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Precautions ensure food delivery reliable amid COVID-19 outbreak
For many, eating out is entertaining and relaxing. While we are lucky that food delivery services can bring food from our favorite restaurants to the door, thus sparing us the need to go out, there might be several things that still make us worried. Was our food prepared in a hygienic kitchen? Are the people who handled our food healthy? Are the food delivery drivers also in good health?
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Food at GrabKitchen is carefully bagged before being handed to delivery driver partners. (Grab/File)
F
ollowing the instruction given by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Monday, citizens are encouraged to work, study and pray at home in order to flatten the curve of COVID-19 transmission.
Although working from home is not alien to many urbanites, unpleasant disruptions may occur as this method is widely imposed. Going out to eat or socialize in between or after work has been strongly discouraged, as the activity may increase the spread of the virus.
For many, eating out is entertaining and relaxing. While we are lucky that food delivery services can bring food from our favorite restaurants to the door, thus sparing us the need to go out, there might be several things that still make us worried.
Was our food prepared in a hygienic kitchen? Are the people who handled our food healthy? Are the food delivery drivers also in good health?
GrabKitchen, the app’s “cloud kitchen”, which hosts multiple food and beverage vendors in a single central kitchen for delivery, announced in a press release on Wednesday that it had implemented additional precautionary measures across all its outlets in Jakarta, Bandung, Bali, Surabaya and Medan.
All GrabKitchen staff, including the staff of merchant partners, will have their body temperature checked daily before their shifts start. Merchant partners will also ensure that all food ordered is properly bagged before being handed – with minimum contact possible – to delivery drivers.
Grab had also prioritized the livelihoods of its driver and delivery partners. If any driver or delivery partner tests positive for COVID-19 or is placed in quarantine by public health authorities, a GrabCare package will be available for them.
The GrabCare package will provide financial and medical assistance to drivers or delivery partners who are affected by the virus.
Financial assistance of Rp 1.5 million (US$94.17) and Rp 3 million would be given to GrabBike and GrabCar driver partners, respectively, with applied terms and conditions including COVID-19-positive statements and quarantine recommendations from health authorities.
The affected Grab driver partners would also be expected to submit test results issued by the hospital, as well as certain documents, as part of the requirements to receive the aid.
It is, however, better to prevent than to cure. Therefore, Grab has also taken a number of precautionary measures. A total of 100,000 masks are available for Grab’s active driver-partners, to be collected at select train stations and GrabBike lounges. They may also be redeemed through GrabBenefits.
Hand sanitizer, which has become scarce, will also be provided at 11 GrabNow shelters and three GrabBike lounges. This will enable driver-partners to disinfect their bikes and delivery bags throughout the day.
Furthermore, while GrabBike passengers can also collect face masks at four commuter train stations –
Sudirman, Gondangdia, Manggarai and Tebet – GrabBike drivers have also been reminded to always wear clean helmets and gloves and stay healthy. Drivers can also redeem GrabBenefits for discounts on jacket and helmet cleaning and vitamins.
Neneng Goenadi, managing director of Grab Indonesia, said that the app’s driver-partners and merchant-partners should have the bravery to fight the pandemic and join forces under #KitaVSCorona.
“#KitaVSCorona aims to spread positivity, build resilience and empower Indonesians to work together to flatten the pandemic curve,” said Neneng.
She went on to express her thankfulness for Grab drivers and delivery partners, whom she called everyday heroes, for continuing to serve Indonesians in trying times.
“We’ve put together additional precautionary measures as well as support packages to safeguard their health, well-being and livelihoods,” added Neneng.
Read also: Food deliveries, online game purchases up as people stay at home during COVID-19 pandemic
Now that you don’t need to worry about missing out on food from your favorite restaurants, contactless delivery is the next thing to bear in mind.
There are three simple steps to contactless delivery. First is to inform delivery-partners to drop off the order outside the door, or at specific locations such as a building reception desk if possible. Second, the delivery-partners will notify customers of their arrival and wait for them to pick up the order standing at least two meters away from the package. Third, cashless payment is encouraged. If you must use cash, it can be placed in an envelope and left where the food order is.
