How to go grocery shopping during a pandemic

1. Think carefully about your actions

If you go to a familiar store, plan your route by department so that you spend as little time as possible inside. This way you will reduce the number of contacts with other visitors. A pandemic is not a situation where you can wander between shelves as much as you like.

2. Go to the store one by one

If you usually shop with your kids or a loved one, switch to single mode. The fewer people in the store, the easier it is for them to maintain a safe distance.

Also try to negotiate with loved ones or neighbors and go shopping for groceries replacing each other.

3. Be prepared for queues

If the store owner decides to limit the flow of visitors, a line will form on the street. Therefore, do not think that you can always buy everything quickly.

If you have an important video conference with coworkers scheduled, don't risk it. First, complete urgent matters, and then calmly go to the store.

4. Pay attention to sanitary measures

In some retail outlets, employees sanitize carts between customers. Others provide everything needed so that visitors can do their own disinfection. And in the third, there is not even the necessary funds. If you are unsure of how your store is doing, check with the staff and bring an antiseptic with you.

5. Don't expect other people to keep their distance

Rows of grocery stores are rarely spacious. Keeping your distance is not easy here. Try to stay away from other people whenever possible. But at the same time, do not get scandalous when someone invades your personal space. Fighting will only make the situation worse. Just step aside if possible.

6. Prepare for a lack of food

Most likely, the gap will be filled within a few hours. But still be prepared for the fact that you will not find a single product from your list.

7. Think in advance about substitute products

If you are shopping for yourself, you can probably easily find an alternative to missing products. For example, you can choose a product from a different flavor line or an analogue from a different brand.

But if these are products for loved ones or acquaintances, do not forget to first ask them about spare options. Then you don't have to waste time making calls in the store.

8. Get ready for new packaging rules

If you go shopping with reusable bags, be prepared for the staff to refuse them. Stores that employ packers can switch to plastic or paper bags during quarantine so that their employees have less contact with customers' belongings.