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Ordering groceries for delivery is a good idea during quarantine to limit your potential exposure to the virus. According to the CDC, you should “[o]rder food and other items online for home delivery or curbside pickup (if possible)” and “[o]nly visit the grocery store, or other stores selling household essentials, in person when you absolutely need to.”
Although ordering groceries for delivery is a good first step, you should still be careful.
Forgetting To Select Contactless Delivery
Every food delivery service is currently offering contactless delivery, and it's important that you take them up on it. Although you might think interacting with the delivery person is a minimal risk, the truth is that you should still be staying 6 feet away from them--or stay inside while they drop off the groceries.
Make sure to prepare and either tip electronically or leave money outside for them ahead of time.
By selecting contactless delivery, you are limiting your exposure to other people, and therefore limiting your exposure to the virus.
Once you have safely received your groceries, the CDC recommends you "clean, separate, cook, chill" to keep your food safe.
However, it's important to note that, according to the CDC, "There is no evidence that food or food packaging has been linked to getting sick from COVID-19."
If you want to be extra cautious, Certified Nutrition Coach Elliot Reimers at Rave Reviews recommends certain sanitizing steps: "Carefully empty the bags onto an easy to clean surface, like tiled flooring. Wash your hands and then, with an antibacterial spray and paper towels, clean each product and discard the paper towel after each item. Once an item has been cleaned, move it to another area. When all items are clean, clean the used surface and rewash your hands."
