Cameron's Opinion: Stores Are Trying Their Best To Social Distance, People Are Not

BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 06: A Chinese woman wears a protective mask as she shops in a market on February 6, 2020 in Beijing, China. The number of cases of a deadly new coronavirus rose to more than 28000 in mainland China Thursday, days after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a global public health emergency. China continued to lock down the city of Wuhan in an effort to contain the spread of the pneumonia-like disease which medicals experts have confirmed can be passed from human to human. In an unprecedented move, Chinese authorities have put travel restrictions on the city which is the epicenter of the virus and municipalities in other parts of the country affecting tens of millions of people. The number of those who have died from the virus in China climbed to over 564 on Thursday, mostly in Hubei province, and cases have been reported in other countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and several others. The World Health Organization has warned all governments to be on alert and screening has been stepped up at airports around the world. Some countries, including the United States, have put restrictions on Chinese travelers entering and advised their citizens against travel to China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Now that we are in Phase 1 of “ReOpening NC,” it means that some retail stores are now open. Even with that being the case, I’ve still been trying my best to not go out and shop, but this weekend, I went to two different stores, and here is my big take away.

While stores had social distancing recommendations posted everywhere, people didn’t care.

The first store I went to had the aisles marked so customers would walk in one direction. I tried to be respectful and follow these guidelines, but within 5 minutes, I realized that those guidelines didn’t really matter. Not only were people walking the opposite way than marked, but people were standing right next to each other in the aisles.

At the 2nd store I went to, most of the people in the store weren’t wearing masks, and at one point, I was in an aisle with 5 people!!!

I’m not saying all this to blame, or call people out. to be honest, I’m very confused about how to feel.

Overall, I realized while venturing out this weekend that some people are taking this VERY seriously, and some people are not taking it seriously at all, and for those of us in the middle, like me, who are just trying to do their best, and be respectful of others… It’s very uncomfortable.

At the end of the day, it comes down to us, and if I’m being honest, we are not on the same page, so I think it will be very difficult, and a very long time before things go back to “normal.”

Cameron