10 Ways to protect yourself from Coronavirus while shopping

The Coronavirus or Covid-19 is spreading in a vast majority. Within seconds we see people being suspected with it. Doctors and experts are telling us to have precautions and avoid crowded places, is that shopping? With the pandemic that is going on, people are advised to stay quarantined. For that, everybody needs to do grocery shopping and have some essentials so that they do not have to step out of their houses. The stores having basic necessities and grocery shops are receiving a huge influx in their business. But for staying quarantined, people do have to stay indoors, and for that, you need to step out of your home in the first place to get necessary supplies.

So here, I have mentioned some useful tips by which you can have your supplies and prevent yourself from the novel Coronavirus or COVID-19.

How to protect yourself from Coronavirus while shopping

Staying at home is advised by everybody. And while this is the best solution right now to avoid the Coronavirus, it is essential to get the necessary items we need for our everyday life. Before getting quarantined, we need to go to stores to get our essential items. But don’t be worried below are some useful tips which you follow will keep you safe while shopping in the stores.

1. Use hand sanitizer

Using a hand sanitizer is the best thing you can do right now. It is such a basic step, but many people still fail to follow it. Just like every other virus, Coronavirus also has an outer barrier that can be disrupted by the alcohol present in the sanitizer causing the death of the virus.

2. Go shopping when the stores are less busy

Although this one might be a little difficult to follow because everyone everywhere is buying things at such a  high rate to stay quarantined. But you can always go early in the mornings and avoid crowds. Being in your local area, try to find out the best times when the stores will be less crowded. You cannot find the stores to be completely empty, so try to go there when it is least crowded. The more you avoid people, the safer you will be.

3. Don’t touch irrelevant stuff

If you are not going to buy anything, then don’t touch it. Of course, you will be carrying your sanitizer along with you. Still try to avoid touching things. Try to read the labels to check the necessary ingredients or buy the things which you already know you will need. Stores are visited by many, and the items are probably touched by more than half of them, so you should try to avoid having direct contact with things that you don’t even need in the first place.

4. Pay using a debit card or credit card

Avoiding human contact is the main precaution you should take to prevent Coronavirus. Handing or receiving cash leads to direct hand contact. Moreover, you don’t even know who paid this cash earlier and the state of that person. So try paying digitally to keep yourselves safe. You can also use popular phone apps where you can directly pay from your bank.

5. Wear masks

Yes, sanitizers are essential, but so are masks. You cannot choose one amongst the two. It will be best if you choose both. Following all the necessary precautions is what the world needs right now. So even if you carry sanitizer, wear masks in public t protect yourself from the virus that might be present in the air.

6. Wear fully covered clothes

This is again an important tip to follow. Coronavirus can attach to your skin, be it on any part of your body. According to studies, wearing full clothes prevents the virus from coming in direct contact with your body. This may be highly effective but is still a precautionary step. Once you go back home, you can wash these clothes and wear them again.

7. Keep your distance

This is yet difficult to follow because all the stores are so highly crowded. Everybody wants to have their supplies before getting quarantined. But if you can, and there is space, then try to maintain distance from the other people around you. Be it customers or even the department staff. Try to maintain distance. You cannot see and decide if a person is positive for Coronavirus. So keeping in mind, your own safety, stay at least one hand distance away from other people in the store.

8. Wash the items you purchased with soap water

Just like any other virus, soap water disrupts the outer membrane of the virus, causing its death. Once you have bought the items from the stores. Wash even the packaged materials with soap water or sanitize with alcohol-based sanitizer before finally using it. You never know who touched it before you.

9. Buy packaged food material

I know a lot of people do not like purchasing fruits and vegetables that are pre-packed. But this is not the time for a debate on whether the packaged foods are better or the non-packaged ones. Many people directly touch the non-packaged ones. Although you will be using it before cooking, the chances of you not getting the virus are pretty low. So instead, buy packaged fruits and vegetables. The food is packed in a material that you can wash and throw off. Also, in packaged food, the food doesn’t come in direct contact with other people.

10. Order online

Mariyam from The Life Hype suggests, if you want to avoid stepping out of your home totally, then you can always order food online. There are many websites and apps where you can get food delivered to your home. Many apps also supply vegetables and fruits. Although the entire world is getting attacked by this novel Coronavirus, it won’t be 100% safe to say that the food delivered to you will be safe for consumption. So instead of having food delivered, you can always order for packaged fruits and vegetables which you would otherwise buy at your local stores. Once you receive them to wash it off and cleanse them with water thoroughly to prevent any further damage.

• Don’t purchase imported items
• Used hand glove to open the packaging box
• Immediately sanitize the product you purchase online
• Wash your hand thoroughly

So these were some of my tips which you can apply when going for shopping. To stay quarantined everybody needs some supplies and for those, you need to go shopping before you run out of resources. Below I have mentioned some other tips which will help you remain safe from this hazardous virus which is infecting us.

Tips to remain safe from COVID-19

• Use disinfectant to wipe your hands along with the cart
• Use spray sanitizer to spray on everything and everyone before they enter the house.
• Use hot water to gargle because this virus stays in your throat before affecting your body. Using hot water might kill the virus.
• Wear gloves when going out
• Don’t go out of your house often, and it is best to stay indoors.

So, these where some of my tips which I think will be helpful while you are shopping and in general. People are getting affected and killed in vast numbers, and it is time to take this seriously because it can kill millions of people. We have already seen enough hazards just at the beginning of 2020.

We, as humans, can follow these simple shopping tips not only to protect ourselves but also to the people we love. Share this general information and tips to as many people as you know because together, we can survive and beat this. Doctors and researchers are doing their best to control and kill it, but we as the people can also apply some of these tips to our routine to stay safe.