SAFETY MEASURES TAKEN BY DELIVERY MEN DURING PANDEMIC

 Ever since the lockdown was imposed to control the spread of coronavirus, everyday life has become a lot more complicated. A task as simple as ordering takeout or delivering items has become fraught with questions as people are left wondering if it is safe.

In the service industry for instance online grocery stores need to take extra precautions to ensure delivery drivers are protected from covid-19 infection as they continue to serve customers during the pandemic. The luxury of working from home does not apply to everyone. Delivery drivers are still out there ordering and delivering goods for their customers, risking infection while their customers are ensconced safely at home. When delivering food, they are often forced to wait in long queues, ordering meals most likely with other drivers. They also still have to pick up ride-hailing orders from people defying orders to stay at home. The nature of their job forces them to have direct contact with strangers all day, which put these drivers at high risk of infection from covid-19. 

Several precautions are taken by delivery men in order to keep themselves and the buyers safe from getting infected. Delivery men wear masks all the time when outside, they sanitize their hands every 20 minutes before touching the order and after delivering the package, they keep a distance from workers at the workplace as well as from their customers when they go to deliver them, they advise them to wash and sanitize their hands before handing out change or while taking the order, they wash and clean their rides as well and make sure that they keep the package safe and clean. In order to make people aware of the safety measures that the firms take while delivering out their goods, they post videos regarding their safety measures on social media and online websites so that people can easily order goods online without having any frightening thoughts. Online websites such as online grocery stores have put together additional precautionary measures as well as support packages to safeguard their customer's health, well-being, and livelihood. For instance, McDonald's order their drivers to keep a distance of at least two meters from their customers while delivering meals to reduce potential exposure to the virus.

Drivers and delivery partners are the backbone of this online platform. The safety of drivers as well is an important element to take care of by the firms. Many firm operations now allow customers to pay ahead, either by phone or online, eliminating the physical transfer of cash or handling of credit cards, both of which can potentially harbor the virus. Because the bigger potential problem is transmitting the coronavirus from delivery person to customer, or vice versa, through coughing, vaporized air particles, or another direct contact. Therefore, in response, many food delivery services are moving to contactless drop-offs or encouraging customers to take advantage of drop-off instructions to minimize the chance of spreading the virus. In March, food delivery service Postmates introduced a feature called Dropoff Options, giving customers the ability to choose to either meet their delivery driver at the door, curbside, or go non-contact and have deliveries left at the door. Not only food items and accessories but over a million health kits, which include gloves and sanitizers are delivered as well.

With the rising cases in covid-19 and more than 35 lakh people affected from it, it is vital for people to take the necessary precautions. A delivery person as well as the customers should practice preventive measures at all cost because in these crucial times, all we can do is practice self-isolation, be cautious and support others.