‘It’s a good idea because it’s nice and simple. Is it safe to go shopping with a mask and gloves? By continuing to browse you consent to our use of cookies. We spoke to Professor Keith Neal, the University of Nottingham’s Emeritus Professor of the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, to get his view on the science behind the changes. Professor Neal said that exempting children from the rule is supported by scientific evidence, but that they could still be encouraged to wear masks, ‘especially if they had their favourite characters on them’. has spoken to that are not encouraging customers to shop alone. Many people in the community are wearing face masks and gloves in an attempt to protect themselves against the coronavirus. retailers stock face masks as WHO changes its guidance, what you need to know about hand sanitiser, steps you can take to protect yourself from coronavirus, the UK’s best and worst high street shops, five tips for safe online shopping during lockdown, Where to buy a face mask and how to make one, Retailers stock face masks as WHO advice changes, Milk myths: eight common concerns about cow’s milk debunked, Lockdown latest: restrictions begin to lift across the UK, Top five cheapest energy supplier deals for April 2021. CDC updates face mask recommendations, says two are better than one. All Rights Reserved. At the beginning of the pandemic, many people rushed to the store for necessities to last them for months. He explains that your skin is actually better at killing the virus than gloves are, although there may be some situations where gloves are useful for certain members of staff. If you’ve been to a supermarket during lockdown, you’ll be used to these by now – transparent screens dividing the cashier and customer. Wearing masks or face coverings in shops has been compulsory in Scotland since 10 July and is now compulsory in England, too. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Retailers are working hard to make shops as safe … Washing your hands regularly remains one of the most important things you can do to control the spread of the virus. “I keep wipes with me in my bag,” said shopper Katie McFarland. Homebase says a typical store can allow 30 people at one time. Even though you can do much more outside now, you should still take every precaution when you do go to the supermarket to keep yourself, other shoppers and the store staff safe. ‘You could make it 10 metres and it’d be even safer, but it’s impractical – this is the problem.’. When we surveyed 2,002 members of the public at the start of June, 38% said they didn’t feel confident about their health and safety when returning to the shops. But despite their convenience, you risk exposing the inside of your mask to the coronavirus. But how effective are different safety measures in preventing the spread of coronavirus? Fully vaccinated people may safely resume travel, CDC says, Here's how to track your 3rd stimulus check, Retailers reinvent holiday shopping amid pandemic. Because my twins were 3 months premature and only one lived, my answer to you would be "no" but you can call your doctor and ask. Always sanitize the handles of the shopping cart or basket, a CDC spokesperson told Time. It’s now mandatory to wear a face covering when shopping in England, as it has been in Scotland since 10 July. While people do want to go out and shop again, they also want stores to follow strict health guidelines that keep the shop sanitized and the customers safe. Wear a mask and stay at least 6 feet away from others. “We have no evidence at all that food or food packaging are transmission vectors that we consider to be risky in this outbreak,” Chapman says, meaning you can touch goods and fill your cart as you normally would — being careful to avoid touching your mask, eyes, or other uncovered parts of your face for the entirety of your errand. Helpful tips during the coronavirus pandemic When are the best times to go? Because my twins were 3 months premature and only one lived, my answer to you would be "no" but you can call your doctor and ask. But three metres is safer than two metres. Some check shoppers' temperatures at the entrance, for example, but an infected person may not have a fever and can still spread the virus. ‘The wearing of face masks in shops or enclosed shopping centres should help reduce the spread [of coronavirus]. But that doesn’t mean temperature checks are useless. For instance, most of us are wearing masks while out in public based on the recommendations of health professionals. We use cookies to allow us and selected partners to improve your experience and our advertising. Professor Neal told us that quarantining items would reduce the amount of virus, but he couldn’t comment on the impact it would have on transmission. Is shopping in stores safe during the pandemic? When will kids be able to get COVID-19 vaccines? When you walk into a store, look closely and quickly to make sure you’re comfortable with what you’re seeing. Copyright © 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Shoppers found not wearing masks could be issued a £100 fine, reduced to £50 if paid promptly. Topshop said it was allowing around 16 square metres per person, while Waterstones is allowing three to six people per 93 square metres, which works out as about the same. Money Podcast. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says holiday shopping in crowded stores is a "higher risk" activity and that people should limit any in-person shopping, including at supermarkets. Robert Dyas is checking the temperatures of its staff. Be aware that air conditioning units and ventilation systems may increase the risk of transmission, especially in shopping malls, restaurants, and offices, for example. Screens are a good idea. Retailers reinvent holiday shopping amid pand... Small businesses struggle despite Black Frida... Death of fan who attended NCAA tourney prompts contact tracing, Fauci says federal government won't mandate vaccine passports, India sees record number of daily COVID infections as 2nd wave grows, California Privacy/Information We Collect. Unless you touch the screen, which isn’t advised, these make everybody safer. The mask affords a certain degree of protection, but there's no question there's going to be some risk with this situation, particularly the longer the flight is and the more crowded it is." Categories: Home & garden, Shopping, food & drink. Experts tell TIME there’s not enough data to conclusively say whether wearing a mask in public will protect you from infection. Kay Ivey (R), the state health officer has amended and extended a safer-at-home order until 5 p.m. on April 9.People over age 6 must wear masks in indoor public spaces, when using a transportation service or when outdoors in gatherings of 10 or more. The fever you’d have from COVID-19 is likely to be so high that you’d know you had a fever and probably wouldn’t want to go out. On This Page. ... Shopping with a mask isn't mandatory in every store, but it's strongly suggested. Wear a face covering & don’t touch your face! Market data provided by ICE Data Services. ‘The evidence is accumulating that masks have a part to play in reducing transmission and also in protecting the wearer. “Distancing when you’re standing in line,” said Patterson. They might put on these items to go to the shops, … Experts say delivery services are probably a safer option, but if you have to go shopping yourself, follow this protocol. Police chief testifies Chauvin's actions violated policy, Crisis in Guatemala drives migrants to U.S. border, GameStop moves to cash in on stock surge by selling shares, Family of DMX holds vigil outside New York hospital, Some veterans are still waiting for their stimulus checks, Companies donating to lawmakers who backed voting law changes, Treasury secretary calls for global minimum tax on companies, Victim describes attack amid violence against Asian Americans, Infections among young people are fueling new virus hot spots, NIH director: The COVID vaccine is "an answer to prayer". Is shopping in stores safe during the coronavirus pandemic? Listen: our experts discuss shops reopening on the Which? Here's … Beyond masks and cleaning, stores are emphasizing steaming and quarantining clothes, allowing time between customers, and having plexiglass … ‘The further you are away, the less the risk,’ he says. Shoppers found not wearing masks could be issued a £100 fine, reduced to £50 if paid promptly. To our knowledge, only two retailers, Apple and Furniture Village, are checking customers’ temperatures before letting them enter stores. However, businesses in England are allowed to base social distancing measures on ‘one metre plus’ provided ‘mitigating measures’, such as the use of face coverings, are in place. The plastic barriers between customers and cashiers also might not block all droplets from an infected person, Weisfuse said. ... Shopping with a mask isn't mandatory in every store, but it's strongly suggested. They might put on these items to go … Since then, new research and mask mandates have changed the way we run errands — especially shopping for food and essentials. Wearing a mask and opening a window buys you nearly 10 minutes of safe time.Tweaking small details about the dining scenario also greatly affects the results. ‘There’s no reason to go shopping with another person unless you’re a single parent.’. News provided by The Associated Press. where and when do you need to wear a face covering? Outdoor clothing chain Go Outdoors told us nearly all of its stores were open. Here, we explain the new guidelines and get expert advice from a scientist on whether safety measures in shops (including wearing masks) will help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Is it safe to go shopping now? Two metres is safer than one metre. Go shopping during senior grocery store hours. The CDC has reassured Americans that COVID-19 isn’t known to be spread through food or food packaging. One way of checking which stores are open near you is to use Mastercard’s tool at ShopOpenings.com, which checks whether a Mastercard transaction has been made in the store in the past seven days to determine whether it’s open. Find out more: where and when do you need to wear a face covering? Wearing a mask or face covering is now compulsory in shops in England. All shoppers have to wear face masks or coverings in shops in England from today (24 July), with the exception of children aged under 11 and people with certain disabilities. The mask is not so much to protect the wearer, but to prevent transmission and to protect those around you, considering that we may all be asymptomatic carriers. ... go during off hours when there will likely be fewer people. Under current guidelines in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, stores are required to have enough space to allow customers and staff to keep a two-metre distance from others. Non-essential retail is now allowed in all four UK nations, but many of the big chains are taking a staggered approach to reopening, starting with a small number of branches. That is a starting point for gauging whether grocery shopping is safe for you. - From wiping down your cart to wearing a mask, many people are trying to take safety precautions if they have to go to the grocery store. Experts say there are ways to stay safe while grocery shopping even with the new, more contagious coronavirus variants. Many people in the community are wearing face masks and gloves in an attempt to protect themselves against the coronavirus. Wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when social is distancing is difficult. Chains and lanyards aren’t a great option at restaurants. It is safer for your husband to go than for you but if any friends can be enlisted because they go … “I think people who are shopping in the grocery should be very, very careful,” Dr. Siegel said on Thursday. ‘It’s a pragmatic, simple step which – if they can [make it] work within their business – is a perfectly reasonable step to take.’. Face mask accessories like chains and lanyards, similar to eyeglass chains, are becoming increasingly popular as they allow the mask to hang from your neck when not in use. Many people – both customers and staff – are choosing to wear gloves in shops, but is there any point? Ikea, meanwhile, will only allow parents to bring one child with them. We asked several major retailers what steps they’re taking to keep staff and customers safe. Protect yourself while shopping. Children under the age of 2 are exempt. And it’s not actually inconveniencing people.’. Keep these items on hand when venturing out: a mask, tissues, and a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if possible. ‘I would be more worried about catching COVID from an asymptomatic person breathing out in Waterstones than from touching a dozen books that they’d touched,’ he says, ‘because I can wash my hands and not put them near my face.’, However, there is still value in putting touched items aside if retailers can make it work. ‘You can’t wash gloves as easily as you can wash hands,’ says Professor Neal. ‘The evidence is accumulating that masks have a part to play in reducing transmission and also in protecting the wearer. A recent report by Google found the safest time to go grocery shopping to be Mondays at 8 AM. Last year, Sainsbury’s said it won’t challenge customers without a face mask as they may have a reason not to wear one, but later announced greeters will be outside all supermarkets and busy convenience stores to remind customers to wear face coverings. The same report claimed that the worst time fell on … Nearly a year into the coronavirus pandemic, most shoppers are familiar with public health recommendations like wearing a mask, social distancing, and staying home as much as possible. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, said he would further relax restrictions, removing capacity limits on restaurants and bars, salons, gyms and shopping malls. ‘Enforcement need not be an issue as shops can simply refuse to serve non mask-wearing customers.’ In the age of COVID-19, wearing a mask is one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself—and others—protected from the virus. We are still at risk of contracting coronavirus when in close contact with others, whether or not we are wearing a mask. © 2020 The Associated Press. Trained security guards will challenge those not wearing a mask or shopping in groups. "Get your shopping done and move on.". ... like going during senior shopping hours and wearing a mask and gloves, might make it nearly as safe … In late March, Gov. Of course, independent shops in your local area may well have reopened too, or be planning to do so soon. “I think people who are shopping in the grocery should be very, very careful,” Dr. Siegel said on Thursday. If they are open where you live, you can shop, but it's still best to limit the time you spend in stores, to keep two metres apart from others and to wear a mask… While people do want to go out and shop again, they also want stores to follow strict health guidelines that keep the shop sanitized and the customers safe. Wearing a mask is a last resort when you need to go out in public to crowded places like the grocery store or pharmacy. Legal Statement. “I wipe my hands off, I wipe my son’s hands off, I keep stuff in the car.” ICE Limitations. There are ways to reduce risk, but health experts advise avoiding it when possible. ‘The wearing of face masks in shops or enclosed shopping centres should help reduce the spread [of coronavirus]. Public based on the which allow us and selected partners to improve your experience and our.. At farmer ’ s nice and simple hands, ’ says Professor Neal t have wear! Go shopping yourself, follow this protocol who had been shopping said they would to... Costco will only be granted to those wearing a face covering from found., Weisfuse said centres should help reduce the spread of coronavirus published on December 1, 2020 10:36. Masks in shops, because you have to wear a face covering when shopping in the community are masks. Will protect you from infection hands, ’ says Professor Neal have doing... And we should behave accordingly ’ he says mandatory to wear a covering. Rewritten, or redistributed to play in reducing transmission and also in protecting the wearer,... 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