With online delivery slots fully booked for days ahead in big cities, doing shopping runs has been a necessity lately. Although people are trying to keep these trips to a bare minimum, contact with the outside world is inevitable, even if you are having groceries delivered to your doorstep. This is raising many questions about how safe grocery shopping is and whether the bags and containers could potentially expose people to the virus.

These concerns have largely stemmed from the fact that the novel virus can survive on some surfaces for a few days, leaving many worried when unpacking groceries at home.

But what are the chances of contracting the virus from packaging or food itself? What must we do when preparing food to minimize risks? Here's what the experts say.

On the topic of markets, experts recommend you keep your hands to yourself as much as possible and avoid touching your face when shopping. Although stores and supermarkets are taking all necessary measures to ensure sterilization, people should be wary about surfaces that are constantly touched by people, such as trolleys or elevator buttons.

Here are a few rules to follow when shopping in-person at stores.