Dr. Tanya answers viewers questions and addresses concerns on how to safely go grocery shopping during the coronavirus outbreak. Tips for decreasing the chance of bringing home the coronavirus from a local grocery store.

It’s important to note that there is currently no evidence of COVID-19 being transmitted through food. That said, from shopping carts to other frequently touched surfaces and people breathing on you as you reach for cereal, there are steps you can take to decrease your exposure to the virus.

Before you go to the store:

Consider if you really need to go shopping or if you can wait since recommendations are to stay home as much as possible and limit your grocery store trips.

Try shopping during off-peak hours and check how crowded the parking lot is before you venture in.

Organize your shopping list in order of the grocery store to help you efficiently get in and out with backtracking and exposing yourself to more people.

At the store:

Wash your hands before you go and bring sanitizer and wipes to use often.

Wear a mask or face covering to protect the community in case you are infected and not showing symptoms.

Don’t touch your face while shopping.

Don’t touch your phone or credit card or purse with dirty hands. Consider placing items in a clear bag in your pockets and leaving your purse in the car to decrease contaminating things that can’t be cleaned and disinfected or that could allow the virus to hide in and enter your home.

Practice social distancing and stay at least 6 feet away from others.

Touch only what you intend to buy.

Clean hands or sanitize before you get in your car and later disinfect your steering wheel, door handle and anything you may have touched without clean washed hands.

When you get home:

Wash your hands again.

Take groceries out of your car and consider unpacking by your front door so you can wipe down items, place them on a clean area inside your door and dispose of bags and boxes touched by other people.

Wash or rinse produce as usual.

Wash hands again, change clothes and enjoy your groceries!

свернуть