With the number of novel coronavirus cases on the rise,
heading out to the grocery store (or ordering from a grocery delivery service)
to stock up on essentials is a good idea. But at the same time, health experts
have encouraged social distancing as an effective way to control the virus’s
spread. With all those people in close contact and all those surfaces touched
by thousands, how can you ensure your trip to the grocery store is as safe as
possible? Is it better to just get groceries delivered, and how can you ensure
food deliveries are safe?
To understand the best practices for shopping, ordering, and
unpacking your groceries, I spoke to Dr. Robert Amler, Dean of the School of
Health Sciences and Practice at New York Medical College and a former CDC Chief
Medical Officer who coordinated medical monitoring for anthrax response teams.
First, a Recap of the
Basics
The novel coronavirus is not simply flying around the air;
it is transferred to others through droplets that come out of the nose and
mouth of someone who is infected, usually through coughing or sneezing. That
droplet can infect you if it lands on your hands and then you touch your hands
to your eyes, mouth, or nose; if it is sprayed directly in your eyes, mouth, or
nose, or if it lands on a surface you touch, and you then touch eyes hands or
mouth, or if it lands on food you eat.
Before You Leave
Home: Wash your hands
Wash your hands with soap and water before you leave your
home. When you get to the store, you will be touching lots of surfaces
—shopping carts, credit card keypads, and products that many others have
touched. But Dr. Amler says before you lose your mind, to remember that most of
these surfaces will not be grossly contaminated. “It’s really rare to see
people sneezing on produce all day long,” he says. Keep it in perspective. And
try not to touch your nose, mouth or eyes while in the store.
Once you have checked out, paid and all groceries are bagged
up, he recommends washing or sanitizing hands again before heading home, and
trying not to touch your face.
While Shopping:
Follow the Six-Feet Rule
If you happen to be in a grocery store and you find yourself
near someone coughing or sneezing, Dr. Amler says to move away. “If you are in
an aisle where someone is sneezing stay a minimum of six feet away from or go
to another aisle,” he says. Dr. Amler says wearing gloves is more a question of
your personal comfort zone. “Wearing gloves to the grocery is an extra layer of
protection that can be used, in particular if you are at higher risk, but once
you have touched things with your gloves and then you touch your face with your
gloves, you have defeated the purpose of that protection,” he says. “And it’s
really hard not to touch your hands to your face.”
When You Get Home:
Wash up Again and Scrub Fresh Produce
When you get home, Dr. Amler says to wash your hands again
and to give your produce a good scrubbing in lots of fresh water (soap is not
needed). If you are concerned about transmission, or if you are older or in one
of the more at risk categories, he says
you may consider switching temporarily to frozen fruits and vegetables or
packaged goods.
There's No Proven
Need to Wipe Down Groceries
“There is no scientific evidence on this point, but an extra
measure of caution does not hurt,” says Dr. Amler. “But you don't need to be completely phobic
about the whole thing. It’s really a matter of personal preference and
precaution.”
Dr. Amler says if you are putting items in storage for use
in a week or so, not to bother. “We don't expect the virus to last for weeks at
a time; some estimates are up to 9 days but that has not been scientifically
proven, so if you are putting it away in storage for a while it won't make a
difference.”
How Safe Is Food
Delivery?
In terms of accepting delivery into your home, Dr. Amler
repeats much of the same advice: wash your hands after you accept delivery and
before you eat, and if you are accepting fresh produce, wash it thoroughly.
Wipe down containers and anything that has been handled.
Instacart offers no-contact delivery of groceries and other
goods, Postmates users are now given options for drop-off that include having
the delivery left at the door, and Fresh Direct delivery personnel will only
bring your order up to your door, but cannot enter your home, and will not
collect reusable bags.
Uber Eats and Grubhub users have always had the ability to
make special delivery requests in the “Ordering Instructions” box in the
checkout section of the platform, including leaving food at the door, or with a
doorman. Diners can also contact their driver directly through the Grubhub app
to discuss delivery arrangements as soon as a driver accepts the order.
DoorDash released a statement saying it is “testing enhanced
features for contactless delivery to be rolled out shortly.” DoorDash’s
"delivery instruction" feature allows requests for food to be left at
the door along with a photo of where the food should be left.
At Home, Keep
Hands—and Surfaces—Clean
In terms of the virus’ lifespan on surfaces, Dr. Amler says
the science is not clear and therefore recommends wiping down surfaces
regularly with bleach (not alcohol) and washing hands frequently with soap and
water (hand sanitizer is not necessary, but can be used if soap and water are
not available).
Yep, Get your Flu
Shot
While all of the precautions mentioned here are important,
Dr. Amler says the most critical point is to stay healthy. That means getting a
flu shot. “We want to avoid [any] respiratory infections,” he said. “We want
people to avoid getting sick, so get your flu shot. You want to avoid that just
as much as coronavirus and it’s not too late. Even though it’s not perfect, it
prevents many flu cases from getting worse.”
Credits: Andrea
Strong
Foodandwine.com
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