PayPal and Venmo announced they are collaborating with actor Neil Patrick Harris to help people shop safe amidst the ongoing pandemic. With shoppers preferring digital payments to in-store shopping which is why PayPal and Venmo recently introduced touch-free QR code payments. Customers can now safely shop at more than 8,200 standalone CVS Pharmacy locations nationwide, according to a press release.

To help shoppers follow safe shopping etiquette in-store, an in-store video featuring Neil Patrick Harris shows shoppers how it's done.

"After my family contracted COVID-19 at the onset of the pandemic last year, I know firsthand how important it is to follow safety protocols like wearing a mask and practicing social distancing to help contain and slow the spread of the virus," Harris said in the video. "Paying for everyday essentials touch-free with PayPal and Venmo QR Codes at your local CVS is just one simple way you can protect yourself, fellow shoppers and store employees as we navigate these challenging times together."

To further enforce the importance of helping consumers shop safely in-store, Harris shared the following tips to navigate in-store shopping:

• Mask up: Wearing a mask is one of the safest ways you can protect yourself and others, including essential workers, when shopping in-store. Check that your mask doesn't have valves or vents and meets local requirements!
• Avoid the crowds: Find some in-store serenity by avoiding in-store shopping at peak times like the end of a workday or on weekends and create a categorized list by aisle to spend as little time inside the store as possible.
• Pay safely: Look out for touch-free payment options to avoid handling cash, touching keypads and signing receipts at checkout. You can safely and quickly pay touch-free with QR Codes at CVS using the PayPal and Venmo apps. Just click the "scan" button and then the "show to pay" option at checkout. You can also pay using your preferred payment method within the PayPal or Venmo wallet, such as debit, credit or your balance.
• Sanitize those hands: Keep a handy bottle of hand sanitizer on you at all times, especially when you're shopping in-store.
• Aisle awareness: Look out for aisle markers that keep shoppers six feet apart or encourage one-way shopping through an aisle. Use manners: Don't forget to say, "thank you" and smile with your eyes while wearing a face covering. Small acts of kindness go a long way, and essential workers deserve them more than ever before!