If youre nervous every time you set foot in a grocery store now, welcome to the club.
Six months before the coronavirus pandemic hit, we begantraveling the United States in an RV.
Every time we go to restock, I can feel theanxietyovertaking every inch of my body.
Adobe Stock / Stolenpencil
Generally, Im not an overly germ-averse person.
This causes respiratory droplets to launch into the air.
The big ones typically fall within a few feet from where you are, he says.
But experts are still looking into how long these droplets could potentially hang in the air.
Heres what they recommend you do on your next shopping trip.
Wear a cloth face covering.
When the pandemic first began, experts didnt recommend that seemingly healthy people wear a face mask in public.
Covering your face isnt necessarily personal protection; its community protection, says Hedberg.
Resist the urge to touch your face.
The reality is that youre going to have to touch a lot of things to get your shopping done.
First, a cart.
Then, every single product you pick up to buy.
And finally, youll touch the credit card machine or cash when you go to pay.
Thats the bare minimum.
Wipe down the shopping cart handle before you touch it.
But you want to see to it youre following the instructions for whichever disinfectant youre using.
Remember to stay a safe distance from other people.
Skip the disposable gloves.
First, the virus cant penetrate yourskin barrier.
This is a virus that has to get into your respiratory tract to cause infection, says Hedberg.
Its not going to enter it through your skin.
[Gloves are] not really designed to be touching all these different surfaces, Petrie explains.
Dont spend extra time on unnecessary safety steps.
That sort of thinking isnt necessary, says Hedberg.
Dont worry about trying to take this (exhausting) step, Swartzberg says.
Choose self-checkout if you’re free to.
The risk is probably greater for an employee who is interacting with hundreds of different customers, says Hedberg.
When you get home, wash your hands and put your food away like normal.
The first thing you should always do when you get home is wash your hands.
Then unload your groceries and put them away.
This is another step a lot of us are overthinking.
Experts dont think its totally necessary towipe downevery item you bought.
And thats going to deal with the problem.
This isnt a new rule experts have enacted in light of the new coronavirus pandemic.
Experts are generally not concerned about COVID-19 transmission through food.
Food and Drug Administration(FDA), foodborne exposure is not known to be a route of transmission.
(Its not a great time to have anon-coronavirus health emergency, after all.)
Wash produce with water before eating it.
Experts also suggest washing fresh fruits and veggies like you normally would to double-check theyre clean.
Oh, and see to it to wash your hands before and after you do it.
(Heres exactly how to washall fruit and veggies.)
Again, the FDA is not concerned that the virus causing COVID-19 will get people sick via food.
Just confirm you let everything dry before storing it in the fridge so it doesnt get moldy quickly.
