping your hands away from your face and using sanitizer when you are out and washing your hands at home, then you can largely offset your exposures from the people who are not wearing masks appropriately. Reusing a mask inappropriately may actually increase spread as people bring virus cells from their hands to the mask and their face.

We can protect ourselves from the less informed and/or concerned by our own considered behavior but we are going to still see people making poor choices and additional confirmed cases and deaths from their behaviors. One unfortunate side effect of decades of life where vaccines and medications have eliminated many disease avoidance behaviors is a society where those behaviors (and the need for them) are not understood anymore.

In many instances I have seen poor use of gloves and masks.
I watched an employee of a store at the register scan items, rub her face and continue handling items then cash. When that customer was finished she reached for her water bottle, opened the built in straw with her gloved hands, drank and put the bottle back and proceeded with the next customer. What good are the gloves in this case?
A woman stood in line, with a mask on but every time she coughed she moved the mask away from her face and coughed under the mask then put the mask back on her face. What good is the mask?
The mask, in 99% of the cases protect someone else from your droplets they do not protect you from someone else's droplets.
And are you washing the mask every day? Or when you return from a trip outside the house? Are you avoiding your nose, eyes and mouth when you remove the mask and are you washing your hands when you remove the mask and before you put it on?

And a side note about the store. A large store like Whole Foods has the corporate resources to provide masks, gloves, sanitizer to every employee a small independent store may not have the same resources, they can not afford to supply each employee with these items.
If you like the independent store continue to support them, they need it now but YOU follow good practices when you shop there. Bring a sanitizer wipe, wipe down the cart handle. Wipe down your purchases if you feel inclined. And if you feel real generous make masks for employees and offer them to the employees when you see them. Gloves as well if you can find them.

I agree with all of you that we need to be taking every precaution possible. I wear my mask and gloves to do my part.

Our grocery stores are now putting taped arrows on the floor to try to keep people moving in one direction so we aren't passing each other face-to-face. They are making overhead announcements every few minutes about the change.

One woman was going the wrong way in my aisle with no protection. From a distance, I politely reminded her of the new policy. She wasn't happy about it and chose some colorful language to express her displeasure. She then continued on her way past me.

I coughed in her direction as she passed.

Meetoo, It was lealonnie that recommended olive oil and coconut oil mixture. I was complaining my hands were red, raw, and small cuts and I tried what she suggested, and it worked wonders overnight. I got up and hands were completely healed. Great advice!! Very thankful to a very wise woman!!

Masks have not been mandated here in Canada. In BC medical masks are conserved for HCP only.

I am very happy with the steps being taken in local grocery stores.

I do not understand wearing gloves in public. They do not do anything to prevent the spread of the disease, unless you change or sanitize them between every single touch. Otherwise you can pick up the germs on a door, spread them to the grocery cart and from there continually recontaminate the gloves. If you sanitize your hands upon entering a store, the cart is being sanitized for customers, sanitize after you load your groceries into your vehicle and after you return the cart, that should be adequate.

I do not change my clothes when I enter the house. I do not Clorox shoes, as far as I know they do not cough and I do not touch them to my face. I unload my groceries and I wash my hands thoroughly when I get home.

I already wash fruit and veggies before eating them, so I am not washing them when they get home. All the meat we are eating is from my freezer, locally produced and pre-Covid, so I am not washing the packaging on it.

If employees in a store are wearing gloves, they will simply be carrying whatever germs on the gloves and to everything they touch, just like they would with bare hands.

When in your home, you do not need to wash your hands any more frequently that you would for regular good hygiene. After using the toilet, before and after food prep, before and after eating and after touching pets. If something comes into your house, depending on what it is you will want to wipe it down or wait a day or so to allow any virus to die off before handling it.

Back in mid-January I tried to find face masks but the shelves were empty. Luckily I found one container of disinfected wipes, off brand name. Haven't seen anything since. Glad I had an old can of Lysol, so been using that.

I checked Amazon last night and they had a lot of face masks for sale but I noticed the "reviews" of the items, most gained just one star, so that told me those masks were cheaply made.... [sigh].

I made my own face masks out of those hospital blue sheets, had a relic one-hole punch, and rubber bands. Hmmm, not bad.

Even tried a N95 mask that sig other brought home from work [he works at a cemetery]. Pam is right, one needs to be fitted for those masks. The mask was so uncomfortable for me, but worked well for sig other.

Both the N95 mask and my home made mask created a fogging problem with my eye glasses. In order to read something, I had to hold my breathe :P Ok, good enough for going into a store. Boy, taking it off and breathing in the fresh air felt so good :)

FDA just approved the new antibody test with results in 15 minutes! Maybe with this testing method in wide distribution we can open on LTC facilities to visitors and volunteers again!

In New York State Governor Cuomo signed an executive order that we have to wear a mask in all public places such as a grocery store. I still see people not wearing one and want to tell them to get out of the store, but then again I don’t want to get shot at either. People are crazy. People carry guns. With people unemployed, people are at high risk of LOSING it!!! But Florida has opened their beaches. No worry’s in Florida!!