2020, a year like no other! The year that majorly changed our perspectives of this uncertain life. It all started in the first week of February when the U.S Parliament declared a medical emergency due to the coronavirus outbreak, three days after WHO declared a Global Health Emergency.
Almost everything in our lives underwent a massive transformation from something as basic as our eating habits to something as critical as stock investments. It changed working schedules for those who were lucky to have stable jobs while others were rendered jobless. It presented unprecedented challenges to employment, healthcare, economy, and food systems. Out of all, the most tragic was the massive loss of lives.
While the cases of people who are being infected have dropped down by a considerable extent, the virus has not gone off completely. WHO has advised people to still exercise care.
Of the many challenges posed by COVID-19 even today, a crucial one is to ensure a smooth flow of fresh, unadulterated groceries to the kitchen. It is something that demands careful consideration since it makes us better equipped to cope with pandemic stress.
Here are four ways to practice safe grocery shopping during the pandemic as everything else can be suppressed but the craving for good food.
1. Shop When the Traffic is Low
One of the easiest things you can do to ensure safety is to visit the groceries in the early morning or odd afternoon hours when there are comparatively fewer buyers. If you are uncertain about the timings, dial your local grocery store to get an idea about the same.
Enquire about the special services they are offering during the pandemic like ‘Senior Hours” i.e. a certain period which is exclusively kept for the elderlies and people who are more prone to catching the disease. Some stores even suggest placing an order beforehand so that you do not have to spend extra time picking the items.
2. Use Online Payment Methods
It might not sound like a feasible idea to some, especially senior citizens and those who are not that technically sound. However, a bigger risk would be to use the coins and currency notes that would have travelled miles and caught infection from innumerable touches.
You can usually ensure safety in an online transaction by being a little cautious. Eliminating the need of exchanging notes and bills can save you from a lot of trouble later.
3. Opt for Home Delivery Services Wherever Possible
A lot many stores have started offering online grocery shopping and home delivery services since the onset of the pandemic. Do a quick research of stores near you that are offering these services and avail them to avoid a public encounter. If you cannot find one, contact the store manager and request the same.
Since it ensures the safety of both customers and the store staff, most groceries would gladly agree. However, due care must be taken while buying perishable items and non-vegetarian food since they can quickly stale. Make sure to see the reviews of customers online.
For example, Stock Yards– a meat delivery company has a detailed review of its products that can help you decide. Look for similar descriptions for the stores you choose
4. Proper Sanitisation of Purchased Items
A must thing to do pre and post-shopping is proper sanitization of the cart, carry-bag, and most importantly your hands. Upon reaching home you should always put the carry-bag in a proper place that is not frequently used and then sanitise it from the outside.
Note here that your groceries need not be disinfected or it may lose its nutritional value and also become unfit for consumption though you must sanitise the frequently touched items/places such as the doorknob, key-holder, etc. If there are vegetables or fruits in the bag, it can be cleaned with a mild wash and packed bakery products could be sanitised through disinfectants or sanitising wipes
Practice patience!
The most important thing, besides the ones mentioned above, is to maintain your cool during this tough time. It is certainly not the best time to be when something as basic as the food security of millions is at risk.
Do not resort to stockpiling however tempting it may appear. It not only deprives other people of their necessities but leads to wastage that we cannot afford during these turbulent times.
Try and understand that you might not be able to get the fancy food items for a treat at present and sometimes even the essentials would be out of stock for a while, the key is to stay patient in that situation because now is the time for international solidarity with special attention to those who are more vulnerable in the society.
