OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Health says while we should try to limit our time out of the house, including grocery shopping, there is no reason to stockpile groceries or disinfect them after bringing them home.
Though grocery stores are open, it’s a good idea to try delivery services or limit trips to the grocery store to once a week.
Why? The main way the new coronavirus spreads is from person to person through tiny droplets in the air after someone coughs or sneezes.
“Most of this spread happens when someone has symptoms, like a cough. These droplets can travel for up to six feet. It’s important that we don’t come within six feet of one another, so we don’t inhale any of those droplets if someone coughs,” the state Department of Health says.
DOH says though COVID-19 is a new virus, health officials have no evidence to suggest that the virus is spreading through food – whether it be take-out, groceries or produce.
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While you should thoroughly wash your hands after returning from the grocery store, there is no reason to try to disinfect your groceries, according to DOH. There’s also no reason to stockpile groceries, other than what you need for the week.
“Speaking of groceries — agriculture and food production are also considered essential activities. This is to make sure food continues fill our grocery stores and food banks. Deliveries to grocery stores are continuing steadily, and farmers, ranchers, and food processors are producing plenty to meet our needs. There is no need to worry about shortages, and no need to stock up, other than to make sure you don’t have to leave the house more than once each week,” the Health Department said in a blog post.
While it is possible for the virus to spread when someone doesn’t have symptoms, that is not the main way it spreads. It is also possible for the virus to spread though droplets on hard surfaces, but this is also not the main way it spreads, DOH says.
The latter reason underlines why it’s important for people to frequently wash their hands and try not to touch their faces. And of course, stay six feet away from others.
As for gloves, DOH says if you touch a hard surface, and then touch your face with your gloved hands, the gloves gave you no protection. So if you don’t touch your face, you don’t need the gloves. Just wash your hands.
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