The Washington Post published an article written by Joseph G. Allen, an assistant professor of exposure and assessment science at Harvard’s School of Public Health. Allen explained precautions to take to prevent disease transfer from packages and groceries. (Yes, coronavirus can live on a surface, but the risk of disease transmission is low.)
Here are some of Allen’s suggestions for handling delivery packages:
• Leave packages outside or bring them inside and leave them by the door for several hours.
• Wipe down package exteriors with disinfectant.
• Unwrap packages and leave the packaging in the recycling can.
• Wash your hands after touching a package.
Allen also offered suggestions for grocery shopping:
• Stay six feet from other shoppers.
• Don’t touch your face while shopping.
• Put your groceries away.
• Wipe anything you are using immediately with disinfectant. (Clean all grocery packages before you put them away, if it makes you more comfortable.)
• Wash your hands after putting groceries away.
• Wash fruits and vegetables before using.
So, how many hours is enough hours to wait? Allen explained the findings of an article in the New England Journal of Medicine. “…
the virus’s half-life on stainless steel and plastic was 5.6 hours and 6.8 hours, respectively. (Half-life is how long it takes the viral concentration to decrease by half, then half of that half, and so on until it’s gone.)”
photo by: Groceries. © Dennis Jacobsen | Dreamstime.com