How to Practice Safe Food Shopping During COVID-19

Food shopping during COV-19 can be a bit scary. You may begin to feel like you are taking a chance every time you leave your house. Luckily, you can safely and efficiently go shopping while also keeping yourself safe during COV-19.

What You Should Do Before Shopping

Planning ahead before going grocery shopping is essential during the COV-19 pandemic. One important thing you can do is to create a list before leaving. When possible, create the list based on the store’s layout. This allows you to go in, get what you need, and get out as quickly as possible without having to backtrack. Along with saving time, having a list allows you to remember to get everything that you really need. Creating this list as the need arises rather than trying to make it just before going to the store will likely help you remember to get everything that you need.

It is also important to consider if you really need to visit the store. Before going to the store, ask yourself if the items on your list are essential. The fewer times you need to leave your home, the better. To avoid visiting the store, you may also want to consider ordering online or using curbside pick-up when possible. While you will still need to interact with other people, your interaction time will be significantly less than it would be with a traditional shopping experience.

What You Can Do While Shopping

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised everyone to cover their mouth and face with a cloth covering when shopping during the pandemic. This can be a mask, bandana, scarf, or other cloth covering. It is also important to avoid touching your face, especially your nose, mouth, or eyes while shopping.

If disinfecting wipes are available, you should also wipe down your cart before using it. While shopping and while in line, stay at least 6 feet away from other shoppers. If you are maintaining about two cart lengths, you are likely keeping an appropriate distance.

The CDC has also advised everyone to use touchless payments when possible. If you must handle money, use a card, or use the keypad, use hand sanitizer to clean your hands right after paying. You should also use hand sanitizer just after leaving the store. Once you get home, be sure to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

How Businesses Are Keeping You Safe

Fortunately, you do not need to fight the spread of COV-19 on your own. Many stores are taking measures to increase the safety of their customers.  For example, many stores have created special hours for those most susceptible to severe illness. This includes those 65 and older as well as those with other medical conditions. If you fall into one of these categories, you may want to consider shopping during those times to reduce your exposure to other people.

Some stores are also limiting the number of customers allowed in the store at a time. This will help you to maintain social distance. You may also see signs around your favorite store, encouraging social distance. In some cases, particularly at the checkout, you may even see signs that help you maintain appropriate social distance by showing you where to wait while waiting for other customers to check out.

Another important measure many stores are taking is to disinfect surfaces more often than they would normally. In some cases, there might be employees assigned specifically to handle disinfecting and cleaning up. Many stores also have reduced hours so their employees can clean and disinfect the store while there aren’t any customers.

Contact us to learn more about how you can keep yourself safe while shopping during COV-19.