How To Shop Safely For Groceries During COVID-19

Posted By: Steve Urness
April 13, 2020 @ 4:37 pm
News

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Center for Disease Control (CDC) tells us that coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets. Currently there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food.

Although many people worry about the possibility of picking up the coronavirus from things like grocery store cereal boxes, the biggest risk is venturing to the grocery store to shop for food. It is possible to contract the virus from contaminated surfaces, the majority of transmission is probably going to be from respiratory droplets, which you’re exposed to when you’re around other people.

Some rules:
1. Avoid crowds and shop quickly. Stay 6 feet away from other people.
2. Wear a face covering. This is to protect others from you as much as it is to protect you from other people who may be infected.
3. Go alone.
4. Wear a cloth mask.
5. Sanitize carts and your hands when you arrive at the grocery store.
6. Practice social distancing while shopping in the grocery store stay 6 feet away from people.
7. Keep your hands away from your face as you shop.
8. Don’t use the phone because that brings your hands close to your face.
9. Protect the cashiers by standing at lease 6 feet away while checking out.
10. Earlier research has found that cash currency can harbor lots of microorganisms but we don’t know about coronavirus. Choose a credit card to pay your bill and sanitize your credit card when you get home.
11. Sanitize your hands (washing with soap and water for 20 seconds or using a sanitizer)
at home before you go to the store, after you leave the store, and again when you arrive home, and lastly after you have put your groceries away.

Next column we’ll talk about how to care for the food you have purchased that you bring into your home.

For more information on COVID-19 go to www.health.nd.gov and click on coronavirus (more information) or call their hotline at 1-866-207-2880 or contact City County Health District about any concerns or needs that you may have (845-8518)