Safe Shopping Tips During The COVID 19 Pandemic

How to Shop Safely?

Firstly, try and avoid going to a store that attracts big crowds. However, if you do have to, practice these simple tips.

1. Avoid crowded hours –Practice social distancing as much as you can. Many convenience and grocery stores usually remain open throughout the day for customers. These stores might witness a lot of rush most of the time. So, what you can do is, try to visit the store during odd hours, when the crowd is less. Early morning hours are ideal or you can visit towards the end of the day, right before the shop is about to shut down.
2. Be prepared with personal safety accessories - Carry personal safety equipment like face masks, sanitizers etc. Avoid touching surfaces like shelves and counters as much as you can. Request the store assistant to hand over the goods to you.
3. Avoid busy aisles or long queues – To prevent transmission of the virus, avoid busy aisles and long queues in supermarkets. Shop for only those things that you really need, so it doesn’t take long to bill. If you see that a particular store has long queues, avoid going in and try coming back sometime later.
4. Avoid paying in cash – Currency exchange is another medium of transmission of the virus. This is the reason why ecommerce companies and food delivery apps are urging people to opt for digital modes of payment, to facilitate contactless delivery. Most retail outlets these days accept electronic modes of payment like cards, e-wallets, UPI etc. So, it’s always a good idea to avoid cash transactions as much as possible.
5. Shop online whenever possible- Most shops have shifted to the online mode of doing business as a preventive measure. This is beneficial for both the business as well as the consumer. While shops can avoid physical crowds and protect themselves against the virus, they can still continue to do business and reap profits. And, at the same time, consumers can get whatever they need from the safety of their homes. So, a number of ecommerce companies are accepting online orders of essential items. From food items to cleaning products, you can get all that you need from such stores.

To reiterate, avoid going out as much as you can. Do not spend a lot of time in a physical store and pick up only those things that you absolutely need. Now is not the time to go shopping for pleasure. Also, do not hoard unnecessarily. Go alone unless necessary. Taking family members along with you will only add to the crowd. It is also a good idea for stores to allow only a few people at a time. This will ensure that people get what they need while practising social distancing. Also, be a little mindful and shop on behalf of friends or family members who are elderly or ill.