CDC’s Tips on Little Contact Errands

Little Contact Grocery Shopping

Stay home if you are sick.

• Avoid shopping if you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19, which include a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

Order online or use curbside pickup.

• Order food and other items online for home delivery or curbside pickup (if possible).
• Only visit the grocery store, or other stores selling household essentials, in person when you absolutely need them.

Protect yourself while shopping.

• Stay at least 6 feet away from others while shopping and in lines.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when you have to go out in public.
• When you do have to visit in person, go during hours when fewer people will be there (for example: early morning).
• If you are at higher risk for severe illness, find out if the store has special hours for people at higher risk. If they do, try to shop during those hours. People at higher risk for severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.
• Disinfect the shopping cart, use disinfecting wipes if available.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• If possible, use touch-less payment (pay without touching money, a card, or a keypad). If you must handle money, a card, or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer right after paying.
• Additionally, you can set up Apple Pay or Google Pay linked to your card on your phone to do payments without touching a card.

Use hand sanitizer.

• After leaving the store, use hand sanitizer.

Wash hands at home.

• When you get home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Follow food safety guidelines: clean, separate, cook, chill. There is no evidence that food or food packaging play a significant role in spreading the virus in the United States.

Food and Product Deliveries/Takeout

Limit in-person contact if possible.

• Pay online or on the phone when you order (if possible). Apple Pay or Google Pay for touch-less payments via your phone.
• Accept deliveries without in-person contact whenever possible. Ask for deliveries to be left in a safe spot outside your house (such as your front porch or lobby), with no person-to-person interaction. Otherwise, stay at least 6 feet away from the delivery person.

Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after accepting deliveries or collecting mail.

• After receiving your delivery or bringing home your takeout food, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• After collecting mail from a post office or home mailbox, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Little Contact Banking and Gas

Bank online whenever possible.

• If you must visit the bank, use the drive-through ATM if one is available. Clean the ATM keyboard with a disinfecting wipe, if available, before you use it.
• When you are done, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.
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Use disinfecting wipes on handles or buttons when getting gas.

• Use disinfecting wipes on handles and buttons before you touch them (if available).
• After fueling, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when you get home or somewhere with soap and water.

Doctor and Pharmacy Visits

Talk to your doctor online, by phone, or e-mail.

• Use telemedicine, if available, or communicate with your doctor or nurse by phone or e-mail.
• Talk to your doctor about rescheduling procedures that are not urgently needed.

If you must visit in-person, protect yourself and others.

• If you think you have COVID-19, notify the doctor or healthcare provider before your visit and follow their instructions.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when you have to go out in public.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Stay at least 6 feet away from others while inside and in lines.
• When paying, use touch-less payment methods, if possible (PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay). If you cannot use touch-less payment, sanitize your hands after paying with card, cash, or check. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.

Limit in-person visits to the pharmacy.

• Plan to order and pick up all your prescriptions at the same time.
• If possible, call prescription orders in ahead of time. Use drive-thru windows, curbside services (wait in your car until the prescription is ready), mail-order, or other delivery services. Do the same for pet medicine.
• Check with your doctor and pharmacist to see if you can get a larger supply of your medicines so you do not have to visit the pharmacy as often.

Resource links:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/essential-goods-services.html

To see previous posts we’ve covered with some helpful tips and information on the coronavirus (COVID-19), be sure to visit our category page or you can view this post with all the infographics for easy printing or reviewing.