Remember a time-just a few weeks ago-going to the supermarket for shopping once was not limited to "basic necessities" "as infrequently as possible"?
These are the new shopping methods Boris Johnson uses when outlining government restrictions on daily life to limit the spread of coronavirus. He said people should "use food delivery services whenever possible."
But what is the safest way to shop, shop or take out or take out at home?
What are the risks in the store?
When an infected person coughs, the coronavirus spreads, and small droplets of the cough are scattered in the air. If they are inhaled, or if you touch the surface on which they land, infection may result.
Therefore, shopping and mixing with others does pose risks. That's why it's so important to keep a distance from society-at least 2m (about 6 feet)-and many shops are enforcing it.
Professor Sally Broomfield of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said supermarkets could provide an "ideal environment" for virus transfer. "Many people are touching and changing items, checkout belts, cash cards, parking ticket machine buttons, ATM payment buttons, paper receipts, etc ... not to mention being close to a few others."
There are ways to offset these risks:
Wash your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer for 20 seconds before and after shopping
Prepare the surfaces as if they are contaminated, which means avoid touching the face after handling shopping carts, baskets, packages and produce
Use contactless payment
What about shopping itself?
There is no evidence that Covid-19 is transmitted through food, and thorough cooking will kill the virus. The British Food Standards Agency website provides advice on household food safety.Professor Bloomfield said that although there is no such thing as "zero risk", packaging is handled by others, which is the main problem.
Online advice for food companies says, "I don't know that food packaging poses specific risks." However, some independent experts have other suggestions.
Professor Bloomfield said: "Contained or packaged goods should be stored for 72 hours before use, or sprayed and wiped with plastic or glass containers with bleach (carefully diluted as directed on the bottle).
She added: "For unpackaged fresh food, anyone can handle it-wash and dry thoroughly under running water."
How safe is home delivery?
If there is a delivery space, the risk of going home is less than the risk of going to the supermarket, because you can avoid other shoppers. The risk may be contamination of any food or packaging surface, or contamination from a transport drive.
Food safety expert and blogger Dr. Lisa Ackerley recommends leaving a note on your front door asking the driver to ring the bell and then back off. This way you can safely pick up the food.
What about the emergence of volunteer networks to help the local disadvantaged and elderly?
To dispel the fear of the virus on the surface, Dr. James Gill of Warwick Medical College suggested: "Wipeing the surface with a simple dilution of household bleach will inactivate the virus within a minute."
Professor Alison Sinclair, a virology expert at the University of Sussex, added: "You should use online delivery services more than invite friends or volunteers to collect food for you.
Some experts also recommend using plastic bags only once during such a pandemic.
How about takeaway?
Many local restaurants have repositioned their operations as takeaways. Reputable chain stores and good restaurant kitchens are likely to be suitable for professional, hygienic food preparation, therefore minimizing the risk of freshly prepared takeaway meals.
Professor Bloomfield suggested that the risk of packaging contamination could be minimized by "pouring the contents into a clean bowl, putting the packaging in a garbage bag, and washing hands thoroughly before eating."
"Remove food from the container with a spoon and eat with a knife and fork, not with your fingers."
In the current situation, ordering hot, freshly cooked food is better than cold or raw food. The Food Standards Agency does emphasize that the risk of food is low and that “if prepared and handled properly, there is no reason to avoid providing ready-to-eat food”.
For the most discreet and vulnerable, careful preparation and cooking can be reassuring. "Take pizza as an example, if you want to be really safe, you can even put it in the microwave for a few minutes," Professor Bloomfield added.