6D ❚ FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020 ❚ USA TODAY NEWS
How to safely shop for groceries
during the COVID-19 pandemic
Many grocery store chains have special hours for the elderly and those who
are immunocompromised or have more than one disease.Lauren Sauer, director of operations for Johns Hopkins Office of Critical
Event Preparedness and Response, said that if you don’t fall into one of these
groups, then it’s important stay away from the grocery store during those
hours to avoid putting the vulnerable at risk.Seek out grocery stores that are implementing cleaning procedures and
enforcing social distancing practices. If a grocery store looks busy, then find
another one or come back another day.Best time to go
Ann Marie Pettis, president-elect of the Association for Professionals in
Infection Control and Epidemiology, said it doesn’t hurt to bring a homemade
cloth mask.
Also bring an alcohol-based sanitizer and disinfectant wipes, if available, to
wipe down high-touch surfaces such as shopping cart handles, baskets and
even pin pads at self-checkout kiosks. But other than that, Sauer says, bring
as little as possible.
Not much is known about how the virus develops in children, but experts say
leaving kids at home reduces the number of people in a store at one time.Things to bring with you
Continue to practice social distancing in any enclosed space, including
the grocery store.
Some supermarkets have set up lines on the floor so shoppers can have a
visual representation of social distancing at 6 feet. Other stores have
designated aisles that flow traffic in a single direction to avoid shoppers from
passing one another.
Sauer also recommends avoiding busy aisles and standing 6 feet away from
the person in front of you at the checkout line.An extension of social distancing
The safest way to pay for your grocery items is through mobile pay apps on
your phone, such as Apple or Google Pay. If that isn’t an option, using a
credit or debit card is safer than cash.
“Theoretically, it makes sense that the less handling of stuff, the better,”
Pettis said.Payment methods
Many experts say it’s not necessary to wipe down items in your grocery bag.
Wash your hands anytime you’re coming from outside into the house, even
if you use hand sanitizer in the car after leaving the grocery store.
Dispose of plastic or paper bags and wipe down the countertop after
unpacking the groceries. Launder reusable or cloth shopping bags after
every use. Fruits and vegetables should always be washed with water.
Wash your hands throughout the process: before and after putting away the
groceries, before washing fruit, after wiping down high-touch surface areas
and, of course, before preparing a meal.What to wash when you get home
Grocery delivery services or curbside pickup are good ways to avoid the
grocery store, especially for shoppers who are more vulnerable to the virus.
Not only does it limit
your exposure to the
virus, but Sauer said
it’s also a good option
for those who are sick
and want to limit their
exposure to other
people.
If delivery or curbside
services aren’t possible,
Sauer encourages
people to shop for
friends and family
members who are
elderly or ill.Other ways to shop
Shoppers shouldn’t frequent
the grocery store every day
and should limit their time
there.
Sauer warns against emptying
shelves and hoarding
behaviors because there are
families who don’t have the
financial flexibility of stocking
up for two weeks. It’s
recommended to buy groceries
for no more than two weeks
and visiting the store a
maximum of one or two days a
week.
Pettis recommends having a
grocery list to know exactly
what you need and how much
of it to reduce time browsing.
She also advises running other
errands during the same trip,
so you’re not leaving the house
multiple days in the week.How much to
buy and how
often to go
usinesses remain closed as the coronavirus spreads and more states issue “stay at home” orders in which residents are
ordered to shelter in place except in limited circumstances.
One of those exceptions is going to the grocery store. Many supermarkets have implemented new store hours to cater to the
most vulnerable and have taken extra precautions to reduce the risk of transmission.
But there’s still a chance of getting infected. The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield,
warned Tuesday that about approximately a quarter of people infected with the coronavirus may not show any symptoms.
Experts recommend shoppers take the following precautions to stay safe while grocery shopping:ADRIANNA RODRIGUEZ, VERONICA BRAVO AND JANET LOEHRKE/USA TODAYB
SOURCE USA TODAY research; PHOTOS Getty Images