While following all the necessary hygienic measures at home to fight the pandemic, is it not equally important to be cautious while buying daily needs items from the supermarkets or grocery stores? Of course it is. What is the purpose of lockdown or social distancing if you are carrying the germiest things from the stores to your place? The CDC, the World Health Organization and others health authorities, have clearly emphasised that both washing hands and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces daily are key measures in preventing Covid-19’s rapid spread. We are aware of the fact that some studies have revealed that this deadly virus can survive on metal, glass and plastic for as long as nine days, unless they are properly sanitized. So, this makes rational and careful purchasing mandatory. And if you are pregnant, diabetic, medically compromised or above 65 years, do not risk your lives by going out, instead ask someone to deliver it to your address. Lets try not to piggyback the grocery germs back to our house.
Go alone and maintain 1.5m distance
After you leave your house, do not forget to keep 1.5m distance from others. Avoid standing in groups. Maintain this safety gap throughout your shopping while walking through the aisle as well as at the time of billing over the counter. Don’t panic or buy anything in a hurry. Also visit the stores less frequently and only if necessary.
Wipe off the shopping cart handle
Use sanitizing wipes to wipe the cart handle, so that you don’t pick up the bacteria to your hands from where the chances of germ transmission are 80%. Since sick people might have touched it making it a possible niche for bacterial accumulation. Keep a sanitizer or wet wipes with you before stepping out or you can ask a staff of the store to offer you alcohol wipes.
Smart selection of raw veggies
A study by the American Society for Microbiology reported that one-third of men and 12 percent of women didn’t wash their hands after using the washroom. Variety of people touch the vegetables and fruits to choose the good ones and discard the rotten ones. While doing so, even a healthy looking veggie may develop a tear or cotton like stuff due to long storage and are usually sprayed with fertilizers or pesticides, so this allows entry to the germs. Avoid taking the bruised produce and make it a point to always select fresh and crack free items and wash them under free flowing clean water. If the packaging for meat, sea food, bread etc. is torn, resist buying it.
Check the body of canned goods
Never compromise to buy swollen, punctured or damp cans as it might have been contaminated with bacteria like Clostridium botulinum that causes botulism( food poisoning). Wipe the opening of the bottle or cans before using.
Reusable bags
We often use the same bag while going out for grocery shopping. National Sanitation Foundation International recommends rinsing reusable bags in soap and water after each use. The leakage from pressing hard over ripened fruits or veggies, cans or filthy dry remains left inside the bag provides shelter for breeding germs. The other choice is to use disposable or one time use bags.
