By Harry Keller
Former ETCJ Science Editor
& President of SmartScience

Thank them. Then, thank them again. -HK

In an earlier comment, I mentioned the grocery-store workers who are risking their lives to provide the essential materials for our daily lives — food and other consumables. I had hoped that none of these would pay the ultimate price for their efforts. When you realize that too many of the workers faced the choice of safety or a minimal income to sustain them and their families, such a cost would be doubly unfortunate. With great sadness, I read of the deaths of four such workers from COVID-19.

Grocery-store employee was never a heroic job before, but things have changed dramatically. They, like those hospital employees who are not health-care professionals, also serve. -HK

In these times, when far too many families are living from paycheck to paycheck, it is morally wrong to force such choices on them. They do not have any financial reserves to weather this crisis. This tragedy of disease makes me even more sad when I think that the dead workers probably were infected from one of the hundreds of customers who patronize these stores daily. That a careless customer could have wreaked such pain on the family of someone who was probably working extra hours to ensure that that customer could buy necessities hurts my soul. 

That a careless customer could have wreaked such pain on the family of someone who was probably working extra hours to ensure that that customer could buy necessities hurts my soul. -HK

To anyone reading this, I ask, I beg you to wear latex or nitrile gloves and a face mask when you visit any store. Even a kerchief over your nose and mouth will help. Do not cough into your hands. If you feel a cough coming on, hold it and leave the store if possible. Cough into your elbow if not. Do not go near the employees. They are being exposed to hundreds of random strangers each day so that they can just feed their families.

I beg you to wear latex or nitrile gloves and a face mask when you visit any store. -HK

I only hope that we can find a way properly to thank these people. They labor in near anonymity for little monetary reward. Grocery-store employee was never a heroic job before, but things have changed dramatically. They, like those hospital employees who are not health-care professionals, also serve. They serve you. Thank them. Then, thank them again.