It's smart to take measures to protect yourself from COVID-19 as you do your holiday shopping. Before you head out, make sure you have everything you need: reusable shopping bags, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes. Grocery shopping safety tips during coronavirus pandemic. Be extra cautious if you or a loved one is more likely to get sick from COVID-19. Since there will likely be more consumers shopping online this holiday season than ever before, consider making your purchases early. And if you're supporting local businesses and are ordering in dinner, here are 7 Tips for Safe Food Ordering Amid Coronavirus Concerns. Leaving groceries in your car for 3 days. And speaking of, here are 31 Healthy Store-Bought Frozen Foods To Stock In Your Freezer. Limiting the number of items you handle not only puts you at less risk, but ultimately makes the store cleaner as well. The strangest year in recent memory will be capped off by the strangest, and potentially most dangerous holiday season. Consider ordering groceries online for pick up or delivery. Explore our picks of the best brokerage accounts for beginners for January 2021. That’s why our expert – who has reviewed hundreds of cards – signed up for this one personally. What follows are some guidelines on what not to do when you're out food shopping, and what you should do instead. Presuming you don't need to also keep an eye on your children, try to go shopping alone. Food hygiene when shopping. You don't want to risk spreading any germs to others. And for more tips on when you just shouldn't head outside, here are 7 Signs You Shouldn't Be Going to the Grocery Store. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention having recommended that people wear cloth, non-medical face coverings in public to help … Some locations have temporarily banned the use of reusable shopping bags during the COVID-19 pandemic, so check your state, local, store or … Covid-19 is a respiratory illness - it's mainly spread by droplets of fluid that come out of an infected person's nose and mouth, which can then be breathed in by people nearby. COVID-19: Safety Tips for You May 13, 2020 As some communities begin to reopen during the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, public health officials say the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. If you would like to take a test, here's Where to Get a Free Test for COVID-19. The American Red Cross is closely monitoring the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and following the latest guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So what are the best practices to stay safe and lessen risks of contracting, or sharing, COVID-19? This way, you're armed with all the best tips that keep you, and perhaps more importantly, others around you, from contracting this illness… or any germs, for that matter. Although holiday shopping may not be essential, much of the same advice applies. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. You can unsubscribe at any time. If you need to do any in-store gift shopping, it's best to get it done as soon as possible. The Ascent is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from offers on this page. When you receive online orders, try to avoid contact with the delivery person. The best option is to shop for everything online, because then you won't need to go into any stores. Shopping for groceries during the coronavirus pandemic can be a stressful task, with long lines at the registers or outside the markets, for those that … If not, see if it's possible to get a contactless version of one of your current credit cards or apply for one of the top contactless credit cards. Before you apply for a personal loan, here's what you need to know. This allows you to avoid physical contact with cashiers or payment terminals that go through hundreds of transactions per day. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Former FBI official-turned-NBC News analyst speaks out against 'bureau bashing', 'Gondor has no king': Pro-Trump lawyer files a bizarre election lawsuit citing the imaginary kingdom in Lord of The Rings. We have not reviewed all available products or offers. The risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) cross-contamination to food and food packaging is very low. If you are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19, you should avoid leaving home unless you need medical assistance. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. His work has also appeared on MSN Money, USA Today, and Yahoo! Finance. We are all in this together. Having to handle money can easily aid in the spread of unwanted germs for everyone involved, so it's best to pay with a credit or debit card. Compensation may impact the order in which offers appear on page, but our editorial opinions and ratings are not influenced by compensation. Yes, you almost certainly have heard this particular tip one thousand times, but here is the 1,001 time. Wearing a mask protects you from any air-born encounters and it also protects others in case you're a carrier of the Coronavirus. Covid-19 vaccine safety is top of mind for many. Wash Your Hands Before and After Grocery Shopping. We do receive compensation from some partners whose offers appear on this page. Best & Worst Refinance Mortgage Companies of 2021, Seniors Are Getting These Unsold 2020 SUVs For Dirt Cheap, A slam dunk if you need a balance transfer, 7 Signs You Shouldn't Be Going to the Grocery Store, 20 Hand-Washing Mistakes That Help Coronavirus Spread, shops have started opening senior-only hours, 15 Groceries Every Home Should Have Right Now, Easy, healthy, 350-calorie recipe ideas you can make at home, How to Save Money on Groceries During the COVID-19 Pandemic, palming your favorite piece of fruit for ripeness, How to Safely Wash Fruits and Vegetables During the Coronavirus Pandemic, 31 Healthy Store-Bought Frozen Foods To Stock In Your Freezer, 7 Tips for Safe Food Ordering Amid Coronavirus Concerns. of dollars in rewards back in your pocket each year. Professor of Food Safety at NC State University Benjamin Chapman gives tip to shopping safely and receiving deliveries during coronavirus. COVID-19 Grocery Shopping Tips BEFORE YOU GO Only make needed trips. Early birds get the worm and the toilet paper! There are several contactless grocery services you can shop from the safety of your home as you avoid unknowingly spreading the coronavirus to others. And for more helpful tips, here's exactly How to Save Money on Groceries During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Check out our top picks of the best online savings accounts for January 2021. Be thoughtful and courteous of others who are also shopping for their own families. Wash your hands. The following information provides advice about how to meet these household needs in a safe and healthy … To find out if you have a contactless credit card, look for a wave symbol or ask your card issuer. Travel may increase your chance of spreading and getting COVID-19. So if someone is reaching for a tub of ice cream when you were thinking of heading over there, perhaps circle back to the freezer aisle after you pick up other items so no area gets too crowded! If you do end up doing in-store shopping, you'll be at less risk if you go at non-peak times while there are fewer people. The way in which you pay for your groceries might've not been a big deal before, but handing off cash isn't ideal right now. Tags: coronavirus, covid-19, vaccine A life long Mac user and Apple enthusiast, Yoni Heisler has been writing about Apple and the tech industry at large for over 6 years. Make sure you get rid of outer packaging immediately and wash your hands thoroughly after handling packages. Don’t go to the store if you are sick. If you are going to the market, make the last thing you do before leaving your home—and the first thing you do upon returning home—be a good hand wash. Want to wear surgical gloves? ), and somehow still sports a $0 annual fee. When going to touch items at the grocery store, you don't want to accidentally contaminate these items or allow germs to enter your immune system. Maintain social distancing of at least six feet from others when possible. While all feature a federally mandated "sneeze guard," it's best to avoid food that is open and vulnerable to any airborne particles during this time. In addition to making an organized game plan and grocery list ahead … Here are 15 Groceries Every Home Should Have Right Now. Make sure you don't limit your shopping opportunities by thinking that Black … Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Here are the most important recommendations to follow for your holiday shopping: You can find a full list of recommendations for a variety of situations on the CDC's site. Go early. Even if you think you just have a cold, you should stay home and not venture outside. Please read our Privacy Statement and Terms & Conditions. Since this is advice from the experts, it's the most effective way to stay safe. Everything You Need to Know About Savings, very low risk of transmitting coronavirus, Copyright, Trademark and Patent Information. It also puts you at a greater risk of catching the virus. But there could be plenty of people and a long wait before you can even get in the doors. Get your in-store shopping done early. VanWingen makes clear that going out poses a risk, so only go shopping if you must. Health experts agree that properly washing … You can buy what you want from home, without needing to come into contact with a store full of people. But with so many cards out there, you need to choose wisely. You can't eliminate your risk entirely, but you can significantly lower it. Even without a pandemic, shopping carts are considered to be jam-packed with germs, so wipe them down when you can. The earlier you go, the less likely you are to encounter crowds. The Ascent is reader-supported: we may earn a commission from offers on this page. This is just a bogus hack that unfortunately went viral after … Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. Many grocery stores offer hot and cold food bars for shoppers to load up on prepared foods. Carolyn Cannuscio, director of research at the Center for Public Health Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania, offers these six tips for food shopping during the coronavirus pandemic. Coronavirus Update: Latest Grocery Shopping Tips To Stay Safe From COVID-19. If you follow a few simple safety measures, you're more likely to stay safe as you pick up holiday gifts for your loved ones. If you really have an itch, scratch away, but make sure you disinfect with wipes or hand sanitizer immediately! Before you travel. The more people that are in the store, the higher the risk. We're not here to make any fashion statements, we're here to get necessities and keep everyone safe while doing so. RELATED: Easy, healthy, 350-calorie recipe ideas you can make at home. The Ascent's Definitive Credit Score Guide. The Centers for Disease Control’s COVID-19 prevention guidelines include avoiding “discretionary” travel, shopping trips and social visits for at least 15 days. Fomites are particulates that put you at risk and exist on door handles and shop counters, so don't be afraid to hand sanitize or disinfect anything you need to touch. Wait until you are feeling better before going to the store! and last updated 2020-04-01 19:40:54-04. Because grocery stores are at their cleanest and most stocked at the start … It's the logical conclusion of "adult swims" from the community pool from decades ago! Make a very detailed list of the groceries you need, and if possible, order it by how you navigate your local store. The Ascent is a Motley Fool service that rates and reviews essential products for your everyday money matters. Explore the best credit cards in every category as of January 2021. Another way to protect yourself when shopping for gifts in stores is to pay with a contactless credit card. All rights reserved. It's a good idea to take extra precautions when you do your holiday shopping. The agency cautions that “time spent with others in passenger vehicles may increase the risk of exposure” to SARS-CoV-2 – the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Because grocery stores are at their cleanest and most stocked at the start of the day, many shops have started opening senior-only hours of shopping in the first hour that they're open. Read more: How to Safely Wash Fruits and Vegetables During the Coronavirus Pandemic. Copyright © 2018 - 2021 The Ascent. When shopping for food or going to a restaurant to pick up takeout, customers should use hand sanitizer before entering the building and wash their hands or … If you decide to engage in public activities, continue to protect yourself by practicing everyday preventive actions. It also helps to shop at off hours, if you can. (Honestly, even if the coronavirus pandemic weren't in the air, these food bars are something to think twice about if you're worried about catching potential germs.). And while palming your favorite piece of fruit for ripeness is a time-honored produce section tradition, it's best to probably put that particular best-practice aside until the pandemic passes. By submitting your email address, you consent to us sending you money tips along with products and services that we think might interest you. Limiting your time in the store limits your risk of picking up any contagion. A public health expert states the truth about COVID-19 and groceries, including myths about washing fruit in soapy water and leaving food out for 3 days. But what should you do if … Popular products could go out of stock more quickly than they would have in the past. CDC continues to recommend postponing travel and staying home, as this is the best way to protect yourself and others this year. According to experts, this is the single most important thing you can do to keep your family safe from COVID-19. Fine, but do not let that give you a false sense of security that leads you to potentially touch your face like it's no big deal.