While everyone feels some relief with the slight decrease in new COVID-19 cases in Malaysia and an increase in recovery, let us keep on reminding ourselves that we still have to be careful of everything, all the time. Even when we are stocking up on our groceries.
Recently, a British baby boy was infected with the coronavirus – after his father went for one quick grocery shopping. The whole family was infected as well, but they recovered faster compared to the 1-year old baby.
According to the New York Post, the whole family had been in isolation for 3 weeks, and the father brought the virus home after a single short visit to buy groceries. The father, Peter Jones, wrote on Twitter:
3 of us recovered fast, our 1 yo was less lucky. My baby boy is in the hospital tonight recovering from an infection following #coronavirus.
Later, it is reported that his baby boy was discharged and recovering at home after getting oxygen and antibiotics – glad to hear that!
For those who are not aware, the virus can last on surfaces for hours up until 7 days – depending on the type of surfaces.
Thus, these are some of the reasons why everyone is restricted to be at home and to minimize your activities of going out and buying things.
It is understandable that at times, we (the head of the family or a representative of the house) need to go out and stock up on our groceries. However, please be extra cautious when you are at the store and once you are home with the groceries.
How to Clean Your Groceries Once You’re Home
To avoid such a case to happen to you and your family, Dr Jeffrey VanWingen, a Family Physician in Michigan shared a few tips on how you can reduce the risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus.
Plastic Bags or Shopping Bags
- PLASTIC BAG – You can throw away the plastic bag in the recycle.
- CLOTH/WOVEN BAG – Wash them over running water and then hang it to dry outside.
The most important of all is to NOT leave your shopping bags inside the house after you have taken out all of the items you just bought. Hang it to dry outside.
The Groceries
So what should you do with the groceries that you bought?
This can be divided into two categories – perishable goods and dry foods. According to Dr Jeffrey VanWingen, here is a guide on what you should do with the groceries once you arrived home:
Perishable Goods
- Fruits and vegetables: Take all those fruits and vegetables from the plastic, and then rinse under the running water. Rinse it a few times for extra precaution.
- Chicken, meat, or fish: Immediately take off the wrap or the plastic, and put it inside a container or zip-lock bag accordingly. Or even better, wash each meat under running water before you store it. Don’t forget to wash your hands after you do this as some meats like chicken may contain bacteria called salmonella.
Dry foods – cans, bottles, boxes etc.
For this type of food, you can leave it outside for a while. But make sure to keep it airtight. Otherwise:
- Plastic such as bread, biscuits, chips: You can sanitize the plastic with antibacterial wipes or use a cloth that is soaked with sanitizer. Or an even better alternative, just tear it open and keep the food in a container or zip-lock bag.
- Cans or bottles: Sanitize the cans or bottles with antibacterial wipes or cloth that is soaked with sanitizer.
- Food in boxes such as frozen pizza: Take off the cardboard and just keep the inside. If it is already wrapped in plastic, then you don’t have to do anything. Just keep it as it is. If it is not, then keep the food in a container.
- Cereal/spaghetti: Take out the food inside and store it in an airtight container.
Aside from that, here is a list of tips when you (HAVE TO) go for grocery shopping by Dr Jeffrey:
Tips When You are Going to Get Groceries
- Send a younger family member (around the age of 20-30 years old) as their immune system is higher compared to other age-ranges.
- Make a list of items so you can decrease your time in the store by buying what you really need ONLY.
- Pay using e-wallet or cards instead of cash.
- Get up to two (2) weeks of groceries if you can, so you don’t have to go that frequently.
- Don’t read labels in order to avoid touching things on the shelf.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Bring hand sanitizer and wear a face mask.
- DO NOT go if you have any respiratory symptoms such as cough, flu, or shortness of breath.
- Wash your hands frequently and immediately.
Another good alternative is to get these groceries online. With only a few simple steps, your groceries will be delivered right to your doorstep.
Let us be a responsible citizen by abiding the rules and add extra precaution by following the tips shared from the experts.
We should be grateful as we can still stay at home and do things that we like compared to our front-liners who are sacrificing their time and energy during this pandemic. Some of them don’t even dare to go home to meet their family members fearing that they might get infected.
So Malaysians, let us do our part by staying at home and pray for the best!