Grocery shopping during the coronavirus can be one of the most anxiety-producing errands to run. The highly infectious disease is causing individuals to rethink how often should they go to grocery stores and what tips to keep in mind when shopping. There are some tips you can take while at the store that experts have recommended keeping the public safe and informed.

Before leaving for the grocery store, make sure to pack a bottle of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to remove bacteria effectively while shopping. It has been noted that COVID-19 can live on surfaces for two to three days on plastic, including stainless steel, up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to four hours on copper. It is best to disinfect shopping cart handles and solid surfaces as well.

After touching any products at the store, make sure to use hand sanitizer, and to resist touching your face. There is a possibility that an infected individual came in contact with the items, and the products were exposed to the coronavirus. When handling raw food, it is best to place raw food in a shopping bag rather than directly on the cart to limit direct contact with the cart.

The guidelines regarding face masks were changed by the CDC, advising all individuals to wear face masks when leaving home for preventive measures. You can also wear gloves to the store, but it is imperative to remember that while gloves can provide a protective barrier from skin contact to items, not to touch your face while handling grocery items. It is critical to remember that gloves do not replace hand washing.

After taking off gloves, make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for approximately 20 seconds. Even with masks on, social distancing should always be practiced while in public places, and keep a distance of six feet from those around you.

When it comes to paying for your items, if possible, to pay cashless, and if you are paying with cash, make sure to use hand sanitizer after handling the currency. If you are using a debit card, clean the card after use to ensure proper disinfection after swiping. When you exit the store experts recommend to apply hand sanitizer before entering your car and touch the steering wheel.

After leaving the store, there are additional steps to follow when you get home when its time to unpack the groceries. There are currently no studies to indicate the transmission of the virus can occur through food items. However, it is vital to wash hands after touching groceries and wipe down surfaces with disinfectant products. It is not necessary to wash grocery items with soap since cleaning products are not meant to be ingested. Only wash produce as you usually would with water and can also use a vegetable brush to scrub produce. The CDC also recommends washing hands before and after preparing food.

Try to reduce the frequency of grocery shopping to avoid physical contact with members of the public. If possible, buy enough food to last for about two weeks without overbuying products resulting in hoarding. When going to the store, try to limit the number of people who attend with you to reduce exposure in the household and keep other household members safe, including those vulnerable. This will also help limit the number of individuals in the stores to reduce overcrowding.

Those who are within the vulnerable category may benefit from grocery delivery services, and to minimize contact by letting deliverers leave items by the door and pay for services online. But yet again, it is essential to remember that the personal hygiene of delivery individuals is something you will have to rely on for them to practice as well.

Following these guidelines can be overwhelming to adopt and practice. Implementing these tips can help keep our communities safe and help stem the spread of the virus while grocery shopping. In these uncertain times, it is essential to practice proper hygiene to keep our neighbors safe and stay protected against COVID-19.

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