How To Stay Safe At The Grocery Store
If you are shopping for yourself, for your loved ones, or for anyone else in need, it is important to stay safe going in and out of stores. Experts urge those who are older and those who are at higher risk of complications of COVID-19 to take advantage of the available alternatives to in-person trips, such as asking friends or family to run errands, using grocery delivery services, or using a curbside pickup. If you are going out shopping, here are some tips to follow in order to stay safe.
Plan Ahead
If you need to venture out to run errands, it is not the time to do impulsive shopping, but to make a list ahead of time. You want to be able to go in, get everything you need, and get out.
Another way to plan ahead is to visit stores during off-peak hours when fewer customers are present, either earlier in the morning when the store first opens or later in the evening when the store is close to closing. This is recommended by the CDC to maintain social distancing, like staying six feet away from anyone in public, intended to slow the spread.
Staying safe starts even before you step inside of the store. Take some disinfectant wipes from home—just in case they are out of them at your store—and use them to wipe down the cart or basket before entering the store. Another tip is to bring a rubber-tipped pen to avoid touching checkout screens.
In The Store
The CDC requires Americans to wear cloth face masks that cover their nose and mouth in public settings, and in San Diego, it is now a requirement. This is an additional measure to slow the spread of the virus, but even wearing a mask you should still try to keep at least a six foot distance from others.
When handling food packages and produce while shopping, it is important to know that there is no evidence that food or food packaging are transmission vectors considered to be risky this outbreak. You can touch goods and fill your cart as you normally would, but must be extra careful to avoid touching your mask, eyes, or other uncovered parts of your face.
While checking out, experts say to use a credit or debit card—not cash. This is because the card can be safely wiped down with a disinfectant wipe after using it to pay and you’re likely to be able to insert your own card into the card reader, avoiding contact with any other people.
Once you exit the store, it is advised to clean your hands with a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, being sure to do this before you get into your vehicle.
Getting Home
Once you get inside the house, put down any shopping bags or goods on the floor, and immediately go to the sink to wash your hands. After that, you can put groceries or other supplies away.
While it is not necessary to wipe down your products with disinfectant wipes before putting them away, it is an extra precaution that some people choose to take with nonporous containers like jars or cans. Once you put your groceries away, another round of handwashing is recommended.
Since there's no need to carry out any special disinfecting procedures on food packages or produce once you return home, you can instead rinse fresh produce like you normally would and wash your hands before preparing food or eating meals.
Gloves: Yes or No?
As more people start covering their faces with masks to prevent their risk of conducting the virus, many can't help but wonder if they should cover their hands with a pair of gloves, too.
The CDC suggests the use of gloves in regard to COVID-19 if you’re cleaning and disinfecting your home or if you’re a healthcare worker treating someone who is a suspected or confirmed patient of the virus. However, they are not of necessary use to the general public.