6 safeguards while grocery shopping During COVID-19 or Corona

The Fast Facts

• The chart highlights the effectiveness of key safety measures during grocery shopping in COVID-19, showing stronger impact of social distancing and avoiding crowds, with significant benefits from mask usage and disinfection, and moderate contribution from gloves and online shopping practices (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also gave several information regarding how to make and use face mask from the cloth in a simple way.
• As per the new guidelines by the central government mass gathering in a group (max 5 people) increase the risk of transmission.

If you are the one who go to the market for grocery shopping then you have to face several problems during corona pandemic.

Inspite of several guidelines and awareness, we have to face huge crowds in the market. It may be in vegetable shop or in grocery shops.

It is quiet impossible to protect yourself from the infection in such conditions. So here are the 6 safeguards for you while you proceed for grocery shopping during corona pandemic.

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*Note– Some information may be out dated. Follow our live updates page for the latest information regarding Corona or COVID-19 pandemic.

Maintain Physical or Social Distance.

Maintain a social distance is the basic things during this pandemic. According to CDC they suggested to maintain at least 6 feet gap from each other.

Always avoid congested places and prefer less busy time for grocery shopping. Prefer smaller and native stores because such stores does not have large crowd.

According to the recent studies the novel corona virus is airborne and takes few hours to settle down. If an infected person sneeze, the virus will float in the air and can infect other persons too. So congested area should be avoid.

As per the new guidelines by the central government mass gathering in a group (max 5 people) increase the risk of transmission. So, avoid mass gathering.

Use Face Mask or Other Substitute.

It is too complicated to find out the infected one due to its common symptoms among the people. Using a face mask in public places prevent you from this infection.

It’s quite tough to maintain social distancing in grocery shops, ration stores, vegetable shops and pharmacies.

However, it is suggested by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to wear face mask or any other substitute like handkerchief or cloth. Wearing N95 masks or surgical mask are compulsory for those who are in frontline such as doctor, nurse etc.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also gave several information regarding how to make and use face mask from the cloth in a simple way.

Covid Impact on Online Grocery Shopping.

Now a days various cities have started grocery shopping through online. So that shoppers can delivered to their door step. In such way you can avoid a large crowd.

Avoid Storage.

We often had seen that people are store several foodstuffs and grocery items for the future purpose.

Whenever we store grocery and other items it creates shortage for the needy people.

However, central government has already declared that grocery shops, medical stores will remain open and the chain of supply will be continue.

Use Disposal Gloves and Disinfect Carts.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) posted on SSRN that 90% of COVID-19 transmission occurred up to March 21^st in the regions having temperature between 3 to 17 degree Celsius with absolute humidity around 4-9gm/cubic centimeter.

Several research was carried out with effect from 10^th March to 23^rd March 2020 regarding the connection of temperature and humidity on coronavirus. The same was published on SSRN and medRxiv (Well-known global depository).⁽¹⁾

Similarly, less than 6% of cases had occurred in the countries having temperature above 18 degree Celsius and absolute humidity was greater than 9gm/cubic centimetre.

Researchers from the University of Maryland’s Institute of Virology posted a paper on 9^th March 2020. They prove that transmission of coronavirus is more effective in 5 to 11 degree Celsius with low humidity.

As per the latest study this virus can survive on plastic and stainless surfaces up to 3 days.⁽²⁾ According to CDC several studies has been conducted regarding its activeness which may be variable from others.⁽³⁾

Another study in the New England Journal of Medicine it is found that this virus can active on plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours and on wooden surface for up to 24 hours.

At the time of billing both the shopkeeper and customers remain in close contact. You can use disposal gloves while you are in the market, it protects you from contamination. Either you can pay through online or cards.

Also make sure to clean your cart before handover to the following customers and don’t forget to wash your hands with sanitizer.

Clean Your Foodstuffs at Home.

For fruits and vegetables it suggests to cleaning them for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.

According to Food and Drug Administration such process are not recommended as its increase the risk of digestion. But if you clean it with fresh water then the risk may reduce.

Bottom Line.

The above mention safety measures are laid out by the CDC and other government agencies. Following such guidelines during corona while grocery shopping is too much important.

Your simple steps can save many lives. We have to fight against this situation by giving our full cooperation with the government. Stay safe and healthy.

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