Ayesha Aziz

The whole world is in the grips of coronavirus fears. It alone has caused a vast magnitude of changes in our social and personal lives. We are staying at our homes (I hope so), not touching the hands or faces of each other, washing our hands while singing “Happy Birthday” twice (ironic as we’re trying to kill the virus), wearing masks and gloves, and finally, eating homemade food. The “everyday value meals” of various fast-food chains continue to be a drain on our pockets, without us even realizing. Those should now be completely avoided, no matter how delicious they seem.

The Spread of Coronavirus 

So far, almost 400,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported. More than 17,000 people have died and, fortunately, 103,000 have also recovered. No matter what, the situation is alarming. The person-to-person spread of COVID-19 makes everyone vulnerable to this disease. Whenever one coughs or sneezes, mucus or saliva droplets are released into the air. Whosoever inhales these, is at risk. Moreover, the virus can settle on surfaces for 12-24 hours. So, if anyone touches a contaminated object and puts their hands on eyes, mouth or nose, they can develop this infection. 

The worst part is that in some cases the symptoms don’t show up for almost 14 days. This means that an asymptomatic person can continue to spread the virus to tens of people. They will, in turn, spread it to hundreds more. 

The Problem with Restaurants and Fast-Food Chains 

The restaurant, hotel, travelling, entertainment and many other industries have been badly hit by this outbreak. Global stock markets have taken a plunge. There are massive economic setbacks that countries are facing. However, as far as restaurants are concerned, many have been closed down. This is because crowd gatherings are to be avoided to curb the spread of this virus. If someone sneezes on a table, menu card, door handle, or even while standing in queues, it can cause the virus to spread to other people. 

This puts both the workers and the customers at risk. Although the dine-in areas of many fast-food chains have been shut down, their drive-thrus are still open. And for those who don’t get paid leaves, it leaves them no choice. It’s either livelihood or risk of infection. You might’ve noticed sales on food items of many restaurants. Even in your emails, it’s possible you’ve received messages from fast-food chains as they outline their cleaning policies. They are just trying to make up for the lost profits. Yet again, it can put both sending and receiving parties at risk. 

Risky Situations in the Food Industry during COVID-19 Outbreak 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dirty cash can contain viruses for days on them. Thus, they can contribute to the spread of the disease. These days, some people are using gloves when going for grocery shopping. This is a good practice. However, at restaurants, it can be quite inconvenient. You might end up giving and receiving money with your bare hands and touch your mouth or face with it later on. 

In some family restaurants, the problem can be even greater. Those who are sick or elderly are more at risk of catching this infection. So, you along with your family should avoid all nonessential visits to restaurants. You might be putting yourself and others at risk. 

Concluding Remarks

Stay at home and eat homemade food. Even when you’re going outside, wear gloves and masks. Practice social distancing as much as possible. Panic buying should definitely not be up on your agenda list. You might be depriving others of food and essentials with this. However, it is not a bad idea to store up some items. 

In these times, you need to build your immunity so eating junk-food is probably not the best idea. You should consume healthy, nutritious food with proteins such as eggs and vegetables.