8 Corona Prevention Tips When Receiving Mail And Home Delivery

Zahraa Magdy

Self-isolation has become the condition of millions around the world to curb the spread of the new Corona virus "Covid-19", which resulted in the absence of pedestrians, and consumers abandoned shopping carts that may carry thousands of fingerprints for people who may be infected with the Corona virus, and replaced all this with e-shopping .

With the isolation from the world, fearing for the family, parents and children, everything that enters our homes has become frightening. Can we get infected with the pizza box and mail envelopes?

The American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that it is possible for a person to become infected with a corona by touching a surface or object containing the virus, then touching his mouth, nose, or perhaps his eyes.

But this is not the main method of spreading the virus, but rather is spread by respiratory drops while sneezing, coughing and speaking less than a meter away with people. Therefore, the center recommends avoiding close contact with people, washing hands frequently, while acknowledging that there are some hypothetical risks of keeping the Coruna virus alive in the mail.

How to protect yourself?
1- Do not trust the advertisements of the shipping companies, as your safety is yours alone. Some companies make advertising efforts to keep their customers informed that delivery workers are taking all precautions. However, trust may be impossible for delivery workers who continue to deliver orders within 8 to 12 business hours and are struggling to reach hand-washing facilities or supplies of tissues and masks.

The New York Times reported that a number of people with coronavirus had appeared among postal workers. Also, some couriers with the United Postal Service (UPS) and FedEx, the Americas, continue to work while they are sick for fear of losing their jobs. Others fear that companies may not provide enough to protect their safety.

2- Food safety specialist at North Carolina State University Ben Champaign studies the interaction between viruses and surfaces, saying that the Corona virus can live in parcels and products that arrive at home, but has not been identified as a risk factor for transmission.

All we have to do is wash our hands after touching them, wash what we can with water and soap, and provide alcohol and disinfectants for what is not right to wash. And he confirmed that the water and soap are both alcoholic. You can also dispose of the outer packaging of the product and the bag, and any packaging or bill and throw it out of the house.

3- Be careful when dealing with securities, and wash your hands immediately after touching them. Some governments have announced their concern over securities trading. The Chinese central bank announced that it would put all the banknotes of the provinces most affected by the virus in quarantine, and the US Federal Reserve to quarantine all currencies coming from the Asian continent for 10 days before being allowed to trade again among citizens.

4- It is technically possible for a package or mail coming to your home to be contaminated with a virus that was caught somewhere along the way by people who treat it or cough it. A group of researchers at the US National Institutes of Health found that corona virus lived on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and was more persistent on plastic and steel than on copper and cardboard, to live up to 72 hours.

Although the research group reassured citizens that the virus does not suspend parcels for long days, it did mention important caveats, including that the study was carried out in a closed place, and not in a public place that may allow an increase in the duration and repeated contact. Also, viruses may settle for a longer period at lower temperatures and lower humidity, so it is probably best to leave parcels and unspoiled products, such as clothes and devices, in a separate place for several days before using them.

5- To ensure perfect safety for your health, you should clean all the products you receive using alcohol wipes if you can get them, or spray alcohol on them and leave it until it dries before use.

Most baby wipes also have a low alcohol content, so they are less effective, but wiping only will help remove corona virus particles, and in the worst case you can try using a damp cloth with a small amount of soap and water to clean the products, but don't let the water get into things It may damage it.

6- Unlike sneezing and coughing, speaking alone generates an invisible spray and airborne droplets that can contain corona virus particles. Once the infected person opens his mouth each time the virus will spread as soon as he hands something in his hand to another person.

It is best in this case, and when dealing with a delivery representative who has visited dozens of homes before you, you should stay away from the person making the connection, and do not agree to touch a device or electronic pen that many other people have already dealt with.

7- Also remember that on your way to receive your package, you may touch a number of things that are frequently touched surfaces, such as an elevator button, a joint door handle for the building, or the pen that you use to sign, receive the bill, or money to pay and receive the rest. . Being aware of your connection to these surfaces is no less important - and perhaps more important - than the way you handle bags and cans.

8- The risk rate never reaches zero, but don't be afraid to buy what you need.

The data of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that faint genetic residues of the Corona virus survived for 17 days on deck in cruise ships, but this does not mean that infectious virus particles were found after that period, but only part of the virus was discovered, However, this indicates that there may be reason to be concerned about how long this virus can last on the surfaces.