The authorities urge residents of the Russian Federation to stay at home until April 5, citing the coronavirus epidemic. You can only leave the house when necessary, for example, to the pharmacy or for groceries.
If you need to go to the store, follow basic safety rules. Consider ways to shop for groceries during a pandemic with minimal health risks.
Visiting hours: morning and evening
Hygienist Andrey Mosov asks Russian residents to visit shops in the morning and in the evening, because this time there are fewer people in them. Visiting times may vary depending on the region - remember when there is no queue at the shops. Do you remember? Great, so this is the perfect time to visit.
Advice: visit the big supermarkets, because in small shops with narrow aisles, you have to crowd with other people.
Choosing clothes: what to go for groceries
Choose clothing made from fabrics that retain moisture and do not absorb aerosols. These include: leather, eco-leather, microfiber, jacquard varieties. It is great if the fabric is saturated with substances from dirt and dust. In terms of shoes, there are no special recommendations, but after you cross the threshold of the apartment, immediately remove it and then wash your hands with soap and water (at least 20 seconds).
It is advisable to wear a hat, but it's already warm outside - very few people will go for it. In this case, long-haired girls and women do not hurt to pin their hair in a bun. It is best to choose shopping clothes that are easy to wipe off with a damp cloth. Change into your home clothes as soon as you get home.
Keeping distance: 2 meters
The best thing you can do in a store is to keep your distance from other customers. Approximate distance: 2 meters. Keep your distance, especially from those who have a sickly appearance: from those who cough, sneeze, who have watery eyes. Of course, it can be a common cold, but it's better to protect yourself.
Keep your distance, including at the checkout - many do not, out of habit, continuing to "crowded". Look around - the shops are not so crowded now, no one is hurrying anyone. Many people practice wearing medical masks on their face, so this is what I want to say - it does not have special protective effects.
Coronavirus and Products: Treatment Methods
Few people think that store products can also be sources of viruses. The coronavirus can live on things for up to several days. This means it can be found on a milk carton, cereal packaging and other products. What to do in this case? Of course, handle the food after you bring it home.
As a treatment, you can use any convenient method: either wash products and other things with soap and water, or with a sanitizer (moisten a cotton pad with it). As for vegetables and fruits, special attention should be paid to fruits. Ideally, it is advisable to scald them with boiling water, not to mention the obligatory thorough washing.
Advice: refrain from food that is prepared before directly eating: shawarma, pastries, rolls, pancakes, etc. A food service employee can be infected, which will lead to dangerous consequences.
Object Interaction: Safety Rules
Surely, you already understand what will be discussed. Try to avoid contact with door handles, racks, goods on the shelves (take only what you need, there may be viral particles on the goods). If you are not sure that when you get home with the package, you will not touch your face, be sure to wipe your hands with wet wipes.
As for money, the virus can also be transmitted through banknotes. In this case, there is only one way out - after contact with banknotes, wipe your hands with wet wipes or wash them with soap. It is especially important not to touch your face after handling money. New bills that are given to you at the store may be sources of the virus.
What to buy during a pandemic?
During the coronavirus, you can buy different products, but as mentioned above, it is not recommended to purchase fast food and order it at home. After arriving from the store, treat everything with soapy water. Do not be afraid to buy meat, fish, because you will fry or cook these products - the virus dies during heat treatment.
If you want to stock up on food, use a list of essential goods or the list of the longest playing products published by Roskontrol:
- canned food - from 15 months to 5 years;
- salt and sugar - 8-10 years;
- pasta - 24-32 months;
- coffee and tea - 5 years (coffee), 3 years (tea);
- mayonnaise - 120-180 days;
- potatoes - 2 weeks-10 months.
- cereals - 9-20 months.
Should you wear a mask?
The World Health Organization never ceases to assert that a mask is necessary only for a sick person or someone who cares for an infected person. A healthy person does not need it, but if you nevertheless decide to put it on, please, there will be no harm from it. Remember: no mask can provide you with 100% protection. However, it protects us from droplets of saliva - if a person sneezes nearby, it is really effective.
So, you learned how to behave in the store and what measures to take after visiting it. I would also like to add that in addition to coronavirus, there are other respiratory viruses that also spread. Therefore, it is very important to observe hygiene: wash your hands, wipe clothes and shoes after the street, disinfect surfaces and do not touch your face with dirty hands.