Yahoo Finance Coronavirus: How safe is it ordering from Zomato and Swiggy?
Find out how the two food delivery apps have geared up to face the COVID-19 epidemic
The coronavirus epidemic in India has been spreading at an alarming rate. As of today, several restaurants in Mumbai and Pune have downed their shutters as a preventive measure against COVID-19. However, food delivery services such as Zomato and Swiggy are still functioning. Both the services say they’ve taken several safety measures so their customers can continue to order in.
What measures is Zomato taking to ensure safer delivery?
Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal, in a series of tweets has assured customers that “Zomato is keeping their delivery partners updated about the COVID-19 situation and has asked them to self-quarantine or reach out to a doctor immediately if they have any symptoms.”
Goyal also added that the company would provide its delivery partners “with financial assistance, on top of medical insurance in case they are diagnosed with COVID-19.”
“We are especially emphasizing best practices of how to handle food packages to ensure safe and hygienic delivery,” he said urging Zomato users to please “order hot meals as much as you can.”
What measures is Swiggy taking to ensure safer delivery?
In an email to its consumers, Swiggy said that its delivery partners are being trained in “best practices of respiratory hygiene, proper method and frequency of washing hands as well as identification of associated symptoms.”
The app also said that it has instructed its delivery partners to reach out to them should they display any associated symptoms. “We are providing them with free medical consultation through our partners in such cases,” the email advisory said adding, “Our delivery partners have also been advised to self-quarantine themselves for the recommended period upon noticing any symptoms. To ensure their financial safety, we are committed to supporting them financially in such situations.”
Swiggy also said that they’re “in touch with our restaurant partners to ensure they’re aware of the best hygiene practices while handling and packaging food items” and encouraged its users to opt for online payment so as to avail of a zero-touch delivery. “You may request the delivery partner to leave your package by the door (in case of online payment), in case you are feeling unwell or prefer so.”
