What Do I Need to Know?

Why is delivery better than going to the store?

Reducing your risk of getting the virus is all about minimizing your contact with other people. When you go to a grocery store, even if you're being super careful, it's hard not to come into close contact with people, or to touch surfaces that might be infected. This might happen:

• On your way to or from the store, especially if your trip involves public transit or walking through busy areas.
• Touching the cart or basket, door handles, or grocery items that other people have recently handled (which is probably all of them).
• During your checkout interaction.
• When you turn a corner and someone is coming from the other direction and you bump into each other and nobody is at fault but you both really wish it had not happened.

Even if you wear gloves and wash your hands, there is a chance of contracting the virus while it is airborne. And there probably isn't a breeze flowing through the grocery store to sweep the germs away.

Isn't there still some risk with delivery?

Yes. The virus could potentially be on the surface of the items you've purchased, or on the grocery bags themselves. The delivery person might themselves be infected and not know it. But you can take steps to reduce your risk.

• Avoid greeting the delivery person at the door, even if they ring the doorbell. When you place your order, you'll be able to instruct them to leave your groceries at your doorstep. 
• If you're not too worried about someone taking them, consider leaving those groceries outside your door for a few minutes, or maybe even an hour. It probably won't hurt the groceries, and it will give time for any airborne particles to dissipate.
• It's a good idea to wipe down your groceries to kill any lingering germs. You'll find some tips below.

How do I disinfect my groceries?

• If you have an alcohol-based cleaner with isopropyl or ethyl alcohol concentrations above 70%, that is what I'd use. Sadly I don't have any.
  • Cleaning wipes that have been approved by the CDC for killing coronavirus should work. Be mindful that these are not chemicals you want to eat, so try to avoid getting it on the food itself. 
  • Consider using a soapy dishtowel (soap is highly effective at killing the virus, which is why everyone keeps saying to wash your hands). Just be careful with packaging where the water and soap might seep through.

Dry goods

If you don't need to use your groceries immediately, consider leaving any dry goods in a corner for three days. The virus probably won't be lingering on anything by that poin

Refridgerated and Frozen goods

The three-day rule likely doesn't apply to things you put in your refridgerator or freezer. The data is still out, but in general, freezing a virus is a good way to preserve it. That's why it's a good idea to wipe down your frozen items before putting them in the freezer.

There isn't much data on this yet, so please, don't make this your only line of defense. But in general, sunlight is effective at killing viruses (but it is less effective when it's coming through a window). 

I can't do delivery. What's the next-best thing?

Many grocery stores have begun offering special shopping hours for seniors and other vulnerable populations, often first thing in the morning. This is much better than visiting a store when it is busy, but may still involve coming into proximity of at least a few other people.

Another program many stores are offering is pick-up. You place your order online or over the phone and someone working at the store fulfills the order. When you arrive at the store, your groceries are ready

• Ideally, there should be no face-to-face interaction (even when you're paying for the groceries). See if you can pay online, or via the phone. 
• Ask if they'll bring the groceries to you and leave them in your trunk, without you ever having to get out of your car or even open the window.