Trying to limit close contact while meeting basic household needs is challenging – that’s for sure! Buying groceries and medicine, banking, getting prescription refills – we’ve all entered a new COVID-19 world of running errands. And it appears we will be advised to limit close contact outside our households for some time to come.
Here is some advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on shopping in a safe and healthy manner:
- Order online or use curbside pickup whenever possible.
- Only visit the grocery store in person when you absolutely need to, which will help limit your potential exposure to others, and the coronavirus to you. Go during hours when fewer people will be there.
- If you are at a higher risk for severe illness, find out if the store has special hours for people at higher risk, and shop during these hours. This includes adults 65 or older and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others while shopping and in lines.
- Use cloth face coverings when you need to go out in public.
- Disinfect the shopping cart with disinfecting wipes before you start shopping. While shopping, do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth.
- If possible, use touchless payment. If you must handle money, use hand sanitizer right after paying.
- After leaving the store, use hand sanitizer. When you get home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Bank online if possible. If not, use the drive-through ATM. Clean the ATM keyboard with a disinfecting wipe before you use it. Use a hand sanitizer when you are done, and wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.
- When getting gasoline, use disinfecting wipes on handles or buttons before you touch them. After fueling, use a sand sanitizer and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when you get home or somewhere with soap and water.
Stay safe and stay calm. We’ll get through this together!