A lot of businesses had postponed their operations due to the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, many states in the US are issuing stay-at-home orders to slow down the spread of the deadly disease, says an article.

But an exception to these businesses is grocery stores. Multiple supermarkets have decided to implement new store hours to shift to the specific needs of those who are vulnerable to the illness and reduce the risk of spreading the disease to others.

However, there is still a chance to get infected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's director Doctor Robert Redfield, about a quarter of infected individuals do not show symptoms of the illness.

Here are some tips on how to keep your trip to the grocery store safer:

The Best Time to Visit the Grocery Store

Various grocery store chains have special hours designated only for elderly shoppers and those who have pre-existing health conditions.

It is advisable only to seek out the grocery store that implements regular cleaning measuring and enforce social distancing.

According to the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology's president-elect Ann Marie Pettis, it is safer to visit grocery stores in the earlier parts of the morning and mid-day. During these periods, grocery stores usually are not crowded. However, there may be changes to those periods due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Wear a Face Mask While Grocery Shopping

According to an announcement made by President Donald Trump, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be revising recommendations to advise the public to wear face masks when they go out to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus.

People should strictly follow social distancing guidelines and properly wash their reusable masks at home, says Pettis. Also, the public is advised to use alcohol-based sanitizers and disinfectant wipes while the outside.

She also advises everyone to bring outside as little stuff as possible. This helps prevents contamination of a lot of things that they bring inside their homes.


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Follow the Guidelines on Social Distancing

In any enclosed areas such as grocery stores, social distancing guidelines should be strictly observed.

Many supermarkets had arranged lines on the floor for shoppers to have a visual representation of how a 6-foot social distancing space looks. Other shops have designated aisles that allow traffic in a single file. This will enable shoppers to prevent bumping into each other.

Pettis also recommends shoppers to avoid busy aisles and suggests staying six feet away from the shop in front.

Make Cashless Payments

One of the safest ways to pay for your grocery items is through cashless payment. Cashless payments can be made through Apple or Google Play.

If the grocery store cannot accept a mobile payment option, then credit card or debit card usage is a safer alternative than giving out cash. Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, there have already been studies that reveal paper money can host thousands of microbes from different environments.