With the continuous rise of coronavirus, people are encouraged to stay safe at their homes as much as possible to prevent the spread of infection and illness. However, trips to the grocery store for essentials are inevitable. Many restaurants are still open for delivery and takeout, and grocery delivery services like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and DoorDash are still running.
But you might be wondering: Can you still order groceries or food? Is it safe? And what you should do when you need to go out? Let’s take a look at some tips to minimize contact with others and stay safe on your next trip to a restaurant for takeout and grocery stores.
Precautions to Take Before Going Out
If it is possible, let one person at a time do the grocery shopping. It has become more important than ever to follow social distancing, wash hands regularly, and stay safe in our shelters. Taking your entire family out can increase the risk of virus transmission.
- CDC recommends citizens to wear a face mask whenever going out in public settings to protect yourself as well as others. You can use any mouth and nose coverings such as KN95 respirator, disposable mask, etc. to ensure safety.
- Determine what is already stocked in your inventory and then make a list of items that you will need.
- Plan your grocery trip during the times that are likely to be less crowded.
- Keep hand sanitizer, tissues with you or wear disposable gloves.
- Do not use reusable shopping bags.
Precautions to Take at the Grocery Store
- Don’t go out for shopping if you’re sick.
- To avoid contact, use an online grocery delivery service or curbside pickup, if possible.
- Use disinfecting tissues on often touched surfaces such as door handles, cart handles, etc. use hand sanitizerto keep your hands germ-free.
- Avoid touching your face as much as possible.
- Keep physical distance from others in the store.
- Do not touch the products and keep them back onto the shelf. Only touch the items you plan to buy.
- Use Credit/Debit card instead of exchanging cash.
- Be sure to clean hands with hand sanitizer after you loaded purchased items in the car.
Precautions for Picking Up Takeout
As viruses can be transmitted through close contact, airborne particles, and droplets such as sneezes and coughs, consider picking up takeout with caution to stay safe and healthy. Many food delivery services have introduced contactless drop-offs to minimize the risk of transmission. Here’s what you can do when picking up takeout:
- Pay with Credit/Debit card instead of cash.
- Maintain a physical distance with others.
- Clean hands with hand sanitizer after you picked up your takeout.
Precautions to Take When You Return Home
- Wash for hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds to remove dirt, germs, and other hazardous substances.
- Rinse the purchased products with water before consuming it to remove harmful pesticides, germs, and dirt.
There are no rules for takeout but the best you can do is to put them safely in your own plate or container, throw the takeout container in a closed bin, and clean your hands with hand sanitizer or wipes before eating.
When it comes to takeout and food delivery, it is advisable to follow social distancing rules and wash your hands properly after handling packaging to prevent the spread of bacterial and viral contaminants. Customers, drivers, and restaurant workers must follow all the necessary measures to limit the transmission.
