Not collecting parcel from China

[Imfinallyhappy1]

I ordered some bits off amazon a few weeks ago. Just a hamster ball and slide for dd hamster.

I know they have come from China and are currently at the post office but dh at first stated I needed to wear gloves and then flash wipe all the contents before I get home. He has now decided I can't get them as he's worried about coronavirus.

I understand but I'm also very I've waited for ages for the bits. Dd has waited and I thinks it's a bit overkill

Aibu to just go get them anyway and flash wipe it to placate him?

I don't want to spend more money buying something I've already brought.

The virus moves person to person doesn't it? Would it survive in transit?!

The virus wouldn't survive on a package over several weeks. This is OTT. It's not anthrax.

Was about to say you're both being ridiculous as the virus wouldn't survive. Then googled and found this on the NBC news site

"...A person could also become infected through contact with the virus particles on a surface, though it's unknown how long the new coronavirus can survive on surfaces outside of the body..."

Still vv unlikely though and I won't be decontaminating anything I get from China.

I wouldn't order something from China but if I already had then I'd collect it.

That parcel definitely won't be the only thing that comes from China and that will be touched by you.

YABU.

Go and get the package! Wash it because you should do this anyway! Is your DH going to check everything you buy to see is any element of the packaging or contents have come from China?

Where in China is it from? That might make a difference although frankly I think there is no risk.

Whatever you are buying will have been packed up weeks/months back and it's only the envelope/box that might be an issue - but frankly if there was there'd be a trail of death and destruction all through the postal service & all couriers. Not happened. So don't worry.

I opened a parcel from China about half an hour ago and didn’t give it a second thought

YABU to use a hamster ball.

YABU to use a hamster ball

There’s always one...

I doubt the virus could survive that long. Do let us know if you get the virus though, the Chinese government would probably want to know so that they could burn down the whole of Wuhan.

The parcel would be fine.

The hamster ball isn'tfine though. Very bad for hamsters.

Apparently disinfectant would kill anything so you could always use that on it (or return it when they deliver it, you can do that with Amazon, they are good with returns I find) and get one from the pet shop instead.

My hamster always loved those balls. Take care near stairs though..

How do you know if something is coming from China? I ordered something from Amazon recently and it is taking ages to arrive...wonder if also from China, how do you check?

The hamster does not love the ball, it is in there trying to think how to escape. I'm sure you would 'love it' - not.

I thought this was going to be about custom charges. I don't the virus would survive that long on the package.

If the ball is too small then they are bad for the hamster's spine.

The coronavirus currently spreading in China is in a category of viruses that the WHO has tested surviving up to 2 days on hard surfaces. They dont know specifically yet for this particular virus but it is very reasonable to assume the same. If the parcel was sent express, then there is a very small chance that someone who handled it in china contaminated it with virus in droplets, but I think you have more chance of being run over by a bus this afternoon!

If you want to do something , unpackage it and what you can, wash in very hot soapy water and air dry. What you cant wash, put in the freezer for 24 hours. Heat kills a virus and cold reduces its efficacy. After you have dealt with the contents, put the packaging in a plastic bag and tie it up and bin it, then wash your hands thoroughly. Do not touch your face at all during the process.

That's ridiculous.

Does he generally suffer with anxiety because that reaction is totally OTT.

I get a lot of packages from China. The thought of Coronavirus didn't even register with me as I ripped open 3 packages today!

There's being careful and there's being paranoid.

You’d need to give it a clean with the cage cleaner anyway to get rid of any residual chemicals from manufacture.

You do realise that a huge amount of products we buy every day come from China? Tell him not to be so ridiculous.

My husband's just got back from a trip to China!! What shall I do with him?!

@LolaLollypop - boil wash with zoflora