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    Holiday shopping do’s and don’ts during COVID-19

a young adult white woman shopping in a mall, wearing a face mask and carrying a gift box with a holiday bow

As the holiday season gets underway, shopping may look a lot different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When choosing retail stores to visit, Dr. John O'Horo, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases physician, says you should look for businesses that take extra precautions to create an environment that limits exposure to the virus — and be sure to follow those important protocols. In this Mayo Clinic News Network video, Dr. O'Horo provides a tour through one such retail business. 

Watch: Safe holidays shopping with Dr. John O'Horo

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (2:45) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please "Courtesy: John O'Horo, M.D./Infectious Diseases/Mayo Clinic." Read the script.

Look for businesses that offer safety precautions for their customers and staff, including the following:

  • Enforces face mask policy
  • Offers face masks if you forget one
  • Hand sanitizer at entrance 
  • Touch-free payment options
  • Encourages social distancing
  • Limits the number of customers in the store at one time

Dr. O'Horo says it's important that everyone does their part to help reduce community spread of COVID-19. Stay home and refrain from shopping or being around others if you are not feeling well, if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or if you have a fever.

For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.