Reopening: Tips for Safe Retail Shopping

So is it safe to hit the mall for a shopping excursion? It depends on who you ask. “I will continue as though the stay-in order is still in place," Tomika Bryant told Mom.com. "The kids go minimal places and never without a mask and sanitizer. We have a policy to not wear outside clothes and shoes in the house. It’s made for extra laundry — but it’s needed.

Please remember that despite the relaxing restrictions, there is still no vaccine for COVID-19. Though the curve has flattened due to many Americans sheltering-in-place and participating in lockdown, that doesn’t mean the coronavirus is no longer a threat. Many experts caution that though national statistics are leveling off, the numbers hide repeated patterns of mini-spikes throughout the country.

“Social distancing is important to protect yourself from getting the virus and protect yourself from spreading it to others,” pediatrician Dr. Steph Lee explained to Mom.com. “People can be infected with the new coronavirus, but lucky enough not to show symptoms.” Dr. Lee, the spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) cautioned, “They can still spread the virus to others.”

Depending on your personal situation, your comfort levels, and the people with whom you come into direct contact regularly, your definition of “safe” will vary.

Cosette Zugale, a mom of two — one of whom has special needs — explained her reasoning to us. “I am not taking my littler guy inside any public building until/unless there's a vaccine. He's high risk, and I'm unlikely to get him to wear a mask. Even before, he had no concept of personal space.”

Candice Straughter tries to keep store visits to a minimum. “I do pickup and curbside as much as possible,” she told Mom.com. If she does go into the store, Straughter detailed her process to us. “I wipe down my car door handles, keys, gear shift, and steering wheel after shopping. I don't let the kids hug me until I wash my hands and take off anything I'm not comfortable with.”

If you do decide to leave your home to go shopping, here are some general tips to keep yourself and others safe.

• Check the store's website or call to see what safety precautions they're implementing
• Wear a protecive mask
• Bring along wipes and hand sanitizer
• Use proper social distancing
• Only shop when necessary
• Consider changing your clothes when you return home
• Maximize curbside pickup
• Go really early in the morning
• Leave children and other family members at home, if possible

Mom of four Whitney Cornelison says her family is taking extra precautions after shopping trips. “My husband is still keeping his clothes from work trips separate and washes them as soon as he gets home,” she shared with Mom.com.

Small-business owner Merry Spooner Kuchle detailed to us the safety precautions her store is taking to protect both her employees and customers. In addition to limiting the number of people in the store at a time, they are requiring hand sanitization upon entry. “We have additional sanitizer in the store, and we sanitize high-touch surfaces often.”

Kuchle continued, “The store is laid out in a circular pathway to cut down on face-to-face interactions between customers.” A separation at the counter keeps customers and staff apart. “It is a hard balance between customer safety, expectations, and a desire for normalcy."

Many stores are also adding contactless methods of payment or are holding credit card machines for customers to tap, swipe, or insert the cards themselves.

If you need to buy clothing or shoes in-store, go online to research each store’s policies concerning fitting rooms, un-purchased items that were tried on, and returned items. According to CNBC, many stores — such as the Gap and Kohl's — have closed their fitting rooms until further notice and are holding returned items from 24-48 hours.

Consider browsing a store’s selection online first so you know what you’re looking for and can find the item quickly. Bring extra socks that you wear only for trying on shoes, and then change and wash all clothes (including bras and underwear) when you return home.

Some things to consider before you venture to your favorite retail store:

• Are sales associates required to wear masks?
• How many customers are allowed in the store at one time?
• Are they closing fitting rooms completely or just some of them?
• Do they sanitize the rooms between fittings?
• How long do they set aside or clean the clothes and shoes that were previously worn or returned?

For Edna Wehner, only stores that follow safety protocols will be getting her business. “I am only shopping in places where they either require you to wear a mask or they limit the number of people who go in.”