Takeaway and food delivery have increased as bars, restaurants, and cafés around the US have been shut down due to lockdowns. But how safe is online food ordering?
Is COVID spreadable via food or packaging?
As a respiratory infection, COVID-19 may be transferred to others by inhaling fluid droplets produced by an infected person’s nose or mouth and inhaled by others in close proximity. This is widely believed to be the primary method of spreading the virus.
Even though it’s hard to get this information, we can’t rule out the possibility that droplets that have landed on things (like food or food packaging) may have infected people. Online food ordering from reputable companies and high-quality restaurant kitchens is likely to be prepared in a safe and clean environment.
Washing your hands and not touching your face can help you avoid getting an infection from contaminated items or surfaces.
Is it OK to eat with your hands?
Packaging contamination is less of an issue if you order delivery from a takeout chains. Prof Sally Bloomfield, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says, “Empty the contents [into a clean plate], dispose of the packing into a rubbish bag and wash your hands properly before you eat.”
Use a spoon to remove food from a container and a knife and fork to consume it, not your fingers. ” Ordering hot, freshly prepared meals rather than cold or uncooked things may be preferable under the given conditions.
If everything has been produced and handled appropriately, says the Food Standards Agency, “there is no reason to avoid having ready-to-eat food delivered.” However, for the most cautious and vulnerable, careful preparation and cooking may give them a sense of security. According to Prof. Bloomfield, “another option is to put the pizza in the microwave for a couple of minutes,” he explains.
How secure are grocery store deliveries?
Deliveries are less dangerous than grocery shopping because you won’t have to deal with other customers. There is a chance of food or packaging being contaminated by other individuals or the delivery person, although this is quite rare.
Prof Bloomfield argues there is no such thing as a “zero risk” when it comes to a driver ringing the doorbell and stepping back. It’s best to keep food in containers for at least 72 hours before eating it, or spray and clean containers with bleach. She advises: wash vigorously under running water and let it dry for unwrapped fresh products that have been touched by anybody, she says.
What If I go to the grocery store?
When an infected individual coughs up virus-laden droplets into the air, they propagate the coronavirus. If they are inhaled, or if you touch a surface where they have fallen, they may cause illness.
Go shopping and interacting with strangers carries a certain level of danger. To keep this from happening, it’s best to cover your face and keep a social distance of at least 2 meters (about 6 feet).
Prof Bloomfield claims that supermarkets are a “perfect habitat” for the transmission of viruses. “Many products, such as checkout belts, cash cards, car park ticket machine buttons, ATM payment buttons, paper receipts, etc., are being touched and replaced by customers… Plus the fact that there are a lot of people around. “
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