CAPE TOWN - South Africans have become better at physical distancing when shopping to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. While most retailers only allow a certain number of shoppers into their stores, everyone should still practice caution while shopping.
Here are five tips for safer grocery shopping:
1)
Delivery Service: The most ideal form of shopping would be to do so online.
There has been a surge in local businesses from butchers, fruit, vegetables to home-cooked meals offering door-to-door deliveries at a low cost with just a single WhatsApp message.
Not only is it a great idea to support these local businesses but it limits your exposure to the coronavirus.
2)
Shop when it's less busy: It sounds like the most logical thing to do, but to save you a trip to the store, give the store a call beforehand and ask the manager on duty when the best time would be to shop.
Most shoppers rush to get in early when the store opens, but there are better less busy times during the day to avoid that rush.
3)
Wipe down: Take along disinfectant wipes to wipe down your shopping cart. If you are concerned about wiping down your glass containers, cans, and other items, there is no harm in doing so directly when placing in your shopping cart.
However, wiping down items are optional as the virus needs specific high humidity conditions in order to live.
4)
Pay by card: Any chance you get not to handle cash, do so by paying electronically use apps like SnapScan or use your debit or credit card.
5)
Kitchen countertop: Wipe down your kitchen countertop after packing away the groceries and wash your hands once you are done.
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