Are yard sales safe during the coronavirus pandemic? Here are tips to lower the risk

Are yard sales safe during the coronavirus pandemic?

With summer upon us, many may be wondering whether hosting or shopping at garage sales is a good idea.

In fact, many towns and cities already have canceled or postponed community-wide events out of concern about COVID-19.

The Historic National Yard Sale, a series of community sales along U.S. 40 from Baltimore to St. Louis, was pushed to August. In Boise, organizers just canceled “Idaho’s Largest Garage Sale” due to the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the “100-Mile Yard Sale” in eastern Missouri went on as scheduled over Memorial Day weekend.

If your town is allowing garage sales, there are a few tips for shoppers and homeowners to lower risk of spreading the virus.

Here is advice issued by the Ohio Department of Health.

• Display posters to remind customers about social distancing.
• Tables and chairs should be at least 6 feet apart.
• Use tape to direct visitors through the sale.
• Disinfect merchandise before putting it out for sale.
• Clean tables and chairs throughout the day.
• Supply hand sanitizer on tables and elsewhere for customers.
  
  
• Wear masks and disposable gloves.

The Salt Lake County Health Department offered a few tips for safely exchanging payment, KSL reported.

A department spokesman suggested designating a person to take money from customers and washing hands after every transaction, the news outlet reported. If using credit cards through an app, it’s important to sanitize cellphones, the spokesman told KSL.

This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 3:35 PM with the headline "Are yard sales safe during the coronavirus pandemic? Here are tips to lower the risk."