Shopping for essentials: Keep these precautions in mind

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) laid down some guidelines regarding shopping. Here’s what they said:

When to avoid shopping

It is advised that one avoids going to the market if they feel sick or show any symptoms of COVID-19. Here are the symptoms to watch out for:

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*Fever
*Cough
*Shortness of breath
*Chills
*Muscle pain
*Headache
*Sore throat
*New loss of taste or smell

Order food and other essential items online. (Source: Getty Images)

How to protect yourself while shopping

* Stay at a distance of 6 ft from others while shopping, and stand in a queue.

* Cover your nose and mouth properly with a cloth covering or mask.

* Ideally, you should go to the store during the hours fewer people are likely to be present, for instance early morning or late night.

* Do not touch your eyes, nose, mouth or your face covering while at the store. Use disinfecting wipes, if available.

* When shopping, keep raw meat, poultry, seafood and their juices away from other foods.

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* Make the payment online without touching money or card. In case you have to use it, apply sanitiser on your hands right after paying.

* After leaving the store, use hand sanitiser.

* Once you get home, put your groceries away and wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

* Rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running water.

For online deliveries

* Make the payment online to avoid contact.

* Accept deliveries without in-person contact wherever possible. Ask for the delivery to be left at a safe spot outside the house, with no person-to-person interaction. If you are receiving a package from a delivery person, maintain a distance of at least 6 ft.