TREND: ONLINE SHOPPING DURING PANDEMIC IS A CHOICE

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in most activities being carried out online. As a form of preventing the spread of the coronavirus, several government agencies and private offices in Indonesia have issued Work from Home (WFH) policies for their employees. Large-Scale Social Restrictions or Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar [PSBB] have also been enforced in several regions in Indonesia that are in the Covid-19 red zone. Activities outside the home are strictly limited in order to avoid crowds of people. Adjusting to current conditions, buying and selling activities are mostly carried out online. Besides being more practical, security is also guaranteed. From necessities to secondary needs, it can be obtained online.

The Central Statistics Agency or Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) in a social demographic survey of the impact of  Covid-19 revealed that the trend of online shopping tends to increase during the pandemic, especially millennial women who shop online more than men. Before the emergence of the outbreak Covid-19, online shopping existed to provide convenience for consumers. But now it has become the main method of buying and selling. Traders who previously did not open an online marketplace are now turning to online. Shopping online is considered to be more effective in preventing the transmission of the virus Covid-19. In addition, the product you are looking for is easy to find.

Shopping via online is also considered more efficient and practical. Shopping via e-Commerce also provides many benefits, such as discounts and flash sales. Through e-Commerce, potential buyers can get lots of product recommendations in just one browsing. Although there are more millennials who dominate the trend of online shopping, it is undeniable that parents, especially mothers, also prefer to spend their children's needs online, because they feel safer and more practical without having to leave the house. So that the family is safe from exposure to Covid-19.

Even though shopping online, this activity must also be ensured of cleanliness so that buyers are truly safe and not easily infected with the Coronavirus. The following are tips and how to clean packages or ordered items online as quoted from the site:

1.      Before opening a package of items purchased online, make sure you have prepared the necessary items such as scissors, wipes, alcohol, or hand sanitizer and disinfectant.

2.      Wash or clean hands first before opening the package and also clean the scissors to be used.

3.      Spray disinfectant all over the surface of the shopping package, open the package and spray the disinfectant again on the purchased items.

4.      Do not forget to throw away the cardboard or package wrapping, and return to clean your hands with a hand sanitizer or wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds.

Then, what about packages of basic necessities or daily necessities ordered online? The method is not much different, here are the tips:

1.      Clean hands before opening the package.

2.      Clean the place to put items and spray the disinfectant liquid.

3.      Prepare a clean container to put items, then spray the disinfectant liquid all over the surface of the grocery package.

4.      After opening the package, prepare a cloth and disinfectant.

5.      Clean groceries by wiping all groceries to the surface.

6.      If you buy fruit or vegetables, immediately separate them and wash them with water and food-safe soap.

Apart from the things above, there are other safer ways if you don't want to open the package immediately, which is to simply put the package in a certain room for approximately 72 hours. Reported by Healthline, several studies say the corona virus can survive in inanimate objects for approximately 72 hours.

Online shopping is one of the trends during the Covid-19 pandemic to avoid exposure to the virus. However, we must remain vigilant. The government, through the Covid-19 Task Force, is campaigning for #ingatpesanibu, namely by implementing 3M; Memakai masker or wear a mask, Menjaga jarak or keep your distance and avoid crowds, and Mencucui tangan or wash your hands with soap. In addition, we are obliged to maintain health, starting from eating nutritious food, regular exercise and adequate rest.