In photos of Amazon fulfillment centers, the workers appear to mostly be wearing fabric work gloves, not disposable gloves. Workers touch both the outer cardboard box and the item; but if the item has its own packaging, anything inside of that will probably have been untouched since manufacture, which is probably long enough.
I also spray all deliveries with disinfectant and put them for a waiting room for days. Also disinfect floor where they were and the bottoms of my shoes.
What I know from clean rooms in the biopharmaceutical production is that you avoid there cardboard at all because there is no straightforward way for disinfection (besides the particulate contamination that comes with them). Therefore, one approach is to remove the cardboard as soon as possible and put it away (and wash your hands afterwards).
Edit—Additional comment to make the statement more precise:
There is no straightforward way for disinfection of cardboard without destroying it, i.e., the cardboard soaks in the cleaning agent and will disintegrate.
Do you mind elaborating on how you reconcile your model with the 1st CDC link you list in your research? “In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures” And my interpretation of the 2nd JHI link is that since cardboard is perhaps closest to wood/paper, then the persistence is about 1-4 days, which seems to indicate a relatively low risk (at least compared to other surfaces). I think taking your advice is reasonable because it only increases safety; I just wanted to better understand what we think the risk level is.
2. The CDC is talking specifically about infection from China (I assume this was written when CoV was more contained), and I agree that typical transit time from China is long enough to let the virus die. I’m specifically concerned about the delivery person and the dude at the Amazon warehouse who packed the box.
Unexpected difficulty: if I open packages with scissors wearing gloves, I tend to cut my gloves. Maybe this would work better now that I have a box cutter?
Use hand sanitizer or wash hands with soapy water frequently- after touching any doorknob exposed to an epidemic, at a minimum. (This includes doorknobs that only you touch, if there’s a chance that you’re in an infections asymptomatic state). Other triggers include the normal cases of before cooking and before eating.
Advice: Use gloves or wash your hands after handling delivery packages, and be careful not to touch your face while handling them.
Model:
Packages have been handled by many people, who have economic incentives to come to work even when sick
Coronavirus has a long asymptomatic but infectious period
-> Once coronavirus is at all prevalent, your packages will be exposed
Coronavirus can live on surfaces for many days (my research)
Cardboard is hard to sterilize (I’m still investigating this one)
-> You’re likely to pick up virus particles on your hand from handling packages
Washing is effective at clearing virus particles off of your hands
Unless you’ve already transferred them to mucous members by touching your face.
In photos of Amazon fulfillment centers, the workers appear to mostly be wearing fabric work gloves, not disposable gloves. Workers touch both the outer cardboard box and the item; but if the item has its own packaging, anything inside of that will probably have been untouched since manufacture, which is probably long enough.
I wrote a post with a comprehensive disinfection protocol here, although some criticized it for being excessively paranoid.
I also spray all deliveries with disinfectant and put them for a waiting room for days. Also disinfect floor where they were and the bottoms of my shoes.
I haven’t been able to find anything on the effectiveness of disinfectant on cardboard. Do you have any pointers?
What I know from clean rooms in the biopharmaceutical production is that you avoid there cardboard at all because there is no straightforward way for disinfection (besides the particulate contamination that comes with them). Therefore, one approach is to remove the cardboard as soon as possible and put it away (and wash your hands afterwards).
Edit—Additional comment to make the statement more precise:
There is no straightforward way for disinfection of cardboard without destroying it, i.e., the cardboard soaks in the cleaning agent and will disintegrate.
Do you mind elaborating on how you reconcile your model with the 1st CDC link you list in your research? “In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures” And my interpretation of the 2nd JHI link is that since cardboard is perhaps closest to wood/paper, then the persistence is about 1-4 days, which seems to indicate a relatively low risk (at least compared to other surfaces). I think taking your advice is reasonable because it only increases safety; I just wanted to better understand what we think the risk level is.
1. I don’t particularly trust the CDC on this
2. The CDC is talking specifically about infection from China (I assume this was written when CoV was more contained), and I agree that typical transit time from China is long enough to let the virus die. I’m specifically concerned about the delivery person and the dude at the Amazon warehouse who packed the box.
How about using UV lamps and ozone in bathroom to sanitize the deliveries? This might be particularly useful for groceries.
Please don’t use ozone—https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/LwcKYR8bykM6vDHyo/coronavirus-justified-practical-advice-thread?commentId=qRnqPAThJEJp9ySkE
Unexpected difficulty: if I open packages with scissors wearing gloves, I tend to cut my gloves. Maybe this would work better now that I have a box cutter?
Use hand sanitizer or wash hands with soapy water frequently- after touching any doorknob exposed to an epidemic, at a minimum. (This includes doorknobs that only you touch, if there’s a chance that you’re in an infections asymptomatic state). Other triggers include the normal cases of before cooking and before eating.
What does frequently mean? Whatever your answer, why that, instead of 10% more or 10% less?
Discussion from another post about the payoff of handwashing in general and how to determine the right frequency: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ztDYsD4v7AaAbWEDM/some-quick-notes-on-hand-hygiene#9jW5reovD4cMeXcZh