CLEVELAND – As you gear up to brave the long lines and shop for those amazing Black Friday deals, it’s also important to make sure you’re staying safe from COVID-19.
“I think there is going to be a big inclination to want to go out this year,” said Donald Ford, MD, who specializes in family medicine for Cleveland Clinic. “We see it in social situations, we see it with people going to concerts and other venues, so I think we are going to see that.”
Dr. Ford said the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is going to be the vaccine, which can help reduce your risk of contracting the virus and help reduce the severity of symptoms if you were to get sick.
Aside from that, he said also be sure to wear a mask and bring hand sanitizer along with you while you are shopping. Especially since you are going to be around a lot of strangers and could possibly be standing close together.
Dr. Ford said if you get somewhere and notice that the store is pretty crowded, don’t be afraid to leave.
“Plan your escape route. If you’re not comfortable in a situation, you want to be able to get out of it. Keep in mind, I am not saying you have to be paranoid, but know where the exits are so if you are not comfortable in that situation, you’ve got an easy way out,” he said.
Dr. Ford said another option is just to do online shopping this year. You can still snag some of those great deals without having to leave the house.