Grocery shopping is an essential part of living (duh!), whether or not we are keeping our distance from others. The question is, how can we maintain an acceptable distance from one another while keeping our kitchens filled with essential food? There are options out there for virtual shopping, but there are also tips to “real world” shopping smartly, and prioritizing your health. Here are some:
Delivery services: Of course, this would be the most helpful option for most, but options are limited. Due to the high demand, you will want to be on top of this and it may still be unavailable for up to a week or more. The delivery service option is effective because it limits your exposure to others and offers no-contact delivery. You can find a list of delivery services (including Walmart, Amazon Fresh, Instacart, and more) within this Forbes article. This option may not be available to rural dwellers.
Send a loved one or friend: If you think you fall in a high-risk category (been exposed, preexisting conditions, etc.), ask a loved one or friend to grocery shop for you. If there is someone in your life who feels more confident going to the grocery store, he or she may gladly shop in place of you. This eliminates the risk for you, while considering others who you may encounter, too.
“People should go to the grocery store — or anywhere outside the home — only if they are feeling well and reasonably confident that they have not been exposed to the virus causing covid-19,” says the Washington Post.
Check for limited customer hours: Some stores are letting elder shoppers in first before the general public. This gives them the opportunity to shop without having to fight a crowd or be surrounded by too many people. As well, stores may be only allowing a certain number of people into the store at a time.
Pick the right time: Many stores have adjusted their hours. Some are closing earlier to allow appropriate time for shelves to be restocked and for the stores to be effectively sanitized. “The natural rhythms of your neighborhood grocery may have shifted because more people are working from home, but, generally, it is best to shop early in the morning and later at night, to avoid crowds.” The early mornings may be the best time to have a full selection from the newly stocked shelves.
Gloves and masks are not necessary: The CDC is not recommending that everyone wear masks or gloves in public, unless they are feeling ill. Instead, thoroughly wash your hands before AND after shopping. Bring a disinfecting wipe to use on your cart or basket. Do not touch your face while shopping, and keep your distance from others while in the store. The CDC is recommending single-use plastic bags or paper bags or washing/sanitizing reusable bags after each use.
Finally, wash your fruits or veggies at home: Though the CDC is not aware of any reports that the virus can be transmitted by food or food packaging, it doesn’t hurt. The best thing to do is to wipe down any surfaces that you touch after shopping. Even wiping down cans or boxes wouldn’t hurt, but the CDC believes that, “most of the virus particles will degrade in a matter of minutes or hours once on a surface.”
At the end of the day, washing your hands and disinfecting surfaces is the best way to keep yourself safe.