By Alya Azar
With over 3.5 million confirmed global cases of COVID19 and almost 250K deaths (as of May 4, 2020), this pandemic has changed the way we live. In our “new normal”, people are social distancing, wearing masks, shopping differently and cleaning differently. Here is some insight on shopping and cleaning in an endemic situation.
Strategic tips for our “new normal”:
- Getting food is essential; but we can limit grocery trips by making weekly or bi-monthly lists to ensure completeness and prevent stock shortages.
- Current shopping guidelines for some states indicate only one person from a household should go to the store to limit exposure.
- Wash your cloth bags EACH time you use them, or opt for the plastic store bags.
- Practice social distancing while shopping – Greet friends from afar, wear masks.
- The CDC does NOT recommend glove use for shopping; however if you choose to wear gloves while shopping, they must be properly removed and disposed in a trash can.
- Carry your own wipes or use the store wipes to clean your cart handle and hands before using payment cards.
- KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM YOUR FACE!
- Touch only the item you will buy – nothing additional.
- Do not touch your phone while shopping (prevent contamination).
- Aim for self-checkout where available to minimize contact
- Use wipes to clean hands and payment cards after using.
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap/water after reaching home.
- There is NO evidence of food packaging associated with COVID19 transmission at this time, but you can wipe down external packaging of items (with mild 1% bleach solution) and allow it to air dry as a precaution.
- Many people are opting to unpack their groceries just outside the home (or in a garage), and discarding the plastic grocery bags there. Reusable cloth bags must be washed each trip.
- Refrigerate/ freeze perishables (meat, milk, berries, greens, etc.) in 20 minutes of arriving home.
- Disinfect countertops used for unpacking groceries with approved cleaners. Depending upon the cleaner you choose, you may need to leave the counters wet for 3-5 minutes before rinsing.
- Wash your hands with soap/water again when finished with groceries, or using the bathroom, or cleaning, or before eating.
- When using the bathroom, close the toilet lid before flushing as particle droplets can spread up to 6 ft at flushing with the lid open. (COVID19 can shed the virus in stool)
- When bathroom cleaning, don’t forget to unplug electric devices before beginning. Then remember to deep clean areas often forgotten: include light switches, door knobs, sink areas people touch, showerheads, shower curtains, around toilet seat, hair dryers, electric toothbrushes, shavers.
- BEFORE EATING, wash fruits/veggies with water, and for cans, clean lids before opening.
