Zizi Sparks: Covid-19 coronavirus Delta variant: Consider others when supermarket shopping

Supermarket shopping habits need to stay the same this lockdown. Photo / Getty Images

OPINION

I was feeling a little flat on Monday. I hadn't left my neighbourhood since a supermarket shop five days earlier.

I work out in the carport, walk the dog in the reserve behind my house doing the same loop every day, and work, sleep and relax in the house.

I was feeling cooped up because of it.

So I went to the supermarket and it turned my frown upside down because I was out, doing something different.

I didn't go for the sake of it. We genuinely needed milk, bread, toilet paper and other pantry staples as well as a general top-up.

Somehow one of the chores I usually despise has become the highlight of my time in lockdown. I used the time to listen to a new podcast and just switch off and pretend things were normal for a bit, despite the social distancing rules.

However, every time New Zealand or parts of it go into a lockdown the same thing happens. Supermarket shelves run empty despite calls to "shop normal".

On Tuesday night, when the lockdown was announced supermarket shoppers went crazy and cleared the shelves.

The supermarket was relatively well-stocked by the time I went on Monday but there were noticeable absences.

The meat options were limited to mince and chicken cuts with bones such as thighs or drumsticks, bread options were limited to the more expensive options.

The freezer section was almost entirely cleaned out, especially of pre-made meals, ice cream and frozen berries.

I am lucky I could afford other options but I saw one woman with a trolley of things who had a calculator up on her phone adding up how much the trip would cost her as she went.

There are people living paycheck to paycheck, or struggling with the loss of income or job due to Covid-19. Some people have a set amount of money to spend on food each week and if certain products are sold out, they miss out.

Lockdown is a time when people are often more caring and considerate in many ways. We need that consideration to carry over into supermarket shopping habits.

People also need to be mindful of distancing rules. It seems people line up outside adhering to the 2m distance but as soon as they get inside the supermarket that goes out the window in an attempt to reach the spinach.

Next time you are at the supermarket bear a thought for those with limited means before you hoard the bread or stock up on more than you need. There is always someone who needs it more.