This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
As communities are taking steps to stop the spread of COVID-19 by shutting down schools, parks and businesses, there are still some basic activities like grocery shopping and doctors’ visits that must take place.
(We applaud the essential workers who are risking their lives everyday!)
Even though these activities are necessary, they certainly don’t come without risk and even the individuals who are taking every obvious precaution can be exposed to the virus. We consulted with leading health experts to find out what mistakes we might still be making at the grocery store:
Coronavirus Food Shopping Tips
You can still get exposed to the novel coronavirus when food shopping--even when you take every precaution, from covering your face to limiting close contact with others. The grocery stores have taken steps to keep customers safe--from modifying their store hours, to using tape on the ground to delineate where people should stand 6 feet apart in line, but there are still steps we must take as individuals to stay safe.
Going to the store in the first place may be the most obvious mistake, according to Dr. Stacy Mobley, N.M.D., M.P.H., a licensed Naturopathic Doctor and Certified Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor. "People who go grocery shopping themselves if they are elderly or sick, or well people who are not utilizing grocery delivery services," may be increasing the risk of the general population and themselves.
Don't have someone to shop for you, or can't get a grocery delivery spot? That's fine, just use the store's senior hours and make sure you are following the CDC guidelines provided to the letter.
Another mistake is simple: making too many grocery runs, which increases your risk of exposure. "The more frequently the shop, the more you are compounding your chances to become exposed to COVID-19," licensed health coach and head of practice at Acupuncture Jerusalem, Jamie Bacharach, tells us.
This may be due to the panic associated with worrying that one might run out of groceries--or simply, boredom. "While grocery shopping is one of the only activities we can do while in quarantine or in isolation, that doesn't mean we should be doing it daily in order to get out of the house," Jamie warns. "Tempting though it may be to use grocery shopping as an excuse to leave the house and get a change of scenery, it is important to limit trips out to as great an extent as possible."
So, what should you do? Although it might mean a bigger grocery bill than you've ever seen before, it certainly means stocking up on the few trips you do make. "When shopping, buy in bulk so that it will be at least several days before you need to go shopping again," Jamie says.
And always remember to get in and get out, because another mistake health experts say that you are making is spending too long in the store or going too frequently. "The less time in the grocery store, the better," Dr. Niket Sonpal, New York-based internist and gastroenterologist and Adjunct Professor at Touro College, tells us.
"Make sure before your trip, you have a list or an idea of what you want to get and group them together for efficiency. Hanging around the story for longer than you need only increases the risk of exposure and potential contamination," Dr. Sonpal warns. "This also goes along with the frequency of grocery store visits. Each time you go in, you are putting you and others at risk of infection. Plan to go only once a week and limit the number of stores you go to. For example, if your supermarket is out of tomatoes, don’t just go to another store to grab it. Find a replacement or wait for the next restock."
Not changing your clothes and shoes as soon as you get home is another big no-no! Walking around home with same shoes that were worn during shopping, carries big risk, Jagdish Khubchandani, Professor of Public Health at Ball State University, tells us.
"COVID-19 can live on surfaces and our shoes and clothes may carry the virus, even if the risk is very low, change work shoes and wash clothes frequently and change them daily." This is especially true for healthcare workers on the front lines, he says. Either way--whether you're working in a hospital or shopping in a grocery store, swapping out your clothing is key.
