# Went to Costco This Morning. Was a Little Bit Scary. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 11, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294 "2020-03-11T18:58:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 26
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/501 "2020-06-10T03:00:21Z")
> [@susan](#): > > > [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > > > That’s about where I’m at. > > > > One’s even pink! > > Now I feel better about already having had 4 wire whisks. I have two hoop style whisks, two spiral whisk-y things, and a whisk attachment to my mixer. So… Not feeling like I need more whisks. > [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > They are in short supply here, too - I got a grocery delivery today from a primarily Indian place, and even they were out of chickpeas! They weren’t out of chana dal, though, so I bought a 4 lb. bag of those. They aren’t what we would normally use for many whole chickpea recipes, but they should make perfectly fine hummus. Huh, I don’t usually use dried chickpeas (and we have a lot of canned ones) but as I was grabbing some black beans and lentils I notices there were dried chick peas on the shelves, and thought of you. Shortly before the lockdown, when it was clear the shit would hit the fan, I bought a “strategic reserve” of mostly rice and dried beans, in case everything closed. I bought a variety of beans, including chana dal. So I have that in the basement. > [@River\_Hippie](#): > > Yes, that did cross my mind. The original shipment disappeared en route and I received the re-shipment yesterday. The replacement came in a plain box and I wondered if the original shipment came in a box that indicated what was in it. > Compared it to my nearly empty bottle of Lysol concentrate. The active ingredients are precisely the same but in the Lysol the percentage of active ingredients is 1.1856 and in this new stuff it’s 3.3. It’s meant to be diluted so should last the rest of my life! I take my own disinfectant to work to clean my workspace and equipment as the company’s only offering is bleach water and I’m not confident who’s mixing it or whether they are using disinfectant grade bleach. > I used to be one of the least germophobic people around and now I’m getting kind of OCD. I was wondering what y’all were using all that disinfectant for. At home I use soap, mostly, and I haven’t been anyplace but home. My husband grabbed a can of lysol at the start of this, and it’s still mostly full. But I’m staying home, with other people who are staying home. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/502 "2020-06-10T11:46:02Z")
Went to a grocery store I don’t usually go to on Sunday and was shocked to see only about 10% wearing masks. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/503 "2020-06-10T20:08:19Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I was wondering what y’all were using all that disinfectant for. At home I use soap, mostly, and I haven’t been anyplace but home. My husband grabbed a can of lysol at the start of this, and it’s still mostly full. But I’m staying home, with other people who are staying home. I bought a four can unit of lysol spray disinfectant at Costco three weeks ago. We’ve used up almost one can. Everything coming into the house gets sprayed, wiped with a disinfectant wipe, or dunking in a sink of detergent and bleach. Things that cannot go through that are either left outside or baked in the oven at 280 degrees for ten minutes. Might be overkill, but who the hell knows for sure. Our local Stop and Shop is very good. Open from 6AM to 7:30AM for people over 60 only. One way aisles and spacing as well as plastic barriers at checkout. NY State law requires masks. Trader Joe’s is similar. I felt very comfortable in both places. Local Target and Home Depot are not nearly as good. Masks, but no distancing except at checkout. Costco was somewhere in between. They did limit the number of customers in the store at any time. It frightens me that the mask requirement might be going away soon. That would make me very uncomfortable. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/504 "2020-06-11T03:13:23Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > …Everything coming into the house gets sprayed, wiped with a disinfectant wipe, or dunking in a sink of detergent and bleach. Things that cannot go through that are either left outside or baked in the oven at 280 degrees for ten minutes… We’ve been bringing it in and immediately washing our hands with soap. If it doesn’t need to be refrigerated, it sits on that days newspaper for 3-4 days. If it does, it goes in the basement fridge to sit there. (Yeah, the fridge probably prolongs the life of the virus. But I’m not going to dip my eggs and meat and veggies in bleach.) ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/505 "2020-06-11T04:13:35Z")
I’ll bleach the veggies. The rest can chillax for a few days. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/506 "2020-06-11T12:57:18Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Went to a grocery store I don’t usually go to on Sunday and was shocked to see only about 10% wearing masks. Man, I woulda turned around and left. If a business lets customers breathe their germs out into the air inside their store, well, I don’t want to breathe that air in. Groceries around here are very good about it, as is the local Ace Hardware, so I can shop at places where I can count on everyone wearing their masks. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/507 "2020-06-11T17:02:07Z")
Had an appointment with the arthritis doc yesterday. Since virtually every patient is high risk, the practice was \very\ conscientious about safety protocols.[ul] [li]No one admitted but the patient - no hangers on.\*[/li][li]Entire staff masked[/li][li]Log-in touch screen has a packet of sanitizers by it[/li][li]Touchless forehead temp taken before admittance[/li][/ul] The last was a bit of a problem as it was already 105-degrees outside and I’d spent 15 minutes driving south to get there. I had to cool down about five minutes inside before the door ward would let me past. \*Exceptions made for mobility or cognitive assistants. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2020, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/508 "2020-06-11T19:16:06Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I’ll bleach the veggies. The rest can chillax for a few days. Make sure you use a concentration of sanitizer LESS THAN 2000 ppm hypochlorite. And rinse afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2020, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/509 "2020-06-12T00:37:05Z")
the Wendy’s near my office has stayed open throughout the covid shut down. you placed your order by phone, app, or delivery service, and could pick up at the door. 2 weeks ago they have allowed people in the store. they enforce physical distance and masks. the other day a woman tried to enter. about 5 employees yelled “mask!!!”. the employee at the door blocked her and would not let her in. there was much talk among the employees about the need for a mask, and much “what is she thinking”. i’m wondering if Wendy’s just revised their active shooter training for mask situations. the entrance has a vestibule and the door employee had the second door closed and locked in seconds. no mask, no entrance! ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2020, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/510 "2020-06-14T20:08:52Z")
Kroger had isopropyl alcohol today! First I’ve seen since this started. 70% in 16oz. bottles for $1.39. Also a pretty good supply of hand sanitizer. Everything else seemed normal. Mask usage by customers (staff fully masked) at 25% or less by my estimate. Down from my last shopping trip. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/511 "2020-06-15T03:57:10Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > We’ve been bringing it in and immediately washing our hands with soap. If it doesn’t need to be refrigerated, it sits on that days newspaper for 3-4 days. If it does, it goes in the basement fridge to sit there. (Yeah, the fridge probably prolongs the life of the virus. But I’m not going to dip my eggs and meat and veggies in bleach.) A while back I started putting stuff that goes in the fridge into new containers - cheese, orange juice, lunch meat, eggs, bagged salad. I leave the milk in its gallon jug and just wash my hands every time I pour a glass. Everything else sits in the spare room for 3 days. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/512 "2020-06-15T12:45:20Z")
Walmart is back to no paper towels, and no kitchen spray cleaners like 409. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/513 "2020-06-15T14:25:55Z")
I don’t understand why people feel the need to clean their counters any more than they did before. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/514 "2020-06-15T17:19:18Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > I don’t understand why people feel the need to clean their counters any more than they did before. A lot of the handwashing recommendations made me less comfortable, not more. You mean most people need to be told how to wash your hands and when? ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/515 "2020-06-15T17:47:22Z")
Some households have multiple people who have to go in and out with some frequency. As they might have become infected without knowing it and could be shedding virus, frequent cleaning of surfaces within the house would seem likely to reduce viral load within the house which might spread it to others living there. If only one person’s coming into the house, or if multiple people are holed up there who don’t go anywhere at all, it does seem that extra indoors cleaning wouldn’t be necessary. I live alone, and if I go out I just wipe down any doorknobs etc. that I might have touched before washing my hands, and otherwise don’t worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/516 "2020-06-15T17:50:56Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > I don’t understand why people feel the need to clean their counters any more than they did before. In my case, I am using the counters much more because I am cooking much more. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2020, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/517 "2020-06-15T19:50:23Z")
Last week I watched a USP delivery person wipe his nose with his hand efore dropping off my package. When I unpack groceries or mail, I set them on a table, along with my mask and keys. After sorting, cleaning, and putting things away, I need to clean the table, floor, and other surfaces that have been touched. In addition, cleaning supplies are still scarce in my area and I am at high risk for COVID complications, so if I can get two bottles of a cleanser, I’m getting two rather than assuming I’ll be able to get it later. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2020, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/518 "2020-07-14T01:00:12Z")
I went to Kroger yesterday after 3-4 weeks. Things I noticed still being absent: \*Campbell’s or any other brand “chunky” soups. The kind with more meat and vegetables. All the cream of mushroom and tomato and chicken noodle you’d want. \*Isopropyl alcohol. I bought one of a very few (small) bottles last trip, none to be had yesterday. \*Any kind of “quat” (Lysol concentrate) type disinfectant cleaners. (Except toilet cleaners.) \*Frozen pepperoni pizzas (low end). All the supreme, sausage and plain cheese pizzas you want but none with just pepperoni unless you went for the more expensive ones. Lots of empty freezer space where the Jack’s and store brand usually are. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2020, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294/519 "2020-07-29T01:43:08Z")
I went to Kroger today, 5:30-ish. 100% mask usage other than little kids and even some really young ones were wearing masks. State mandated now, good compliance. Found all the Chunky soups that were missing on my last trip. Still no isopropyl alcohol. Beef prices quite high. Lots of masks and gloves for sale. No Lysol type disinfectants. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/went-to-costco-this-morning-was-a-little-bit-scary/849294.md?page=25)