As communities across the
United States take steps to slow the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
by limiting close contact, people are facing new challenges and questions about
how to meet basic household needs, such as buying groceries and medicine,
getting gas and banking. The following information provides advice about how to
meet these household needs in a safe and healthy manner.
- After fueling, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when you get home or somewhere with soap and water.
Shopping for Food and Other Household Essentials
If you need to go to the store to gather household
essentials or groceries, keep the following tips in mind:
·
Stay home
if you’re feeling sick—Avoid shopping if you are sick or have
symptoms of COVID-19, which include a fever,
cough or shortness of breath.
·
Order
online or use curbside pickup—If possible, order food and other items
online for home delivery or curbside pickup. Only visit the grocery store, or
other stores selling household essentials, in person when you absolutely need
to. This will limit your potential exposure to others and the virus that causes
COVID-19.
·
Protect
yourself while shopping—If you’re unable to order your goods online or you
must go shopping inside the store, keep these tips in mind to stay safe:
o
Stay at least 6 feet away from others while
o
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth
face covering when you have to go out in public.
o
When you do have to visit in person, go during
hours when fewer people will be there (for example, early morning or late
night).
o
If you are at higher
risk for severe illness, find out if the store has special hours for
people at higher risk. If they do, try to shop during those hours. People at
higher risk for
severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who
have serious underlying medical conditions.
o
Disinfect the
shopping cart by using disinfecting wipes, if available.
o
Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth.
Accepting Deliveries, Takeout and Mail
Keep the following tips in mind to stay safe when you accept
deliveries and get your mail:
·
Limit in-person contact if possible.
o
Pay online or on the phone when you order (if
possible).
o
Accept deliveries without in-person contact
whenever possible. Ask for deliveries to be left in a safe spot outside your
house (such as your front porch or lobby), with no person-to-person
interaction. Otherwise, stay at least 6 feet away from the delivery person.
·
Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after
accepting deliveries or collecting mail.
o
After receiving your delivery or bringing home
your takeout food, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap
and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
o
After collecting mail from a post office or home
mailbox, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a
hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Banking
If you need to do banking during the COVID-19 pandemic, keep
these tips in mind to stay safe:
·
Bank online whenever possible.
·
If you must visit the bank, use the drive-thru
ATM if one is available. Clean the ATM keyboard with a disinfecting wipe before
you use it.
o
When you are done, use a hand sanitizer with at
least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
when you get home.
Getting Gasoline
If you need to fill up your gas tank during the pandemic,
keep these tips in mind to stay safe:
·
Use gloves or disinfecting wipes on handles and buttons before you touch them
(if available).
- After
fueling, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands for at
least 20 seconds when you get home or somewhere with soap and water.
Going to the Doctor
If you’re feeling ill due to COVID-19 or another unrelated
reason, keep these tips in mind to stay safe:
·
Talk to your doctor online, by phone or email.
·
Use telemedicine, if available, or communicate
with your doctor or nurse by phone or email.
·
Talk to your doctor about rescheduling
procedures that are not urgently needed.
·
If you must visit in-person, protect yourself
and others with these tips:
o
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth
face covering when you have to go out in public.
o
Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth.
o
Use disinfecting wipes on frequently touched
surfaces such as handles, knobs and touchpads (if available).
o
Stay at least 6 feet away from others while
inside and in lines.
o
When paying, use touchless payment methods if
possible. If you cannot use touchless payment, sanitize your hands after paying
via card, cash or check. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20
seconds when you get home.
·
Note: If
you think you have COVID-19, let the office know and follow this guidance.
Going to the Pharmacy
If you need to go to the pharmacy to get medications, keep
these tips in mind to stay safe:
Plan to order and pick up all your prescriptions
at the same time
·
If possible, call prescription orders in ahead
of time. Use drive-thru windows, curbside services (wait in your car until the
prescription is ready), mail-order or other delivery services. Do the same for
pet medications.
·
Check with your doctor and pharmacist to see if
you can get a larger supply of your medications so you do not have to visit the
pharmacy as often.
More Information
For more information regarding how to stay safe during the
COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Source: Zywave, 2020.
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