1. Getting Gas
consider all the hands that have touched the pump and buttons before you. “Use disinfecting wipes on handles and buttons before you touch them,” the CDC recommends. When you’re done pumping, use hand sanitizer, and don’t touch your face until you can thoroughly wash your hands to lower your risk.
2. Staying at a Hotel
If you travel and stay in a hotel, check with the front desk about sanitizing procedures. “When I came in, I would also wipe things down, possibly with alcohol wipes — particularly high-touch surfaces that would have me touch something, then touch my mouth, like a hotel bathroom sink,” says Mercedes Carnethon, Ph.D. from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
3. Airplane
Airplane travel was one of the first activities labeled as “dangerous” when the COVID-19 pandemic began. In an airplane, you increase potential exposure by being in close quarters with a group of people for several hours.
And it’s not just the plane ride you’ll need to worry about. “Air travel requires spending time in security lines and airport terminals, which can bring you in close contact with other people and frequently touched surfaces,” the CDC states.
4. Haircut
Getting a haircut requires up-close contact with your stylist, which can be risky for spreading coronavirus.
“There is no way to keep six feet of distance between you and your hairstylist,” according to Dr. Ravina Kullar, M.P.H., Pharm.D. from the Infectious Diseases Society of America. If you simply can’t wait any longer, ensure your salon and hairdresser are implementing the CDC’s best practices, including wearing a face mask at all times.
5. Nail Salon
Just like getting a haircut, nail service requires close contact with other people, which can be risky.
“The biggest risk in a nail salon is going to be sitting close to other people. If they’re not wearing masks, face shields, or both, you could potentially be exposed to infection for a fairly prolonged period of time,” according to Andrea LaCroix, Ph.D. from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. If you’re at high risk for a severe case or you’re worried about contracting the virus, it’s best to stick with in-home manicures for now.