In the wake of this pandemic, so many of us are taking on the challenges of working from home and distance learning and just staying home period. These new routines can be hard to adjust to. There are a lot of suggestions out there to help navigate through your day and this "new normal". Maintaining your mental and physical health is so important, more now than ever. Getting exercise appears on every list of helpful tips. For some it's getting outside for a walk with your dog or family (at a safe distance from others of course). For some, it's taking a drive just to change the scenery. So, what about your essential household errands like buying groceries and banking? We are sharing some of the CDC's advice on how you can still meet these household needs in a safe and healthy manner.
Shopping for food and other household essentials
Stay home if sick.
- Avoid shopping if you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19, which include a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
Order online or use curbside pickup.
- Order food and other items online for home delivery or curbside pickup (if possible).
- Only visit the grocery store, or other stores selling household essentials, in person when you absolutely need to. This will limit your potential exposure to others and the virus that causes COVID-19.
Protect yourself while shopping.
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others while shopping and in lines.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when you have to go out in public.
- When you do have to visit in person, go during hours when fewer people will be there (for example, early morning or late night).
- If you are at higher risk for severe illness, find out if the store has special hours for people at higher risk. If they do, try to shop during those hours. People at higher risk for severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.
- Disinfect the shopping cart, use disinfecting wipes if available.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- If possible, use touchless payment (pay without touching money, a card, or a keypad). If you must handle money, a card, or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer right after paying.
Use hand sanitizer when you leave the store. Wash your hands when you get home.
- After leaving the store, use hand sanitizer. When you get home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- At home, follow food safety guidelines: clean, separate, and cook. There is no evidence that food or food packaging has been linked to getting sick from COVID-19.
Accepting deliveries and takeout orders
Limit in-person contact if possible.
- Pay online or on the phone when you order (if possible).
- Accept deliveries without in-person contact whenever possible. Ask for deliveries to be left in a safe spot outside your house (such as your front porch or lobby), with no person-to-person interaction. Otherwise, stay at least 6 feet away from the delivery person.
Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after accepting deliveries or collecting mail.
- After receiving your delivery or bringing home your takeout food, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- After collecting mail from a post office or home mailbox, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Getting gasoline
Use gloves or disinfecting wipes on handles or buttons before you touch them.
- Use gloves or disinfecting wipes on handles and buttons before you touch them (if available).
- After fueling, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when you get home or somewhere with soap and water.
Talk to your doctor online, by phone or e-mail.
- Use telemedicine, if available, or communicate with your doctor or nurse by phone or e-mail.
- Talk to your doctor about rescheduling procedures that are not urgently needed.
If you must visit in-person, protect yourself and others.
- If you think you have COVID-19, let the office know and follow guidance.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when you have to go out in public.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Use disinfecting wipes on frequently touched surfaces such as handles, knobs, touchpads (if available).
- Stay at least 6 feet away from others while inside and in lines.
- When paying, use touchless payment methods if possible. If you cannot use touchless payment, sanitize your hands after paying with card, cash, or check. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.
Limit in-person visits to the pharmacy.
- Plan to order and pick up all your prescriptions at the same time.
- If possible, call prescription orders in ahead of time. Use drive-thru windows, curbside services (wait in your car until the prescription is ready), mail-order, or other delivery services. Do the same for pet medicine.
- Check with your doctor and pharmacist to see if you can get a larger supply of your medicines so you do not have to visit the pharmacy as often.
Banking
Bank online whenever possible.
- If you must visit the bank, use the drive-through ATM if one is available. Clean the ATM keyboard with a disinfecting wipe before you use it.
- When you are done, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.
With the Governor extending the Stay At Home Order through April, we wanted to share ways you can safely bank with Security Bank during this time. We are still here for all of your banking needs and will continue to be. You can make appointments with our Loan and New Accounts Staff and we will safely assist you. Here are some other options to keep us all safe.
Drive-Thru/Walk Up
We love to see your faces, but with social distancing practices in place this is the safest option. Our Drive-Thru and Walk Up services are available during our regular branch hours. Please be aware that these times may change. Contact your local branch for more information. Drive-Thru allows you to conduct teller transactions and obtain account information. This includes but is not limited to account balances and transaction information. All while limiting contact exposure between yourself, other customers and our staff.
Online Banking
We take pride in an online banking platform that has always allowed our clients to access their accounts with the most current technology. With the restricted access to lobbies, this is a perfect way to view account activity including transactions, balances and account statements. You also have the option to send bills through bill pay. You can pay credit cards, loans, do person to person transfers, transfer money between accounts and pay all other bills.
Mobile Banking
Similar to Online Banking, Mobile Banking allows all of the same functions on the go! You can access your account activity, use bill pay and transfer money between accounts. An addition feature is mobile deposits. You can snap a photo of a check and deposit it directly into your account from your mobile device.
ATM
As part of the MoneyPass ATM network, Security Bank customers have access to over 33,000 surcharge free ATMs. Beside being able to check account balances and remove funds from your checking account electronically, you can also deposit funds into your account at select ATMs (see website for details).
It is safe to say Minnesotans have been listening to the advice of our health professionals and staying away from others to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our numbers show we are actually making a difference and that is such good news. Keep it up Minnesota! We will be together again before you know it.
