Shopping in the age of coronavirus can be a daunting, yet necessary task. Compounding our fears, there is so much information at the tips of our fingers about how to best protect ourselves and others, and it seems to be constantly changing! We want to be safe and we all need to go out to get milk, bread and toilet paper (if you can find some) once in a while. While the advice and recommendations are always subject to change, all things considered, the following reflects the most current grocery store etiquette available in a cut to the chase, dos and don’ts fashion.
While At The Store
DO Wash preferably, but when you can’t, sanitize your hands frequently. Hit your hands with some hand sanitizer before going into and upon leaving the store.
DO Wear a mask. You might have noticed the sudden influx of crafty DIY masks and face coverings seen about the local Big Y as of late. In April, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began recommending that people wear protective face coverings when they go out on essential errands like grocery shopping. The purpose of this is to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 from people who are “silent carriers,” or are infected but don’t realize it because they aren’t showing symptoms.
DO Practice social distancing at a recommended distance of at least 6-feet from others.
DON’T Get touchy! Or in other words, if you touch it you buy it. And try not to touch too many handles either! Most stores do have free disinfecting wipes set up at the entrance, but it’s not a bad idea to bring your own just in case.
DON’T Stress if you don’t have a pair of disposable gloves. The growing consensus appears to be that gloves are not needed and could actually contribute to spreading the virus if not used properly. Everything your gloves touch tags along with you and could easily spread to your face or others with just a careless scratch of the cheek.
DON’T Touch your face during or immediately following your shopping. Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
DON’T Forget to wash your hands thoroughly before shopping. Hand washing is still the number one way to stop the spread of this virus!
References:
www.livescience.com/coronavirus-grocery-shopping-guide.html
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/12/832269202/no-you-dont-need-to-disinfect-your-groceries-but-here-s-to-shop-safely
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/voraciously/wp/2020/03/19/grocery-shopping-during-the-coronavirus-wash-your-hands-keep-your-distance-and-limit-trips/