While the majority of North Texas remains under some variation of a “stay-at-home” order, grocery shopping is still allowed. If you do head to the store, you’ll want to follow several precautions while you’re there and even when you get home.

• Reduce the number of shopping trip

Less number of visits equals to less opportunity for COVID to haunt you.

• Wear a mask

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you do not need to wear a face mask to the grocery store. Cover your coughs and sneezes.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands.

• Keep Your Hands Clean

Wash your hands as often as you can when you’re outside of your home, or alternatively, use a hand sanitizer of over 65% alcohol when you’re outdoors. Many supermarkets have hand sanitizer stations these days, and we recommend you take advantage of them as you traverse the shopping aisles. Use disinfecting wipes to wipe down your grocery cart.

Another idea is to use plastic or latex gloves while you’re shopping, but disinfecting gloves with hand sanitizer or washing them is just as important as it is to wash your hands because gloves are just as likely to spread germs as your hands are. Also, make sure not to touch your face, whether you’re wearing gloves or not, which is more easily said than done, we know. Discard the gloves immediately upon returning home if you decide to wear them, and wash your hands thoroughly and properly right away to avoid the germs from spreading through your home.

• Know When to Shop

Avoiding the days of the week and hours when most people go shopping is a safe and clever strategy. Many supermarkets offer special shopping hours for seniors and immunocompromised people, which usually fall to the morning hours when the shop is fully stocked and the cleanest. If you fall under one of those categories, take advantage of the option.

If, however, you don’t fall into the high-risk group, avoiding peak hours is probably your best bet. The afternoon on weekends and between 4-6 PM on weekdays are usually the peak hours for grocery shopping. You can also opt for home delivery if it’s available for you, but keep in mind that even that may be risky, so wash your hands thoroughly after unpacking the groceries.

• When in the Shop, Be Wary of Surfaces Many People Touch

Shopping carts, handles in the freezer aisle, doorknobs, the cashier – all these and many other surfaces in the grocery store are high-risk, since most shoppers use them. It’s best to clean these with a disinfectant wipe and apply hand sanitizer after using them. It’s a good habit to carry your own disinfectant wipes and sanitizer to be able to always clean your hands and the surroundings when you’re in a public space.

There is no evidence that the virus can survive on unpackaged foods, but fruit and vegetables with smooth surfaces, such as apples and tomatoes, may be capable of carrying the virus, so wash these foods thoroughly with hot water before eating them, or even better – cook the foods – a guaranteed method of killing the virus.

• Keep a Distance

Since many foods can be low in stock in shops these days, it may be tempting to get in there and snatch the last carton of eggs or loaf of bread, even if it means finding your way through a crowded space. Remember, the highest likelihood of getting COVID-19 comes from contact or proximity with infected individuals, so keeping a distance of 6-8 feet (2-3 meters) from other people, cashiers and supermarket workers included, is necessary.

The same goes for delivery personnel – ask the person delivering groceries or takeout food for you to leave it at the door, if possible, and avoid contact as much as possible.

• How to unpack the Groceries Safely

When your return home throw out disposable bags, wipe down your counters and wash your hands to be safe.

Whether or not you had the food delivered or brought it yourself, it’s necessary to be systematic and make sure you, your home and the groceries are germ-free once you’re done unpacking. We know that the Coronavirus can linger on plastic surfaces for up to 2-3 days and up to 24 hours on cardboard, so getting rid of excessive packaging is a good way to protect yourself.

Decant foods into jars, remove plastic packaging from fruit and vegetables. Needless to say, it’s also best to wash your hands before touching the shopping bags, when you’re done unpacking and after you’ve discarded the shopping bags and excess packaging into the trash.

When your return home throw out disposable bags, wipe down your counters and wash your hands to be safe.

• Stock-up to reduce future visits

· Buy dried or canned beans, peas and lentils (such as black, garbanzo, kidney, white and pinto beans; green, yellow or split peas and lentils)

· Canned vegetables with no added salt (such as tomatoes, green beans, and corn)

· Dried or canned fruit in 100% fruit juice

· Whole grains (such as brown rice, quinoa, oats, millet, and whole-wheat pasta)

· Pouches or canned fish and chicken

· Nuts, seeds, and nut butters

· Olive, canola or other vegetable oils

· Dried herbs and spices

Frozen Foods

· Vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and brussels sprouts)

· Fruit (such as berries and cherries )

· Whole wheat pizza dough

• Get Delivery

And if you prefer to stay home, many stores are offering "contactless" delivery options. This means you can get your groceries dropped off right in front of your door. wait until the person leaves and then pick-up your items from your door.

Source: Internet & Others

The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.