Shoppers have been issued with handy new advice to minimize the risk of contracting coronavirus during and following a trip to the shops.
While there are already social distancing measures in place in-store to protect customers and staff, there are further steps you can take before, during and after purchasing goods.
Health bodies, The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), Environmental Health Association of Ireland (EHAI) and Irish Global Health Network (IGHN), have now issued more detailed guidelines.
The advice says: "The main risk to shoppers is coming into contact with an infected person."
In its guidance it adds: "If possible, avoid taking your children to the shops and try to shop at off-peak times to avoid the crowds.
"Most shops now have special times for the elderly to shop to reduce risks to them.
"These are usually in the morning but check with your local store. There may also be special arrangements for health care workers."
In addition to using hand sanitiser and maintaining social distancing, here are more tips from officials for helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while picking up your essentials.
Before shopping
They advise shoppers to make an inventory of what items they have and when it will go out of date so they can use them in date order and avoid wasting food and money by buying things they don’t need.
"Make a list and ensure you have enough food to last until your next planned shop. Use your freezer to store shorter life, perishable items such as bread and meats," it said.
During shopping
While control measures differ between supermarkets, most prioritise sanitising trolleys and baskets between use, limiting the number of customers in-store at any one time and using clear social distancing markings on the shop floor.
Here's what you can do:
- Maintain a safe distance between staff and other shoppers.
- Bring your own hand sanitiser. "If you need to handle a basket or trolley, ask if it has been sanitised since last being used. If not, sanitise using either your own sanitiser or that provided by the store. Sanitise your hands when you enter the store, ideally with your own sanitiser or, if available, that provided by the store."
- Avoid contact with surfaces as much as possible.
- Don’t delay while shopping or chat with neighbours/friends/store staff.
- Consider buying non-perishable foods, such as canned goods or dry mixes.
- Use contactless payment if possible.
- Use the same hand to pick up produce and sanitise hands after leaving the supermarket.
After shopping
- Wash and sanitise your hands again once home. Then, designate a cleared, disinfected area to sort out your shopping.
- Prior to stocking your fridges and cupboards, wipe shelving with sanitiser and a paper towel, then discard.
- Wipe down all tins and hard surface packs with a paper towel/warm soapy water as "coronavirus can survive on hard surfaces".
- Alternatively leave non-perishable foods in a safe place for 72 hours.
- Remove outer food packaging and discard, being careful to limit handling of the inner packaging of items such as yoghurts.
- Wipe down fridge and cupboard handles with sanitiser and paper towel.
- Wash your hands again after you have unpacked and put your shopping bags away.
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For the latest guidance on coronavirus from Health Protection Scotland, click here.
