People are now calling for supermarkets in Canada to do more to combat the growing 2019 novel coronavirus spread across the country.

Between dirty shopping cart handles, employees handling fresh produce, close contact with fellow shoppers, and hand-to-hand exchange of money at check-out, supermarkets certainly pose a risk for contracting illnesses.

And in light of coronavirus, Canadians are demanding that stores like Sobeys and Costco take more precautions.

Dear Supermarkets ... How are you protecting your frontline staff from #coronavirus as well as angry customers ?!? Or are you just leaving them to it? @costcocanada @Walmart @RealCdnSS @SafewayCanada @sobeys @WholeFoods @ChoicesMarkets

— Karan Sood (@karansood79) March 9, 2020

Some customers are calling for supermarkets to introduce disinfecting wipes near shopping carts.

Retailers need to step up and help with preventing the spread of the Coronavirus. Was at @sobeys yesterday, no disinfecting wipes for the shopping carts, @Safeway same thing, @costcocanada had an employee doing a 1 sec pass over the cart handles with a rag. They need to do better

— Mario Caya (@MarioCaya) March 11, 2020

Others are nervous about the self-serve buffets — especially when coffee shops like Tim Hortons and Starbucks are no longer accepting reusable cups due to coronavirus.

@sobeys Opening up a self-serve deli buffet at the Ira Needles location in Kitchener during #coronavirus concerns. Doesn't seem very health conscious during a time that coffee shops won't even fill a customer's refillable cup.

— Amber Sare (@AmberSare) March 7, 2020

And many are urging Canadian supermarkets to encourage employees with COVID-19 to remain at home by giving them two weeks paid sick leave, like Walmart is doing.

Large retailers in Canada need to be making moves like this. No Frills, Sobeys, Loblaws, Whole Foods. Not everyone works in an office and has the option of working from home. #COVID19 #coronavirus https://t.co/G3015yypoK

— Sara DG (@saramcguard) March 11, 2020

Still, many Canadian supermarkets are already taking strides to tackle the growing outbreak.

Safeway has said it's following government guidelines to prevent the spread of disease, and Costco announced that it will no longer be giving out free food samples — a decision that has many people panicking.

Costco is suspending all food sampling. We’re in deep trouble.

— Seth Miller (@sem1480) March 7, 2020

According to Canada's official guidelines, the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is by washing your hands often, avoiding touching your face, and social distancing.

For grocery shopping, that means wiping down your cart handle and visiting at low-traffic hours.