The common reality of shopping has become the fear of bringing home something unwanted in addition to the purchase. That is why it is important to take extra precautions. We encounter large numbers of people in shops and pharmacies, and there is a potentially greater danger of becoming infected. We have some tips for you to protect yourself and your loved ones.
1. Select one member in your family
You can reduce the risk of contracting the disease by choosing one family member to go shopping, run errands, walk the dog, take out the trash, or run other errands outside the home. Even if everything in your home is disinfected, and you think it is outside, if there is contact with an infected person, the risk will be low if only one of you does everything.
2. Appropriate food choices
You can also reduce the risk of infection by making appropriate food choices. You will certainly not make a mistake if you prefer foods with a long shelf life. It’s a good idea to disinfect everything when you get home. Wipe pasta bags, canned food and other packaged food with a disposable disinfectant wipe. Wash fruits and vegetables in water with vinegar. Don’t forget to disinfect your hands too – washing with warm water and soap is enough. Cook raw foods.
3. Speed of purchase is also important
Many people browse the store, look at the selection, then come back, and put what they wanted to buy in their cart. Because many people are in the store during opening hours, the risk of infection increases many times. Currently, the solution is to prepare a list of what we want to buy at home, pick up the items on the list, don’t touch the others, pay quickly and leave the store.
4. Hand protection is also important
When you leave the house, you may already be wearing protective disposable gloves. It is recommended to use hand sanitizer when you enter anyway. Every store has it right at the entrance. When you put your purchase in your bag, you can take the gloves off. Do this carefully, making sure you don’t touch any parts you touched on the items outside. The virus has been proven to survive on some surfaces for several days. Therefore, use the disinfectant on baskets as well.
5. Disposable bags are a big danger
One of the biggest dangers of getting infected is disposable bags. When you want to take one, you have to separate it from the whole bundle, and you never know who has taken a bag before you as well. They could have been the one infected and transmitted the virus to you. Many people touch their face or put their hand in their mouth, and both are breeding grounds for viruses. Carry your own bag, and one that you can wash.
6. Pay by card instead
Be sure to use a credit card when paying. Nowadays, almost all of them are contactless, so you don’t even need to enter a PIN. Bank notes and coins could be in the hand of someone who is infected.
7. Shop for the elderly
Seniors are a vulnerable group, so we can help protect them by shopping for them. And I’m not just talking about groceries, but other everyday necessities as well. In doing so, we maintain social contact with them so that they don’t feel socially excluded.
8. Leave the children at home instead
Children are social, and need to be with friends. So it goes without saying that they want to go shopping with us. Let’s try to explain to them that the shopping will be short, and we want to protect them from getting sick. We can buy them what they want without them.
9. Choosing the right shop
We try to avoid shops where there is little space, narrow aisles, inadequate ventilation. Therefore, it is better to go to large markets where the staff is properly instructed, uses protective masks, gloves, and disinfectant is ready for everyone.