A High-Risk Elder Goes Grocery Shopping in Qatar
When Shopping Feels Like a Gamble Yesterday, as cases spiked in Doha to nearly 1,000 per day, I went to the grocery store as soon as it opened. Every time I go, I feel I am tossing a coin. Heads, I win. Tails, I lose. Qatari officials now require all shoppers and service workers to wear masks. I wore my new N95 mask. Again, a guy was wiping down the carts and was happy to let me use the bottle to spray the handle and seat with extra disinfectant. A woman took my temperature. People were mindful to keep a distance, and were friendly when I asked them to stand a bit further from me. But, one women actually knocked into me in an aisle. And, there was plenty of room to avoid me. I now have a tub near the door where I deposited my shoes and keys and sprayed them with disinfectant. I slipped into my house shoes and washed my hands. Then, I stripped out of my clothes in the kitchen and put them in the washer. Next, I showered. Dressed. Went bac