The outbreak of coronavirus in China prompted a surge in online shopping as consumers adhered to stay-at-home measures. With the escalating number of cases in the US, concerns about the safety of online shopping versus visiting stores have surfaced. Can packages carry the virus, posing a risk of transmission?
Expert Insights on Virus Survival
Rachel Graham, an epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina, highlighted that the novel virus can potentially linger on surfaces for hours to a day. This raises the possibility of virus presence on packages. However, health experts, including those from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasize that the likelihood of transmission from packages is exceedingly low.
Elizabeth McGraw, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics at Pennsylvania State University, reiterated this sentiment, stating that the absence of global spread via packages from China early in the outbreak indicates minimal risk. Various factors, such as humidity, temperature, wind conditions, and surface properties, influence the virus’s lifespan on surfaces.
Shipping Conditions and Virus Survival
McGraw highlighted that shipping conditions typically create an environment unfavorable for virus survival. Variations in temperature and humidity encountered during transit are likely to shorten the virus’s lifespan. Both the CDC and WHO corroborate this stance, emphasizing the low risk of virus transmission from products or packaging shipped over several days or weeks at ambient temperatures.
Guidance for Consumers
To further mitigate any potential risks, consumers can adopt precautionary measures. Cleaning packages and surfaces with solutions containing specified concentrations of ethanol alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or sodium hypochlorite can efficiently deactivate human coronaviruses within one minute, according to recent studies.
In conclusion, while the possibility of virus transmission from packages exists, the consensus among experts is that the risk is minimal. By adhering to recommended cleaning protocols, consumers can enhance safety measures when handling packages and surfaces.
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