COVID-19 rates are rising fast, and with that, it makes shopping much more of a health-risk than ever before.

We acknowledge that in-person grocery shopping is sometimes one of the more fun things we can do during these uncertain times, but your health and the health of others is a bigger priority this year. Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Clemson offers some tips on how to stay healthy and how to still have fun when doing some shopping.

What Are Some Creative Ways to Get My Shopping Done?

The CDC doesn’t recommend gathering in large crowds, and large crowds are generally the norm in stores as the weather gets colder.

There are ways to avoid large crowds and stay healthy, however, which we’ve listed below.

Creative Alternatives to In-Person Grocery Shopping

• Shop online. Many great stores and grocery are offering store pickup and delivery services to make it even easier to shop online during the pandemic.
• Shop less frequently. If you must go in person, plan out your groceries for a few weeks or a month at a time. This will minimize the time you have to spend running errands and will lessen your risk of getting sick.
• Use grocery delivery apps. If your grocery store doesn’t have its own delivery service, use apps like Instacart or Shipt to have a safe, contactless grocery shopping experience.

How Can I Stay Safe If I Do Shop In Person?

If you must go into town to shop, follow the CDC health-safety guidelines. This means wearing a mask, staying socially distant, carrying hand sanitizer if possible and being aware of your city’s COVID-19 rates before going out.

In addition to these CDC guidelines, we’ve listed a few more practical ways to stay healthy while doing your grocery shopping.

More Practical Ways to Stay Safe

• Start your shopping right when the doors of your preferred store open. Places tend to be less crowded earlier in the day.
• Keep alcohol wipes with you for your shopping cart, your basket and your hands.
• Avoid long lines. If there is a self-checkout option, that may be the best way to avoid the crowds.
• Plan ahead! Prepare so that you don’t have to use the public restrooms. Carry tissues and snacks with you to avoid those inconveniences as well.

Grocery shopping can help the times feel a little bit more normal, but safety is still a huge priority! If you do fall ill, don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Clemson team.