Want to stay safe while you’re out shopping?
The coronavirus pandemic has made a lot of simple things much more complicated, including shopping. But, whether you need a new pair of socks or to replenish your pantry, it’s something we can’t avoid doing forever. The good news is that there are a lot of things you can do to stay safe while you’re out shopping. Here are just a few of them:
#1. Do curbside pickup when you can.
The best way to stay safe while out shopping is to avoid it altogether! Luckily, that’s easier to do now than ever before, with so many stores adopting curbside pickup. It used to be that only a select few grocery stores offered curbside pickup, but now you can find it at just about any store. Even some beauty salons and nail salons have put together curbside at-home kits that you can use to keep up your beauty routine at home.
With lots of retailers, you can now order online, and they’ll bring it out to your car. But, if the store in question doesn’t offer online shopping, don’t hesitate to call and ask if they’ll do curbside pickup. Many will gladly do so and will accept orders over the phone.
#2. Have a plan.
In order to minimize your time out in the public, you want to avoid browsing while you’re in the store. You should have a plan in place before you go out shopping, which means that you should put together a list of what you want/need ahead of time.
One of the best ways to ensure that you get out of the store as quickly as possible is to organize your list by aisle, and put your list in order by what you’ll pass in the store first. Of course, this requires you to be familiar with the store you’re going to, which can also help to save a lot of time.
If you’re not 100-percent sure which items are found in which aisles, you can still make your trip faster by organizing your list by type. For instance, if you’re going to the grocery store, list all of your produce together, all of your dairy together, all of your frozen goods together, etc.
#3. Try to avoid using your fingertips.
High-touch surfaces, like door handles, can harbor lots of invisible germs that can be transferred to your face when you touch them with your fingertips. If the door to the store is not propped open or doesn’t have a sensor that will automatically open the door for you, you can often avoid touching the handle with your fingertips by using your elbow or hip to push the handicapped button. You can also use these alternatives when pushing the door open.
#4. Wear a mask when out in public.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all Americans wear cloth face coverings when out in public, especially in crowded indoor areas, like retail stores and grocery stores. This is meant to keep others around you safe, which is important because COVID-19 can be transferred before symptoms start to appear.
#5. Stay at least six feet away from others.
When you’re in the store, make it a point to steer clear of other shoppers. If there are arrows in the store indicating which direction you should walk in, make sure to pay attention to them and follow them. If an aisle looks crowded, wait for a few minutes for it to clear up before you go down it. Or, if someone is standing in front of something you want to grab, let them make their selection and walk away before you to get what you need.
Maintaining your distance while out shopping is one of the most important steps you can take to keep yourself, and those around you, safe. The downside, though, is that it can make your shopping trip longer because you have to wait for a clear path before you go down a certain aisle or grab certain products. That’s why it’s always good to give yourself a little more time when you’re going out these days.
Another important step you can take to ensure that you can keep your distance while shopping is to avoid going out when the store you’re visiting is crowded. If you’re unsure about when that might be, don’t hesitate to call and ask about the store’s busiest hours.
#6. Look before you touch.
In order to avoid spreading more germs than you have to, you should refrain from actually touching things as much as possible while out shopping. A lot of people like to browse with their hands, handling each item, reading the packaging. This, unfortunately, leads to a lot of unnecessary handling of products that end up getting put back on the shelves.
To avoid this, look with your eyes instead of with your hands. If possible, compare similar products ahead of time online so that you have an idea of what you want before you go to the store.
#7. Wash your hands.
The advice not to touch your face is sound, but it is much easier said than done for many of us. If you’re anything like me, the second I tell myself that I won’t touch my face is the second my nose starts itching like crazy. That’s why good hygiene is so important during this pandemic.
When you get in the car after shopping, eliminate the germs that may be living on your hands by using some hand sanitizer. And, when you get home, after you’ve put your groceries or other goods away, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
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