11 ways to help avoid coronavirus when you need to leave the house
How to stay safe when you're grocery shopping, signing your name or opening doors.
States across the US are tightening restrictions for residents as coronavirus surpassed 460,000 confirmed cases worldwide. However, if your state has issued a shelter in place mandate and nonessential businesses are closed, you can still leave your home to go to the grocery store and pharmacy, fill your car, head to the bank with gas and pick up food (and in some cases, alcoholic beverages) to go. When you do, you'll need to be careful about minimizing your risk of exposure to yourself and others -- that includes sanitizing your home and car when you get back.
Of course, the most essential policies are to engage in social distancing and thoroughly wash your hands. Some people feel comfortable wearing face masks -- be advised that global health professionals and national leadership ask that you save the N95 face masks and surgical masks for the medical community, which is at high risk for exposure. There's a rising trend in masks you sew yourself, but there's no strong evidence that homemade face masks protect against coronavirus.