Is it safe for me to go shopping at the supermarket?

My mother is 71 and has COPD. If your local stores have online ordering, just do that. I know that most major grocery stores have online ordering and you just drive up and park in a designated spot and they bring the groceries out to you. That is what my mom is doing because the stores are packed where she lives and the lines are long. With your COPD you really need to avoid large crowds and stay home. If you can get groceries delivered, do it. From what I have heard, you might have to schedule your delivery a few days out but it’s better than going out in to public right now. Good luck!

If you can't do that then please don't be shy about reaching out to people in your life, even if they are just casual acquaintances or neighbours - most people are more than willing to help someone in need.

That's a great question zalmanitzka~
Iv'e been wondering too.
I'm almost 60 and I have COPD and I'm scared about going to the grocery store too.
Thanks for asking it.I bet we get some good answers to help us.I appreciate it~

Order online for delivery. All the big big box stores like Amazon, Walmart and Target deliver. Many local supermarkets do as well. There's no need to go out. Make sure to stay 6 feet away from the delivery person. If you can, let the delivered items sit for a while to let any virus on it deactivate.

The Nextdoor app might be a good resource to ask for volunteers who could shop for you. You can join this social networking group for free and it puts you in touch with neighbors in your area.  I'm sure if asked, you would find people able and willing to help.

I'm in southern California and my Nextdoor group has created a "Needs" thread where people can post requests. It's been nice to see dozens of people offering to shop or run errands, especially now that seniors in our state have been urged to remain at home. 

Here is a link that explains how to join Nextdoor: 

https://help.nextdoor.com/s/article/How-to-join-Nextdoor?language=en_US

I've started ordering groceries online. Some stores deliver, and others collect your items and let you pick them up in the parking lot. Walmart does both in some locations, but only pick-up where I am. You have to reserve a time slot and keep checking back if they're all filled. I plan to do that for the foreseeable future.

I would not go grocery shopping right now if I were at high risk. When I do go into stores I keep my distance from other people and use the self-checkout so I don't have to stand in a line and make contact with the checker and bagger. If you have a delivery or pick-up option where you live, I wouldn't go into a store.

Call for delivery.

zalmanitzka, sign up (free) for Nextdoor.com -- this gets you into an "intranet" that connects you with your nearest neighbors. You can put out an appeal and I would be surprised if you didn't find some kind soul willing to help you right away. You may even make some new friends while using it. Also, you can call a local church to ask if they have a care ministry and tell them your need. They should be willing to help you even if you are not an attender or even a believer. My small church does this all the time for people in our community. I wish you much help and many new friends!

Yes. Stay six feet away from other people wherever practical - so don't use public transport. Don't eat, drink or smoke while you're out. When you get home, wash your hands very thoroughly with soap and hot water, following one of the many guides to doing so that are currently available on line. You should be fine.

If your state too goes for advising the over 70s to stay indoors, I would expect your Area Agency on Aging to be organising extra support and assistance for isolated elders. Give them a call or keep an eye on their website.

Not safe for you because of COPD, and age, but follow some of the ideas given below. There will be very little on the shelves right now due to panic buying, but the markets are restocking their shelves it is said.
Can you contact your Rabbi or faith leader? Maybe they can send someone to bring you groceries?

Just yesterday, I saw a neighbor go to another neighbor's home and leave with some toilet paper and a few things in her arms.
If things get bad, neighbors will pull together more. Do you have some things to trade? It is okay if you don't have anything.

Just a note about ordering things online - please can I ask people to be considerate about doing this, too? Today I met a new client who is an amputee and has no family and no near neighbours; for years, now, he has ordered his weekly groceries from an online supermarket; and today he found out that there are no slots available this week and probably not next week either. I advised him to contact the retailer and ask if they had a priority customer list - if they haven't, yet, it's time they created one. But if we can all give them a chance to set up systems like this it would really help.

No where is actually "safe". It is a matter of balancing the risks and doing your best to take precautions.

If you have a N95 mask...use it. It is still only 95percent filtering for virus (hence the 95 part of the name). Also, if you have goggles use it. (It completely surrounds the eyes so no air will pass through). One common means of infection is by getting some virus in your eyes.

Stay away from people. Use the self check out so you are not close to a clerk. Insist that people stand back from you...or move if someone gets too close. Although, I think it is important to remind people that the distance is for everyone's health. Bring soapy paper towels with you (soap is more effective that disinfection wipes). Wash your hands with it for 20 seconds. Do not put your hands near your face. Before you get into your car....wash your hands again. When you get home....first wash your hands, unpack groceries and wash again. Wipe down any packaging that you can.

The latest medical studies in the British Medical Journal says that the most common way to catch this is by being within 6 feet of some with the virus. The second most common way is through contact with contaminated surfaces.

There is many contradictory evidence that the virus will survive 4 hours, 4 - 5 days, even 9 days on hard surfaces. Just pretend every surface has viable virus on it and act accordingly.

no one can ever be 100% safe if they are going out amoung strangers. Just do the best your can and wash your hands.

I understand your fear. Others have given very good suggestions, to which I would add:

+ can you get some help from a social worker for ordering paying/online? It can also be remotely, he doesn't need to come to your place.
+ if you are able to pay online the shops, remember that you can also get delivery separately, as a service per se, from an external delivery company. This can be an idea if the supermarkets delivery slots will be too full. In an emergency, you can even call a taxi to pick up the bags for you.
+ if ^ this is not possible try to call your local food shop (not the supermarket, a smaller shop) and organize a regular delivery to pay in cash. You can ask to leave the food in front of the door and slip the money under the door.
+ wash all fresh food like vegetables and fruits with hot water and soap. Disinfect tins and plastic boxes. Put in quarantine for 5 days -possibly out of the house - cardboard and anything that you can't sterilise. I know this ^ sounds extreme but sometimes you really want to lower the risks to the max. I'm currently trying to stretch it to 9 days, but I'm especially paranoid atm, I think that 5 should be enough. All this is very stressful and time consuming, but it makes me feel better, and that's very important now.

Also, find someone who can check on you on the phone daily, this will be important as food. Sending you lots of strenght, keep us posted!

worriedinCali, Your experience with online ordering apparently is widespread. Our newspaper has just done a report on this, titled, "Online grocery delivery grinds to a halt due to high demand in San Diego County."

In my community through FB groups people are volunteering to do shopping for those who cannot get out. I hope that is available in Chicago too. Although I have noticed in the past that in smaller communities people are quicker to reach out to others.

I went to buy baby supplies for my grandson. The store I stopped at only had one container of his formula on the shelf and then sachets of one bottle's worth of formula. I will be heading out tomorrow to another store to see if I can find more.

I do not understand why people who do not have a baby would buy formula? There was a sign by the bum wipes limiting to 2 packages. Those wipes are not sanitizer wipes, so why are people buying them?

Our local dairy, that does delivery is expanding their service area and product lines to get food to customers.

Glad I read this thread earlier, I quickly went on-line to the on-line grocery that I have been using weekly for about five years.... they had temporarily stopped their curb-side pick-up due to being out of stock of many different items.

So I decided to try their home delivery via a truck. The first slot that was opened was for late next week. With the truck delivery, the pickers pick items from a large warehouse setting so I believe chances are a bit better of receiving the items I would want. It will be interesting to see how this delivery works out.

Slight twist on this...as I left the supermarket last week, a man stopped his car and asked if I wanted a ride ...to my car.   He had a Lyft sign on his dashboard.  I don't know if this is a trend, picking up and delivering shoppers to their cars, or if he was just trolling for work.   Either way, I needed the exercise and could have unpacked quicker than transferring everything from the cart to his car back to my car.

Zalmanitzka,

Honestly if you can afford it, order groceries online with your local grocery store. COPD is a very serious condition and this new virus is especially hard for people with respiratory illnesses. If you are unsure how to order online, try calling your store to ask.

I wish I was there to offer you a helping hand. Too far away. Meanwhile, praying someone will step up and go to the grocery store for you. Take care and hugs.

I have the app, Nextdoor - they call it a "neighborhood hub" - mainly to keep up on safety things in my neighborhood. Tonight, I received an email that one of the neighbors is organizing people to get groceries to the elderly in our area. Nextdoor is nationwide - maybe zalman can get this app and see if the neighbors in his area are putting together volunteers to help folks like him.

Call & ask about deliveries for your situation. Also ask if there is a 'senior time'. If not, go the minute they open.

Wash hands as soon as get home. Consider wearing a mask if you can get one - we are advices NOT to unless medical reason (which you do).

Our big supermarkets have started a 'community time' 7am-8am for seniors & disabled. Trolleys wiped down & shelves restocked ready (apparently). Then the general masses may enter after 8am.

Spread the word & get this happening if you think it could work in your area.

Two retailers here - credit where it's due, I'll name them, Iceland and Aldi - have announced that some stores are opening an hour early for older shoppers only. Partly to limit these customers' exposure, and partly to give them first go at stocks so that they don't get stressed or rushed.

What about:

MEALS ON WHEELS? Can they deliver more than just a fews days of meals? Ask Salvation Army?