A Question About COVID

[DemUnleashed]

Does anyone know...can we get COVID through contact or has that been disproven? In other words, do we still have to wipe down our canned groceries etc when we get home from the supermarket? (I've never wiped mine down because I just leave them in a room and don't touch them for 3 days). But I'm just wondering is the contact issue less important than the airborne issue or is the contact issue not an issue at all?

Thanks for anyone's help!

[MineralMan]

1. I believe there is not as much concern about surfaces these days.

[StarryNite]

2. I don't know but I still spray and wipe down everything with peroxide.

Or quarantine some things for at least 3 days.

[KWR65]

3. Just use a paper towel soaked in water and cleaner then wipe them down.

The cleaner will destroy any virus.

[CentralMass]

4. I dont take any chances.

[Olafjoy]

5. For surfaces, the biggest concern is with high-touch surfaces like door handles and railings etc.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. The latest research suggests that surfaces are not a significant source of infection.

From The Lancet, one of the world's most reputable medical research journals, published on September 29, 2020:

We have done two sequential studies seeking to determine on one hand the extent, if any, of contamination of inanimate surfaces in a standard infectious disease ward of a major referral hospital in northern Italy, and on the other hand whether the risk of contamination was higher in emergency rooms and sub-intensive care wards than on ordinary wards. Cleaning procedures were standard. A number of objects and surfaces were swabbed. Remarkably, only the continuous positive airway pressure helmet of one patient was positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. More importantly, attempts to culture the positive swabs on Vero E6 cells were unsuccessful, suggesting that patient fomites and surfaces are not contaminated with viable virus. Our findings suggest that environmental contamination leading to SARS-CoV-2 transmission is unlikely to occur in real-life conditions, provided that standard cleaning procedures and precautions are enforced. These data would support Goldman's point that the chance of transmission through inanimate surfaces is less frequent than hitherto recognised.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30678-2/fulltext

[LisaL]

8. Provided standard cleaning procedures and precautions are enforced.

So they are not telling you to stop cleaning and washing surfaces.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. No, but they are saying that you don't need to go beyond that.

This was in a hospital setting, too, where routine cleaning is always done. You don't have to disinfect your groceries or let a package sit for days before handling it.

At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, many people cleaned grocery-store purchases with disinfecting wipes before putting them away at home.

At that point, it was recommended as a best practice to avoid contagion. The thinking was that because the virus can survive on surfaces for short periods of time, someone could touch a contaminated item and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth and possibly infect themselves.

Now, however, a lot more is known about how COVID-19 spreads – primarily from person to person through droplets in the air. The risk of getting it from surfaces, including grocery packaging, is “exceedingly small,” said Melissa Bronstein, senior director of infection prevention for Rochester Regional Health and a registered nurse.

The most up-to-date information on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that “because of the poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely a very low risk of spread from food products or packaging.” In fact, it goes on to say that no cases of COVID-19 have been linked to people touching food or food packaging and then touching their faces.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/09/08/do-you-still-need-wipe-down-grocery-store-takeout-boxes/5743240002/ I wash my hands after handling something that originated from outside my house but that's about it.

[LisaL]

7. The major rout it spreads is through the air.

That doesn't rule out that it also spreads through surfaces.

[StarryNite]

10. Yes

And that's why I still clean everything. Just like frequent and proper hand washing is still recommended.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

9. It's essentially been disproven.

Okay, if someone with an active case sneezes or spits on a surface, and you touch it very soon after, then touch your face, you might possibly be infected.

But if it were possible to get it just from surfaces very easily, and awful lot more people would have gotten it by now. You don't even need to leave things alone for three days.

It's the airborne thing almost exclusively. If everyone is wearing their masks properly (a huge if in too many cases) and maintaining social distance, not spending much time inside where air circulation and ventilation might not be very good, then you should have no worries.

I know a lot of people will say they're not going to take any chances and wipe down or isolate everything. I've already read stuff about the disinfectant chemicals getting into everything because of the over use of them.

[LisaL]

12. An awful lot of people is getting it right now.

Some of these people are working in the White House.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

20. And they aren't wearing masks and they are crowded together.

It's airborne, almost never surface borne.

Again, if everyone wears a decent mask CORRECTLY, not under the nose or the chin, and washes their hands frequently, it would vastly reduce the rate of spread.

Frantic sanitizing of every surface is basically sanitation theater, rather like airport security is security theater.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Contact transmission is unlikely. One case. Masks are very effective going both ways

I've heard of only one case that was shown to be by surface contact. Apparently somebody in China got it from elevator buttons.

If your zone has a bit of Covid heat, wiping or quarantining items is not a bad idea, but I would not be especially fearful.

[LisaL]

14. One case that is documented doesn't rule out many undocumented cases.

Most people don't know how exactly they got it.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. I didn't say it ruled out. But you need to keep a sense of proportion & follow the science

If surface transmission were really important we'd have heard about it a lot more.

It's a little bit important.

Don't touch your face. Wash your hands.

[Ms. Toad]

13. Primary means of transmission is via the nasal passages from droplets and aerosolized matter.

It is theoretically possible to get it through touch, but far less likely.

I'm cautious about washing hands, but I've never wiped down or quarantined my shopping.

For reference (so you can judge the level of risk I find tolerable) - from March - the end of August I was out of the house no more than a dozen times, and a third of those were to go biking. I've never not worn a mask out of the house (aside from in my car driving or in my private office at work) - and that includes wearing a mask while biking on a local trail.

When my spouse does something stupid, I sleep on a recliner in the living room rather than share airspace in our relativley small bedroom. I skipped a family bridal shower, and attended a wedding reception only after they rearranged the tables so our family was seated 6' apart at a separate table from anyone outside of our home (the basis of my consenting to go).

I've eaten out 3 times at outdoor restaurants.

Currently I am teaching in person (JD program) - the school requires masks and there is 100% compliance (the rule is that if you don't have a mask on, you will be invited to attend remotely. that rule has been enforced).

[frazzled]

15. Always wash your hands after touching anything from the outside

I do still wipe down grocery items that need to be refrigerated or frozen right away (just because I'm a little crazy), and leave other items to sit out for 2-3 days before putting in the pantry and/or using.

But either way I wash my hands thoroughly, and wipe down any surfaces such as refrigerator door handles, counters, or faucets that have come into contact with products or my hands.

As for canned goods, I think that for at least 30 years I have never opened a canned good without rinsing the top in hot water before opening it. This habit was developed not for COVID or for germs in general, but because supermarkets sometimes use pesticides or disinfectants in their stores, and you don't want a can lid to touch the contents inside. It only takes a few seconds to rinse a can before opening it.

Frankly, I think clorox-wiping egg cartons and ice cream containers is really nuts. But I do it any way. As the old joke goes: "It couldn't hoit!"

[marybourg]

16. It can't hurt, as long as it's not too much for you.

I certainly can’t wipe down every carton and the contents of every carton I bring in, or I would be able to do nothing else that day. I quarantine for three days everything I can. What has to be used immediately, or refrigerated or frozen, I handle, - washing before use if practicable - and then wash hands.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. Most important thing re surface transmission: Wash Your Hands & Don't Touch Your Face. . . nt

[FakeNoose]

21. I've read that wearing glasses is helpful

Of course I wear a mask whenever I'm out around people, also I wash my hands frequently throughout the day. However I no longer feel the need to wear gloves or worry about touching things in the grocery store.

The thing about glasses is that the same aerosol that could get into one's nasal passage or throat (through close talking with an infected person) can also get into the eyes. People don't think about that so much, but sunglasses, eyeglasses or even a face shield can protect us from the aerosol. It's important to remember not to touch one's eyes or rub the eyes if you haven't washed your hands. (I have to remind myself frequently of this.)

[lagomorph777]

22. I wear a face shield and spray/rub all groceries with isopropyl.

[DemUnleashed]

23. Wow

Wow...thank you all...so much insight! 😘

[DemUnleashed]

24. Wow

Wow...thank you all...so much insight! 😘

[Meowmee]

25. Yes

You can get it by touching surfaces someone sneezed on etc. it is not the main transmission route but it is possible. Sars cov was proven to be transmitted fecally and through urine and was transmitted to family members when proper sanitation was not done. It is not worth the risk so steam/ clean things that come into your house and wipe down surfaces etc. think toilets, countertops etc. I use a bissell steam shot for groceries delivered etc. and disinfectant wipes for cleaning. I was already using gloves for a lot of things and disinfecting/ doing isolation when one of my cats had c difficile, so I got into the habit of knowing what to do. Steam kills everything in seconds. I have already had and survived covid pneumonia in April and I now have chronic problems from it. Don’t take any chances to get it is my advice.