You can, but it’s important to stay as safe and health-conscious as possible! The holidays, which are usually a reliable source of freshness and positivity, aren’t as reliable this year.

If you are desperate to get out, shop and give your family members a sense of normalcy, however, read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Southcenter highlights how you can stay healthy.

How Can I Stay Healthy When Shopping in Person?

Adhering to the CDC-recommended health-safety protocols—such as masking up, social distancing and using hand sanitizer— is the best way to stay healthy.

In all honesty, online shopping is much safer than shopping in person due to the usual large crowds and this holiday season’s rising COVID-19 rates. If you must shop in person, however, adhere to the safety protocols that we’ve listed below.

More Ways to Stay Safe In Stores

• Get your shopping done early in the day. The earlier you go, the less likely you are to encounter crowds.
• Use contactless credit cards. This allows you to avoid physical contact with cashiers or payment terminals that go through hundreds of transactions per day.
• Get your loved one a gift card to his or her favorite store. Purchasing gift cards allows for less time rummaging through stores to find the perfect gift.

What If I’m Around Large Crowds?

If it’s impossible to avoid a large holiday crowd, it’s best to get creative with your holiday shopping.

Whether it’s shopping exclusively online or any of our below-mentioned suggestions, changing how you typically do things is probably going to be your best bet to stay safe.

Ways to Christmas Shop Safely

• Shop online. You can either purchase online and have items delivered, or buy online and pick up at the store.
• Shop in locally owned businesses. Most small businesses have less foot traffic, which makes for a safer shopping experience.
• Try making your gifts. Handmade gifts can be a great way to express love without even having to spend tons of money or time in stores.

Our team at AFC Urgent Care Southcenter wants you to stay healthy while still enjoying this holiday season! We are here for you if you do end up feeling under the weather, however, so don’t hesitate to visit us.