Joe Ceisel is a dentist and long-time Rotary member. He offers suggestions for keeping safe when grocery shopping during these difficult times.
Keep in mind I am not an epidemiologist, but I have 40 years of experience thinking about cross contamination issues. I don't see much downside to my advice as it is inexpensive and easy to implement. If it is an excess of caution, great.
We now live with a staying in order. If you know someone who is not taking this seriously, remind them they are putting the rest of us at risk by their carelessness. If you are outside your home, remember to maintain distance from your friends as well as strangers. If you have predisposing health conditions, try to get someone else to do your grocery shopping.
Our prime location for picking up or dispersing COVID-19 is now the grocery store; this is one of the few opportunities for contact with anyone other than those we live with. So, when you buy groceries:
1 Buy in larger sufficient quantities of an item for one to two weeks—not to hoard, but to limit the overall time you spend in the stores over the next few weeks.
2 Plan your list well—You don’t want to go in every day for one or two items
3 If possible, don’t use cash. The last person to hold it, may have had COVID-19. In fact, it may be you passing on COVID-19 without knowing it.
4 Keep a roll of plastic wrap in your car. When you go in, bring a piece. Use it to press the keys on the credit card terminal.
5 Wear a mask in the grocery store-BUT DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE IF YOU ADJUST YOUR MASK. If you don’t have a mask, see the YouTube video on how to make one from a paper towel and two rubber bands.
6 When you get home, take off your shoes at the door. You don’t know what you might be tracking in. Leave the shoes there or wipe the soles with disinfectant.
7 When you get home, leave non-perishables in the bag for at least 24 hours. If anything is contaminated, it gives the virus time to die before you handle the items again.
8 When you go out, wear a jacket that is easily washed. When you get home, hang it somewhere it is isolated or wash it.
9 If the glove supply improves, wear gloves in the store.
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