When COVID-19 restrictions began, most of society stopped leaving their homes. However, very few people have the food storage to last a few months. Even those that do probably don’t want to live on canned food for that long. Unfortunately, this means that we still need to make trips to the grocery store. If you are following social distancing guidelines, this is probably the place where you are most likely to encounter the virus. But, if you take proper precautions, you should be able to complete your trip in relative safety.
Wear a Mask
Whenever you go out, you should wear a mask. This is especially true when you are visiting the grocery store. Masks are primarily used to protect others around you that can inhale small droplets containing the virus that come from the mouth or nose. They can also prevent you from inhaling droplets left by others. Although they are an excellent precaution, masks are not infallible. If you are not feeling well, you should not put others at risk by going out. Instead, contact a friend or neighbor and ask them to drop off your groceries on your doorstep.
Keep Your Distance
Many grocery stores have implemented pickup options that allow you to get your groceries without having to go inside. This is by far the safest shopping option. Just place an order online, drive up to the store and open your trunk. Many stores will even load the groceries for you. You may wish to disinfect the items that you receive because they were handled by others.
If you absolutely must go inside the store, maintain a safe distance from other shoppers. Many stores have implemented one-way isles to prevent shoppers from crossing paths. While this may seem inconvenient, it is an important safety measure. Plan a little extra time for your trip so that you won’t feel pressured to break safety guidelines.
Wear Gloves
When you go to the grocery store, you will be handling items that have been touched by many other hands. Wearing gloves will help protect you. It will also prevent you from leaving germs on the objects that you touch. Once you leave the store, you may wish to disinfect the items so that you can safely touch them with your bare hands. Just remember to remove your gloves before getting in your car. Otherwise you may be contaminating your own car. Be sure that you wash your hands as well.
Even if you are confident that your body won’t have a serious reaction to COVID-19, you still should be taking these precautions. You never know if you will be one of the unlucky healthy and young individuals that get hit hard by this novel virus. You also need to protect those around you who are at great risk. We all need to work together to overcome this pandemic.
Is COVID-19 really messing with your kids’ mental health? Read some good tips here: 3 Unhealthy Coping Habits Moms Should Watch Out For In Their Kids
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