With experts advising adherence to social distancing and avoiding crowded places during this COVID-19 outbreak, how can you protect yourself at the grocery store?
Dr. John C. Higginbotham, an epidemiologist and public health expert, and professor and chair of community medicine and population health at UA’s College of Community Health Sciences, offers some advice.
Don’t Use Masks and Gloves
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that people don’t wear face masks and gloves when grocery shopping. With such protective equipment in short supply in the U.S., they are needed more by health-care workers, the CDC has said.
If you do wear protective items, “don’t let them give you a false sense of security,” Higginbotham says. “You should still avoid touching your face, and you should wash your hands when you get home.”
Wipe the Shopping Cart
Even before COVID-19, the CDC said shopping cart handles typically have more bacteria than most public restrooms.
With COVID-19, more stores are providing sanitizing wipes. Higginbotham said use them to wipe shopping cart handles and child safety seats. He said people might want to bring their own wipes, just in case the store they are at has run out.
But if you forget and your store has run out of wipes, don’t panic. Higginbotham said the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 from touching a shopping cart is very low. “Just try not to touch your face when shopping and wash your hands or use hand sanitizer when you are done,” he said.
Also wipe the pen/stylus that you use to sign the pad at check out, or better yet, bring your own.
Stay Six Feet Apart from Other Shoppers
Maintain social distancing by staying six feet apart from other shoppers as much as possible.
Higginbotham also recommends that people limit their trips to the grocery store, go shopping at a time that’s less busy and use a credit or debit card so they don’t have to hand over bills or receive change. Again, use your own pen to sign receipts.