Tips to Minimize the Risk of Corona Virus Exposed When Shopping at the Supermarket

Safelinkme.eu.org - When going to a supermarket or shopping center means that we will touch something that someone else might have touched. For example, shopping trolleys, baskets, and when making payments, both at the checkout and when at the automatic payment machine.

Reporting from ABC.net.au, Wednesday (01/04/2020), according to Dr. Meru Sheel, an epidemiologist of infectious diseases from the Australian National University, it is not easy to apply health advice not to touch hard surfaces, where the virus can last for a few days.

"We have difficulty following this advice when shopping," he said.

Supermarkets in Australia are vigorous in cleaning all their facilities, including trolley. But Dr Sheel warned, the most important thing is to keep washing your hands and avoid touching your face.

"Wash your hands immediately with soap, or use alcohol hand sanitizers to clean and disinfect your hands," he said.

"Also reduce touching the face without cleaning your hands first. That's very important," he explained.

Large supermarkets have taken steps to minimize the risk of spreading the corona virus, including making several cross marks on the floor, where consumers are asked to keep their distance from each other. Consumers are also asked to minimize shopping time, such as Queensland Health Department Chief Jeanette Young, for example, who recommends noting items to be bought before going to the supermarket.

"I recommend going back to the old way that we used to do, namely writing a shopping list, knowing what you want to buy, then going in, buying, and leaving," he said.

"Don't linger in the supermarket and look around or follow people," he said.

Can we get corona virus from food?

After following the recommended shopping methods above, an important question arises, namely how is the safety of the foodstuff? If the apple we just bought has been touched by someone exposed to COVID-19, is it safe to eat?

Quoted from ABC.net.au, Wednesday (01/04/2020), Cathy Moir, a microbiologist from the CSIRO research institute, said the risk of exposure to the corona virus from fresh fruits and vegetables is fairly low.

"Corona virus is a respiratory virus, not a virus that spreads through food. If you eat it, there are no known cases of food-borne transmission," he said.

He explained, although we will not catch the virus by eating it, there is a possibility that it will be transmitted through surface contact. While Dr. Sheel said, the standard food safety recommendations for washing fruits and vegetables before consumption still need to be implemented. "I have not seen evidence of a corona virus caused by contaminated fruits and vegetables," he said.

What about the risk of transmission through shopping bags?

The spread of COVID-19 through objects touched together, such as shopping bags or trolleys, encouraged a number of parties to return to using disposable shopping plastics.

Quoted from ABC.net.au, Wednesday (01/04/2020), John Barilaro, an official of the state of New South Wales, suggested that consumers not temporarily use recycled shopping bags. He said consumers who bring their own shopping bags to store at home in order to reduce the possibility of being touched by other people such as supermarket cashiers.

"Now is the time to reuse disposable plastic bags," he said.

But Dr Sheel said there was no known spread of COVID-19 through consumer shopping bags. But in theory, it can happen. Dr. Sheel suggested a better way to minimize risk is by hand hygiene and not touching the face.

"There are many things we touch, but the principle is that if you touch something, don't touch your face," Dr. Sheel said.

"Wash your hands before eating and drinking, wash your hands often," he said.

"It is very difficult to determine each suggestion and maybe even more confusing," said Dr. Sheel.