Age 65 and Good Health: Can I get my own groceries?

I think it depends on where you live and how widespread the epidemic is in your area. I have a lot of friends who are young and healthy but still doing their best to stay home and avoid spreading the virus so that it doesn't impact the elderly and people with chronic health conditions who are vulnerable to a serious case of COVID-19. While this coronavirus does not generally turn out to be a severe case in healthy people, there are some exceptions so I think caution is still warranted.

For grocery shopping, our local authorities are recommending that you use the pre-order option that some stores are now offering, or at minimum go to the store during off hours when there are fewer people. Our local Kroeger stores offer the ability to pre-order and pick up at the curb for only $5. They even put it in your car for you. Target and Walmart offer similar services, and I believe other chains do as well. These services existed before the epidemic but are certainly handy now. You might check and see if your local stores do something similar, and if not, at least go to the store during non-peak hours. Sanitize your cart, and wash your hands immediately upon returning home.

Stay well. I'm sure we will get through this but it's certainly crazy in the meantime.

I think you need to do what you are comfortable with at this point... If you are out of food, you'll need to go to the grocery store. When you are there consider getting a few items more than you usually get. I don't mean hoarding, but get a few more cans of shelf stable foods like beans, and vegetables, rice etc just in case your town is locked down. Frozen vegetables too. I don't know if your grocery stores are still well stocked, ours are not. Maybe you can have enough supplies for twice a month instead of weekly trip. Remember try to stay 6 feet away from other shoppers. Some people who later tested positive show no or very little symptoms. It's best to take all precautions. Oh, make sure you wash your hands well after your shopping trip.

@mayofeb2020
I’d like to add , as an extra layer of precaution, that when I do venture out to the store during non peak hours, I change my clothes when I return and I wipe down the bottom of my shoes or sneakers with disinfecting wipes. I also wipe down the item of every single thing I bought. I’ve always washed the tops of cans with soap and water and used soap and water on vegetables .even onions lol. My knife is going through the skin so I don’t want it contaminated. I have washed my reusable shopping bags but now I switching to plastic. I will still go to the store although not as often and I think, at this point anyway, it’s a good thing psychologically to get out of the house. I will be 79 next month and am healthy. I go for my 2 mile walk around 8 am when there are few people out. I’m trying to do my gym routine faithfully since classes are cancelled.

I could ask my daughter to pick up items for me as my family lives across the breezeway and I do computer work for her so am over there frequently but am now wiping down the work area because she uses it and is out in the assisted facilities . She just signed up for Telehealth so hopefully will be able to see more patients from home. Still, I keep my distance...no more hugs.

Don’t forget to wipe down the cars steering wheel (something I have always done especially when coming out of the gym) . Better to overreact .

I tried to stay 6ft away from someone in line at Publix and they cut in front of me lol. I let it go as he didn’t realize.

FL Mary..Queen of the germaphobes.

Hello @imallears: What great advise. Being extra diligent, yet try to maintain a norm.

Wonderful.

@imallears- Excellent suggestions! My husband is vacuuming like crazy, even tabletops. I just let him be and stay away. It's tough being confined with another person, the same person day in and day out! grrr. lol

Thank you very much

Hi @mcryan. While nothing is 100% safe, it's definitely safer than spending time in a crowded grocery store. I found this article from Consumer Reports that gives some ideas for what you can to do make sure your grocery delivery is as safe as possible:
https://www.consumerreports.org/food-shopping/how-to-protect-yourself-from-coronavirus-when-grocery-shopping/
Best wishes to you and hope you stay well.

Is having groceries delivered by Frys or Walmart safe from the COVID-19

@merpreb Ha ha! I hear ya on being 'trapped' with another person.

Hello @mcryan. You may notice I moved you discussion on getting groceries delivered to you during the COVID-19 social distancing period and whether or not it is safe. I combined your discussion with one of a similar topic titled, "Age 65 and Good Health: Can I get my own groceries?" Your topic of whether or not it is safe to have them delivered meshes very well with talking about how to safely get your own. @coloradogirl shared a good resource to check out. @mcryan, if you are comfortable sharing, are you practicing isolation, or just trying to prepare for avoiding larger crowds in public spaces?