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How to grocery shop safely during coronavirus pandemic

Tips to keep yourself as safe as possible while grocery shopping during the coronavirus pandemic.

CLEVELAND — The first day of the month, for many, brings checks that’ll be used to buy groceries and supplies. So what are the safest ways to do that during the coronavirus pandemic?

“They shouldn’t panic and get to the store every single day, thinking there’s not going to be an item,” says Carl Ivka, the president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. “That would ease that pressure of the growing number of people going through the stores.”

One easy way to keep your distance while still bagging groceries is to go with curbside pickup or delivery. In fact, the Giant Eagle in Cuyahoga Falls is turning into a fulfillment center to offer more people in the Akron and Canton areas, just that.

“That’s a big help, the curbside, even though those items will be filled by the workers, but it helps the store traffic,” says Ivka.

If you need to go out grocery shopping, there are some things that you can do to help keep yourself safe. It starts with wiping down the cart or basket before you use it. It’s also recommended that you go alone and wear a mask and gloves if you have them. If not, you could always use Ryan Brotherton’s tip of using of the produce bags as make shift gloves. Of course, you’ll want to practice social distancing while shopping and most stores now have a plexiglass shield for safety at the checkout.

Once you’re done shopping, however, you shouldn’t let your guard down. Take a laundry basket to the car and spray or wipe all of your groceries down with disinfectant before loading up your basket. Then, throw away all the grocery bags and of course, wash your hands when you’re done.

As of Wednesday afternoon, there are now 2,547 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ohio. 65 people have died and 679 more are hospitalized.  

Click here for our complete coronavirus section.

3News' Russ Mitchel discussed the current state of the pandemic with Ohio Department of Health Director, Amy Acton.  Watch their full interview in the player below:

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