Coronavirus: Healthy Habits During a Pandemic

POST - MARCH 28, 2020

It’s hard to miss the news headlines or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updates about a wide-spreading pathogen, the coronavirus known as COVID-19. With travel restrictions rising and health officials advising the public to practice social distancing, many people are concerned about how contagious this virus is and what they can do to prevent themselves from getting sick.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CDC, World Health Organization (WHO) and other public health authorities currently are working together to help keep the public informed and safe, but they are still investigating this new virus and its pathogenic characteristics, symptoms and rate of infection. As we continue to learn more about the person-to person spread of the new coronavirus, thoughts about best practices for safe food handling may come to mind. Let’s talk a bit more about this virus and how routine hygienic practices like handwashing are at the forefront of prevention.

What is the best way to buy groceries and meals?

While food has not been found to be a transmission vector for coronavirus, it is important to note that restaurants and grocery stores should be practicing food-handling hygiene protocols to avoid transferring germs such as the coronavirus year-round. These practices include requiring employees not to report to work while sick, to keep hands cleaned while handling food, to wear protective gear while handling food (aprons, gloves, hairnets, etc.) and to keep all surfaces that contact food clean. News outlets have reported that many restaurants, stores and delivery services have ramped up these protocols to further combat COVID-19.

That said, going into a crowded grocery store may not be the best idea if you’re high-risk—or even if you’re not. Frequently visiting high-traffic, high-germ-transfer locations like large food stores could cause you to come into contact with the virus. Using online grocery shopping apps, having groceries delivered, or using a curb-side pick-up option are all good alternatives. If these options are not available where you live, try shopping in smaller, less crowded markets or during “non-peak” hours for shopping.

If none of these options will work for you, you can still practice good hygiene and mitigate your chances of coming into contact with the virus. First, avoid touching your face with your hands while you shop—this practice helps prevent germ transfer between surfaces and your body. Nicely, many stores have hand sanitizer stations at the front door and throughout the store for patrons to use—because even when we try, we may still touch our faces from time to time. Finally, avoid close contact (within six feet) with any people in the store who are sneezing or coughing and be sure to clean your hands by washing them or using hand sanitizer when you leave or as soon as you get home.

As for using food delivery apps for restaurant menu items, the people who are preparing and delivering food should be using the same safe food-handling practices as those who are in the restaurant serving meals. Having food delivered will minimize person-to-person contact, which is helpful for decreasing germ and sickness transfer. However, preparing meals at home is the best way to minimize contact.