Practice English Speaking&Listening with: How Can You Safely Grocery Shop In The Time of Coronavirus? Here's What Experts Suggest | TIME

[Dr. Justman]: If you have the option to get your groceries delivered to you, that's definitely

a safer way to go than going to the store, and I certainly recommend that for older individuals

or people who have specific health conditions that put them at increased risk of COVID-19.

[Dr. Hedberg]: We want to make sure that people do have an adequate supply of nutritious food,

so I don't think people should be unduly concerned about going out to the store and buying food.

[Dr. Justman]: Try to find a store that limits the number of people—the number of customers

who are allowed into the store at a time.

If you can find a store that clearly is paying attention to providing precautions for the

workers at the store, who are giving them barriers to stand behind, providing them with masks.

That's a sign that they are paying attention to the people who work there and they're paying

attention to their customers.

[Dr. Petrie]: Plan ahead, make a list so that you know what you're getting, then you'll

have a game plan when you're there, you'll be going less often.

The important things to remember are to, you know, after you've touched something, try

not to touch your face.

[Dr. Hedberg]: The contaminated glove or the contaminated hand can transfer the virus

in much the same way, and what this all really boils down to is that washing your hands at

the end of that process is the best point at which you're removing the virus.

[Dr. Justman]: The main way this virus spreads is through respiratory droplets—those are

the droplets produced when you cough or sneeze—and you're most likely to get those if you're

in close contact to another person, defined as within six feet for at least 10 minutes.

So, I would pay much more attention to social distancing and worry less about what you touch.

[Dr. Petrie]: So, I think masks would potentially lower your risk, but, in general, I think

going out to the store, if you're maintaining distance and washing your hands, it's relatively

low risk.

[Dr. Hedberg]: Those masks may be more helpful at preventing me from expelling droplets that

might expose other people.

You know, probably one of the places where there's the greatest opportunity for interaction

is at the checkout.

You know, self-checkouts are one option.

A lot of grocery stores are setting themselves up so that they provide some guidance for

distancing while you wait in line.

[Dr. Petrie]: I don't necessarily recommend wiping down packaging.

I think kind of continue to do the same sort of things you would be doing anyways.

You should be washing your fresh fruits and vegetables and produce.

[Dr. Justman]: I think the chances of getting coronavirus by eating something that might

have coronavirus on the surface is vanishingly small.

[Dr. Hedberg]: If trying to clean and sanitize things we bring into the house leads to using

chemicals that we might cause inadvertent harm from, then we want to discourage that process.

[Dr. Justman]: If you can plan your shopping and go once a week or even go once every 10

days, it just minimizes how often you're around many other people.

[Dr. Hedberg]: What's really important is that people pay attention to what the public

health officials are saying and recommending, and sometimes recommendations may change.

[Dr. Petrie]: If you do go out, keep distance from other people.

That six foot distance really is key and, you know, wash your hands when you get home.