Black Friday shoppers plan on taking precautions while hunting for deals during pandemic

For many families, Black Friday shopping means more than the madness of hunting down an item on sale.

“It’s just the tradition we’ve done for the last 11 years,” said Black Friday shopper Tom Weselis.

But for some, in a year that’s taken so much already, that day is being taken from them, too.

READ: Coronavirus: Florida family sues Publix after employee, 70, dies of COVID-19

“We’re going to be extra cautious this year, because the last thing we could we would ever want is an ICU Christmas,” shopper Amanda Luby said.

She said she and her and her husband will likely do about 90% of their Black Friday shopping online.

“While we may be healthy adults, we certainly have people who are in our immediate orbit that we would not want to bring the disease home to so to speak,” Luby said.

READ: Health officials warn holiday COVID spike could further strain hospitals

She said she and others are motivated to help out the economy.

“We’ll certainly open our credit cards and try to help them the best we can, because I think we’re all in this together,” Luby said.

That could mean more in-person shopping on Small Business Saturday.

READ: Florida reports more than 8,500 new COVID-19 cases, 73 virus-related deaths

“We definitely want to support those local businesses that come from the community, our neighbors, our church, you know, people in our schools,” shopper Rebecca Lang said.

However, shoppers said they’ll only visit places taking pandemic precautions.

“I also feel safer doing that because, generally, where small businesses are, there (are) streets and towns, like more outdoor areas, open areas,” Lola Lang said. “So I think that it’s a good balance, a good mixture.”

Cox Media Group