Social distancing seems to be one of the only defenses that humans may have against the highly transmissible novel coronavirus at the moment, so ensuring that you are taking all the necessary precautions during your day and necessary tasks is a must.
For many, making numerous adjustments to your everyday, run-of-the-mill tasks and errands can be a challenge, as they used to seem so mundane that you were probably going through the motions on autopilot.
Read up on your local and store regulations to make sure you are following all of the guidelines in your area, plus mix in these social distancing tips to do your part to help slow the spread.
Read on for a few tips to help keep up your social distancing and safe hygiene practices during these 4 common activities.
Pretty much every household still needs to go to the grocery store once in a while (unless they are getting everything delivered), so grocery stores tend to be a place where a huge amount of the community has to visit.
And, with something going around like this highly transmissible virus, that means that you should take a few extra precautions during your grocery visit. When going into the grocery store you should wash or sanitize your hands and cart, wear a mask, only touch the food items you intend to purchase, and definitely do not touch your face.
During the shop, try to keep your distance from other shoppers - 6 feet is best, but do your best in smaller areas.
Shopping outside of peak hours will help you avoid other shoppers.
You will want to limit any droplets produced, so don’t shop if you are feeling sick, sneezing, or coughing, and try to keep talking to a minimum. At checkout, pay with a system that avoids the handing back and forth of items between you and the cashier, like an electronic card reader over cash, and keep your distance if possible. Once you are at home, you may want to then give your groceries a wipe down with a disinfecting wipe, wash your hands, and remove your shoes.
According to health.gov, adults should aim to get at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise each week along with 2 days of strength training exercises - whether there is a quarantine or not. And, with all of the immune system boosting benefits of regular exercise, this needs to be a priority.
This means that many are venturing out to parks and outdoor spaces to get moving. But, even though you are outside, you should still follow a few simple social distancing steps. With aerobic exercises like walking, running, hiking, and bike riding, be sure to keep your distance from others by at least 6 feet, but really space out if you can.
If you need to be in an area where people are walking by or closer together, like when you are taking your dog for a walk on a busy sidewalk, wear a mask to help protect yourself and others. Exercise solo, or with someone else from your household, but avoid joining back up with your usual workout buddy until you get the go-ahead from your local or federal governments.
Many of the top food delivery companies have already made social distancing when getting food delivered easy for you. If you are using an app, check the box asking for “contactless delivery” or make a special note asking your delivery person to leave the packaged food outside of your door, as you can make the final payment and tip on the app.
For local delivery from restaurants that do not have an app, be sure to pay over the phone or on their website, and ask them to instruct the delivery person to leave the food outside your door.
Social distancing is likely also something that the delivery person is concerned about, so asking for contactless delivery is a win-win situation. After you get your food in, you will want to discard any bags or external boxes that were likely handled by others, and then wash your hands afterward.
If you need to see a doctor or visit a pharmacy during this time, it would be wise to take a few extra precautions given that you will be venturing into an area where it is more likely sick people have had to visit.
Wear a mask and try to not touch anything in the office or waiting room, wash your hands regularly, and do not touch your face.
If you are issued a prescription from the doctor and need to pick it up at the pharmacy, use the drive-through if you can, or at least wear a mask, avoid touching anything, wash and sanitize your hands often, and make your pharmacy visit a quick one. If at all possible, look into a virtual telemedicine appointment for non-urgent issues, you may be able to meet virtually with a doctor and get a prescription for various issues all from the comfort (and safety) of your own home.
Strut Health is an online telemedicine platform where we can help you with problems ranging from acne, to toenail fungus, to sexual health issues.
You can have a free online 10-15 minute consultation with our U.S. licensed doctors for a wide range of conditions, and if you are a good candidate for treatment, your prescription can be shipped from the pharmacy to your front door with our free and discreet shipping.
Your non-urgent health issues don’t have to take a back seat, you can get medical help safely online with Strut Health.
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