Top Coronavirus Prevention Tips for Shoppers
You can protect yourself in a number of ways — and negotiate medical bills if you do fall ill.
Published
We recommend checking with your health care provider if you experience symptoms of the coronavirus disease COVID-19. In the meantime, we've covered coronavirus prevention measures you can take, as well as what you can do if you get saddled with expensive medical bills.
Get Tested
With COVID-19 cases still widespread across the U.S., many anxious consumers are looking for easier ways to get reliable test results. One option is to take a test at home! The FDA has issued emergency authorizations for several companies, so here's where you can buy a home test kit for COVID-19.Prices range between $25 and $150 per test, and at least one company will bill the cost to your insurance company.
The CDC recommends using hand sanitizer when soap and water aren't available.
Use Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is practically flying off the shelves of grocery stores everywhere. It's been a severe problem, and one that has led chains like Kroger and Target to limit the amount one shopper can purchase. But if you're focused on coronavirus prevention, is keeping sanitizer on hand even worth it? Check out our guide on whether hand sanitizer works on the coronavirus, which answers questions like these:- Does hand sanitizer work on the coronavirus?
-
- Is it as good as washing your hands?
-
- What does it need to contain?
Practice Social Distancing
In the wake of the coronavirus, lots of people are finding themselves home more often. Perhaps their employers are requiring staff to work from home temporarily, or maybe they're following health officials' guidance to "socially distance" themselves, in an effort to take coronavirus precautions and slow the spread of COVID-19.If you end up an unintentional homebody, make the best of the situation and check out our tips for coping with social distancing. You and your family can prioritize self-care and combat cabin fever with enjoyable activities.
Negotiate Medical Bills
Given the prevalence of COVID-19 cases, knowing how to lower your medical expenses is especially important right now. Whether your insurance won't cover a procedure or it's just too pricey for you, working out a lower cost is possible.Check out our guide on how to negotiate medical bills to see what your options are and the best course of action to take.
Set your family up with games and supplies that will keep everyone entertained during long periods of time at home.
Set Up a Home Office
More people are working from home than ever. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 29% of Americans had the ability to work from home between 2017 and 2018. If you're telecommuting a lot these days, you may be happier and more productive if you put some thought into designing your home office setup.To help you generate a few home office setup ideas, we've put together a helpful infographic. Check it out now!
Save on Over-the-Counter Drugs
When the number of COVID-19 cases first started to rise in 2020, the CDC encouraged people to stock up on medications and other supplies. Even when there isn't a pandemic taking place, it's still important to save on over-the-counter drugs whenever you can.But whether you're stocking up on over-the-counter meds in case of emergencies, or just refilling your supply of Tylenol, the costs can add up quickly. So what are the best ways to get a discount on medications? Check out our guide for the tips and tricks you should know!
Avoid Price Gouging
No one wants to pay more than what an item is worth, but sometimes consumers can't shop around. When you're asked to overpay for a soda at a movie theater, no big deal — you either pay up or go without. But what if there's a crisis and sellers start charging triple the price for goods like medicine or food? Or over $100 for a bottle of hand sanitizer?Read on to learn about price gouging laws and the actions you can take if you think you've paid too much for an essential item.
Price gouging laws typically limit how much an item's price can rise after a state of emergency is declared.
Rely on Learning Websites for Kids
School is back in session in many places, whether students are attending classes in person or sticking with a virtual format. If you're keeping your kids at home due to coronavirus cases rising in your area, you may need to keep them entertained — especially if they're on the younger side.With people everywhere practicing social distancing, it can be challenging to entertain kids stuck at home. Fortunately, there are tons of educational websites for kids that parents can rely on. Check out our guide to learn more about them.
Learn How to Work From Home
If this is your first time telecommuting, it may seem a bit odd — even naughty — to be working outside of an office building. With that in mind, we've put together a list of six work from home tips to help you get acclimated. Tips like these:- Set up a work from home routine
-
- Control your work from home environment
-
- Exercise self-control when working from home
Consider Buying a Bidet
We all remember the pandemic-fueled toilet paper shortage of 2020. But is there a good reason to buy a bidet aside from future toilet paper panics? We've got all the details you need to make that decision! Learn about the different types of bidets and how much they cost in our helpful guide.
We've seen hand-held bidet attachments cost as little as $11 — how long would it take you to spend that much on toilet paper?
Set Up Online Grocery Delivery
Having groceries delivered is quite convenient, especially with some places still experiencing lockdowns due to the pandemic and many people wanting to take coronavirus prevention measures. Fortunately, online grocery delivery has also grown in popularity over the last couple of years, and has expanded to even more areas.So how do you choose the best online grocery delivery service for you? There are a number of options, but this guide lays out what you need to know before you sign up for any of them.
Know What to Buy During a Supply Shortage
Product shortages can be a real pain. We tend to see the disappearance of supplies due to natural disasters, such as hurricanes and blizzards. Of course, we're all much more familiar with one type of shortage-causing event: a pandemic.If you can't find toilet paper, napkins, or disinfecting wipes, don't fret! Other options are available, though they might be more expensive. Here's what to buy during a supply shortage.
Buy Exercise Equipment When It Goes on Sale
Making time for the gym was hard enough when these facilities were still open, but many are now closed or have restrictions in place due to the pandemic.If you're thinking a home gym might be the way to go, you may ask yourself, "When does exercise equipment go on sale?" Check out our guide to find out!
Try to find fitness apps that offer free trials, so you can get an idea of how they work before you invest in them.
Check Out Home Workout Apps for Socially Distant Exercise
Every January, plenty of people make a New Year's resolution to tone up or slim down. While a gym membership might seem like an easy way to kick-start this goal, not everyone is comfortable working out surrounded by other people. However, that doesn't mean you have to put your physical fitness on hold.Tons of fitness apps are available to choose from, but not all of them are worth your time. Here are the 10 best home workout apps.
Senior Staff Writer/Consumer Analyst
Julie's work has been featured on CNBC, GoBankingRates, Kiplinger, Marketwatch, Money, The New York Times, Real Simple, US News, WaPo, WSJ, Yahoo!, and more. She's extolled the virtues of DealNews in interviews with Cheddar TV, GMA, various podcasts, and affiliates across the United States, plus one in Canada.
DealNews may be compensated by companies mentioned in this article.
Please note that, although prices sometimes fluctuate or expire
unexpectedly, all products and deals mentioned in this feature were
available at the lowest total price we could find at the time of
publication (unless otherwise specified).
Sign In or Register