Advice please

[Froggie70]

Hello

The paranoia has set in today and I need to ask some advice please.

My ASDA delivery arrived today after much stressing getting an online delivery. The apples I bought show as produce of Spain and Italy. I know I’m being irrational but does anyone know if it’s possible to become infected via produce/packaging?

I feel embarrassed asking this but can’t see a definitive answer online.

Thanks 😳

[Jmiller623]

Good question. That’s not being paranoid. That’s being safe. We gotta eat but yeah, I’d have the same question.

[KayHimm]

Not paranoid at all. Could you peal all fruit to be safe? I have thought about about all the stuff coming in from the grocery store too.

XK

[Froggie70 in reply to KayHimm]

I will wash thoroughly then peel.

They are currently sitting on the kitchen counter and I’m eyeing them warily every time I walk by. Tbh I really want to throw them out but I feel guilt ridden at the thought of throwing food out when people are struggling throughout the country/world. There would also be a riot in the house if the apples disappeared.

I’m used to being confined to barracks with flares so staying in doesn’t feel a big deal but I think I’m going stir crazy today. 🤪

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi Froggie70 ,

When I was updating our guidance earlier this week I was looking into this. It may be possible that a person can contract the coronavirus (COVID-19) by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. COVID-19 is mostly spread between people through respiratory droplets.

Viruses don't tend to be able to survive long on surfaces - typically up to 8 hours I believe. I'm not sure that this has been sufficiently concluded with COVID-19 but I would hazard a guess that it couldn't last more than a couple of days tops.

[Froggie70 in reply to Paul_Howard]

Thank you. Wash and peel sounds like the order of the day. Stay safe🙂

[Spotty-ewe in reply to Froggie70]

Another thing you could do to be EXTRA safe is cook them after washing and peeling. I’ve stewed some apples this morning and used them for apple crumble tonight. I never even thought to look where they came from. But being cooked, they should be safe. 🤞🤞

[PMRpro in reply to Spotty-ewe]

But remember - it is all the steps before you must also think about. And once you have scrubbed them, the risk is reduced anyway.

[Spotty-ewe in reply to PMRpro]

I did scrub them too Pro - always have done. 😉 I am just being OTT or belt and braces at present. 😂🤣

[PMRpro]

Have a look at this post from some experts on our forum in keeping infection out of their houses:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

The apples will be safe if you wash/scrub them with soapy water and then rinse them thoroughly. Those apples will have been harvested last autumn, long before Covid 19 appeared (I know, I live in an Italian apple producing region). They will have been in storage since then before being exported.

Theoretically, far more to be concerned about will be the packaging - but that applies to ALL of the packaging and the thread explains clearly how to go about dealing with it if you are worried.

But you need a certain level of viral load - and it does seem to be a fair bit. Don't worry - it is far more likely that someone you meet in the street who sneezes would infect you.

[Froggie70 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. What an excellent article. I have saved this to my Homepage. Thanks again and take care🙂

[PMRpro in reply to Froggie70]

We have been doing our best! Do have a wander around other posts!

[Froggie70 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I only check Lupus and NRAS but will certainly start checking the other communities. Thanks again.

[Froggie70]

Hi RockinRic

Thank you. Your advice is really helpful. I’m using our porch as a go between area too so I must be on the right track. On my last foray out in the real world I got a bottle of bleach so will make up a solution and give everything a wipe down (been using wipes for everything 🤔). Thank you again and please pass my best wishes to your wife. Both of you stay safe.

[Roarah]

I wash with warm soap and water all produce and then put it to new contains or bags. I wipe plastic containers, like yogurt, with Clorox wipes and same with cardboard boxes. I unwrap meats and place in my own ziplock bags. I throw any store bags and packages away. I then spray the entire area with Lysol and wash my hands throughly than go and change out of clothes. Extreme most likely but not that hard and we have stayed well after a few weeks of this practice.

[Froggie70]

Thank you. Will have a look for Clorox wipes. Take care.

[AimeeA]

The virus does not live long on surfaces of various kinds, usually gone by 24 hours on cardboard, though it can live longer on plastic/glass.

My suggestion is that you take delivery of the package and let it sit unopened in cardboard for at least 24 hours. Wash your hands carefully when first touching the package delivery or anything inside the package for that first 24 hours.

Then treat what is inside the box appropriately based on what type of material it is packaged in. You can let those items sit for the appropriate amount of time before handling them, or wipe/wash plastic or glass carefully when handling them before the safe amount of time.

Here's the research on the survival time of the virus based on packing type:

usatoday.com/in-depth/news/...

I've order some things online, and I just let them sit for a few days before handling, and wash my hands after taking delivery of the box.

When in doubt, wash, wash, wash the item and your hands if you are handling them before the times shown in the research for how long the virus can live.

[Froggie70]

Thank you AimeeA 🙂