There’s no question that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 – and indeed, COVID-19 in general – is cause for great concern. With thousands of Americans being diagnosed with – and dying from – the novel coronavirus each day, it behooves all of us to exercise caution and act in the best interest of public health. Among other things, this entails limiting how much time we spend in public spaces in order to help curb the spread of the virus. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean having to forsake your favorite local businesses. As you’ll find, there are numerous ways to help keep small businesses afloat during this difficult time.
Order Takeout Instead of Dining in
For many people, not being able to safely dine at their favorite restaurants has been among the biggest inconveniences posed by Omicron – and COVID-19 as a whole. However, while dining in may be a risky venture at the present time, there’s very little risk involved in ordering takeout. Sure, your humble abode may lack the unique atmosphere of your preferred eateries, but ordering in will enable you to enjoy delicious restaurant meals from the comfort and safety of home. Additionally, with so many restaurants offering convenient contactless pickup options, you needn’t worry about incurring delivery fees. Mesa, AZ-based foodies on the hunt for first-class seafood should put in an order at Angry Crab Shack on Guadalupe Rd.
Shop Remotely
Considering how contagious COVID-19 is, there’s little wonder as to why so many of us are hesitant to venture into stores right now. With so many people now going maskless and refusing to social distance, a crowded store isn’t exactly the safest place to be during an active pandemic. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t continue to provide your favorite local stores with your patronage. For example, if any of your favorite stores allow customers to shop online and retrieve their purchases via contactless pickup, why not take advantage of this?
Shopping remotely can also prove extremely convenient for people suffering from disabilities. If this describes you, you’d do well to consider the benefits of long term disability insurance.
Donate Directly to Businesses
If any of your favorite local businesses have had to temporarily close their doors or reduce their hours of operation due to the pandemic, there’s a good chance they could use some help. So, provided any of these businesses are accepting donations, consider giving what you can. Not only are the proprietors sure to appreciate your generosity, you can also play a direct role in keeping some of your favorite haunts afloat.
Mask Up and Social Distance
If you truly care about your favorite local businesses, it stands to reason that you don’t want them becoming infection hotspots. You can help prevent this by masking up and social distancing whenever you visit these establishments – or any other public spaces. Even if the businesses in question don’t currently have masking or distancing rules in effect, you’ll be doing the right thing and ultimately contributing to the betterment of public health.
Get Vaccinated and Boosted
What’s good for public health is good for your favorite businesses. So, assuming you don’t suffer from a medical condition that prohibits you from getting vaccinated, you need to do so at your earliest possible convenience. In addition to getting fully vaxxed, you’ll need to stay current with booster shots.
If you have yet to get vaccinated, be advised that the CDC strongly advises getting the mRNA vaccines – i.e., the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaxes – over the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. Adults whose initial vaccination series consisted of Moderna are eligible for a booster at least five months after their second shot. Similarly, people aged 12 and up whose initial vaccination series consisted of Pfizer-BioNTech are eligible to receive a booster at least five months past their second shot. Alternatively, adults who received the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine may receive a booster at least two months past their initial shot.
It isn’t difficult to see why small businesses have been hit so hard by the COVID-19 pandemic – and the emergence of Omicron. Due to the highly contagious nature of the novel coronavirus, venturing into crowded public spaces isn’t exactly the safest thing to do at the present time. Of course, this isn’t to say that you can’t continue showing support to your favorite small businesses. Anyone looking for effective ways to show their favorite local establishments some love during this difficult time should consider the measures discussed above.
