Grocery handling in the time of COVID

[filmore]

@Heffalump_and_Roo

Rasmussen explains that the probability of getting infected from a contaminated surface is not zero, but it is fairly low. That’s because respiratory droplets would have to have landed on the exact spot on, say, a box of cereal that you are touching.

I would think you would need to consider all the surface contacts for the groceries between the stockroom and your kitchen.

• The stocker
• Other shoppers
• Contamination from the cart
• Contamination from conveyor belt
• Touched by the cashier/bagger
• Touched by the personal shopper (if ordered online)

There’s a lot of opportunities for some droplets or mucus to end up on your groceries. In practice it seems like it’s not all that risky, but there are a lot of opportunities for contamination.

[susan]

Deciding what to wipe down with a hoarded disinfectant wipe is like deciding if a man is spongeworthy. Seinfeld: Sponge Worthy (Clip) | TBS - YouTube

[xanthous]

@Trom

In my opinion, the chance of transmission through
inanimate surfaces is very small, and only in instances
where an infected person coughs or sneezes on the
surface, and someone else touches that surface soon
after the cough or sneeze (within 1–2 h). I do not
disagree with erring on the side of caution, but this
can go to extremes not justified by the data.

(Quote above from the linked article.)

My takeaway from that statement would be: not knowing whether any of the items or bags in my grocery order were sneezed or coughed on in the last 1-2 hours, I should proceed as though they WERE sneezed or coughed on in the last 1-2 hours, and let non-perishables hang out in the garage for a day or three, and consider wiping down or washing cold/frozen/hot-garage-averse items that would immediately be crossing the threshold of my domicile. And of course washing my hands/surfaces afterward.

I would have to put faith in the idea that a 3-day sit in the garage, alone, would render my groceries “safe to handle.” Which yes, sounds easier than wiping down AND quarantining.

I will ponder on that.

[BippityBoppityBoo]

@susan

Deciding what to wipe down with a hoarded disinfectant wipe is like deciding if a man is spongeworthy

Made me right out loud-thanks. Those were the good old days!

[Machine_Elf]

@xanthous

I would have to put faith in the idea that a 3-day sit in the garage, alone, would render my groceries “safe to handle.”

3 days is the longest I’ve heard of this coronavirus surviving on surfaces at room temp.

[Procrustus]

We only quarantine groceries for the length of time it takes us to drive home from the store. I’m adding this not to say we’re doing it “right,” but just to point out one point on the range of behaviors. We never have worn gloves because of covid-19, or wiped down what we bought. We do wear masks, and wash our hands.