The need to eat is constant, regardless of a pandemic. While grocery stores remain operational, many have imposed restrictions on the number of customers allowed inside at once. For instance, in my area, only seventy-five shoppers can enter at a time. This means you should plan to gather sufficient supplies to minimize your trips. It’s impractical to make quick runs for items like milk or juice when you may face a lengthy wait to enter the store.
Given that grocery stores have become one of the few places people frequent, health and safety precautions are more critical than ever. So, what should you know? Is it necessary to wear gloves and a mask? Should you bring your own bags, considering the virus can survive on plastic for an extended period? Do you need to disinfect all your groceries, or is rinsing fruits and vegetables with water enough? Grocery shopping now comes with a new set of guidelines, and here’s how to navigate them.
Opt for Online Grocery Shopping
If possible, opt for online grocery shopping with home delivery. If that’s not an option in your area, make sure to prepare a shopping list before heading out. As advised by a recent article in Sunset magazine, it’s crucial to avoid unnecessary trips. Instead of rushing out for specific ingredients for a special meal, get creative with what you have. If you’re out of pasta but have rice, use that. If you’re craving ice cream but have yogurt, just stick with the yogurt. You get the idea—essential shopping should not include impulse buys or cravings.
Safety Precautions While Shopping
Experts highlight that while COVID-19 can linger on surfaces, the biggest risk comes from other shoppers. Janice Hart, a biosecurity consultant, emphasizes the importance of wearing a mask if you’re over two years old and have no respiratory issues. Maintaining a minimum distance of six feet from others is non-negotiable. If you need to wait to grab an item, be patient—it’s a small sacrifice for your safety.
Plan your grocery trips during off-peak hours to avoid crowds. A Friday afternoon might be busy, but a Sunday evening could be quieter. Even though the risk of contracting COVID-19 from your cart or food is low, it’s wise to wipe down your cart before use. Most stores provide disinfecting wipes for this purpose.
Reusable Bags and Grocery Unloading
If you bring reusable bags, wash them after each use if possible. If washing isn’t feasible, store them in your car’s trunk for a day before reusing them, as they are porous and less likely to harbor the virus.
Upon returning home, designate a specific area for unloading your groceries. It’s advisable to disinfect containers before storing them away, preventing germs from spreading in your home. Interestingly, Hart notes that washing fruits and vegetables with just water is sufficient for cleaning them.
Post-Shopping Hygiene
After putting everything away, wash your hands thoroughly. You’ve likely touched many surfaces that could harbor the virus. Even if you wore gloves during your shopping trip, it’s essential to follow these steps. Karen Lee, a health expert, cautions that gloves can provide a false sense of security and may lead to more contamination if not used properly.
The checkout process is particularly risky, as you handle payment methods that many others have touched. Always use hand sanitizer after checking out and try to avoid touching your face during your shopping trip.
Once home, after everything is stored and your hands are clean, consider wiping down any surfaces you touched with dirty hands—door handles, cabinet pulls, and car parts.
Conclusion
By following these safety measures, you’ll be better prepared for your next grocery run, ensuring you can feed your family while minimizing health risks.
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Summary
Grocery shopping during a pandemic requires careful planning and adherence to safety protocols. Prioritize online shopping if possible, maintain social distancing, disinfect surfaces, and practice good hand hygiene to protect yourself and your family.