Due to the current pandemic outbreak, all states and cities are affected and mostly under strict restrictions, including establishments operating 24 hours like fast food chains and restaurants. It is now understood as to why most food shops were limited into doing deliveries and take-out orders for most of their valuable clients. But given the reason as to why this is happening in the first place, do you think it’s ethical to order food delivery while everyone is expected to stay at home?
Delivery Services
While most establishments have closed for an indefinite period of time, food and grocery delivery services are very much rampant and in-demand, which also means that they are more exposed to the risk of the most avoided virus of this year, COVID-19. People who do deliveries are very much busy for the past few weeks just to help customers get their products while undergoing home quarantine. While most people are protected inside their home, these workers are risking their health just as frontliners to do their part in helping the community, which, in this case, is to provide essentials like food and groceries that people need.
But to follow “social distancing” or keeping a safe physical distance from others, they deliver to the door and don’t wait for the customer to claim the order, which is the usual situation before the outbreak of the pandemic. They make sure they are being safe while also committed to providing their service. But the question is, is ordering delivery ethical? Are you also doing your part to protect yourself and others from the pandemic?
Decreasing the Possibility of Human Contact
Given the current situation with the limitations of how one could purchase food supplies and essentials, it is best to follow some tips on how social distancing should still be practiced while still keeping normal with your way of living. If you do not have any choice and you really have to go out and get some food, consider going out when it is not peak hours on which fewer people are expected to be lined in the queue. This way, you could expect that there are lesser chances that you would be exposed to different people outside.
But also remind yourself that if ever you are feeling sick or if you have a pre-existing respiratory condition, make sure that you just stay at home and practice social distancing as much as possible, and use delivery services so you can have what you need.
There are new changes when it comes to delivery and one of which is to choose “contactless”, which is now made available by some restaurants and third-party courier apps. Contactless delivery refers to the service on which the courier will just leave or drop the food off at a preferred location you have asked them to place it, without them having personal interaction with you.
This will ensure that physical transmission between you and the delivery person would be eliminated. Some apps including Postmasters have already introduced their delivery options with a no-contact choice when you go through accessible dropdown menus on their app. Some would also ask you for options on leaving a note which leaves any special instructions for your order.
Be Kind and Considerate
For most of you who would ask for delivery services, the best you could do to help is to be accommodating to people who risk their safety just to perform their job and give you the goods that you need. Imagine the sacrifices that these workers are giving just to secure their pay and feed their families. A little helping hand by being considerate will be the best we could do for them – including making sure you keep a safe distance, leaving hand sanitizer or alcohol on your door which they can use before getting your money or leaving your change. You could also do acts of small kindness like giving much generous tips since the job they do is no joke at all.
In this situation where we need the help of others to get what they need, and people put their safety on the line to do their jobs and help the community, we need to be mindful of each other, embrace kindness and be united.