Are you still wiping groceries?

[Lovely1a2b3c]

Just that! We have been wiping food shopping items as some of the family are vulnerable (not shielding) but wondering if it's time to stop?

[quote Ponoka7]@MindyStClaire, there was official advice, for people who were clinically vulnerable. For others, the information was that shopping is a very low risk, but if you want to eliminate that risk, then guidance was given out, from the schools of tropical medicines and chief medical officers. It was covered on the Q&As.

But if shopping is 100% safe, as I asked, why haven't parks etc opened? It doesn't make sense.[/quote]
I'm clinically vulnerable, but not extremely vulnerable ie shielding, and never saw any such advice. I have seen advice to avoid going to the shops if possible, so DH has done all that. But once he's home I'll help him put the unwashed groceries away. The risk in going to the shops is the direct contact indoors with other people, not touching the packaging.

Completely agree about the parks.

Never did. I think it's low risk.

Germs have been in things for ever and objects have been handled by multiple people too. If you wash your hands thoroughly and don't touch face/mouth etc you can't spread the germs.

Would be interested to see if Supermarket workers or packers feel they were at risk or a higher ratio actually caught it.

I never did from the start, just handwashing.

Nope, never done it.

I went into town shopping yesterday (not because I wanted anything but I had to hang around waiting while my daughter had a job interview. ) Lots of signs up saying please don’t touch items unless you plan to buy. Never seen that in the supermarkets regarding food. Don’t see how you can buy clothes without looking at them as not all clothes racks are front facing. Also, if you want to find your size you have to move the other garments out of the way to get to it, then possibly hold it up against yourself to judge size - especially if fitting rooms are closed.

Yes, wipe what is perishable/frozen or needed in the next 3 days and 'quaratine' things not needed straight away. Husband still gets changed at work and his clothes go straight in wash on a 60⁰ wash once he gets in.

Nope I never have done. I wear gloves in the supermarket, use hand sanitizer as soon as I get into the car then wash hands when I get home.

I've had to be careful not to allow myself to get too scared, I suffer with anxiety normally so as soon as I start over thinking it's a slippery slope downhill for me. So I try and keep calm, think logically etc

My SIL is exactly the same and has ended up badly anxious, washing shopping that has to come in, other stuff stays in the car/garage for 3 days. She's still not happy for her teens to meet up with friends and she can't bring herself to listen to good news about the virus (treatments etc) because she thinks if she thinks positively she'll slip her guard. I find that worrying, it's good to be cautious but she's been left absolutely terrified.

I did, but now don't.
Wasn't there some research about it not staying on surfaces as long?

I wash my hands after post, but our postman is still going strong after all these months, so I wonder if it's pointless?

Yes we wipe or wash perishables and leave non-perishables for three days without touching them before using.

No way. I am on the vulnerable list and have been getting home deliveries.
Been careful and washing hands, but wiping everything down or quarantining mail is a ridiculous over reaction.

Couldn't care less what the "I'm so cool, I'm an anti-dementor" brigade think about it one way or another.

Nothing to do with being "cool" (whatever that's supposed to mean)

More that I think it's actually extremely unhealthy to worry about washing shopping and quarantining post, and in the long run I think it's going to lead to a lot of serious germ obsessions and anxieties.

Cleaning our environments to the extent that nothing can come inside from outside is not healthy - coronavirus isn't the only illness out there and unless you're in the shielding category, it can't be a good idea to eliminate all forms of "germs" from your life.

Also, due back in offices soon and mingling with lots of people.
We are not vulnerable either and have always resigned ourselves to the fact we might catch this, so not sure wiping shopping will make a difference.

I never did it, just washed hands and washed any food that wasn’t wrapped. The risk must be so small and if you’ve already touched it picking it up off the shelf chances are if it is contaminated it’s too late by the time you get home...

JinglingHellsBells
I was just going to say I am following government advice. In our circumstances govt advice was we don't need to (except for fresh fruit and veg). However, I am not very good at following govt advice re alcohol limits so clearly I pick and chose when I decide to be compliant .

My own philosophy is do what ever makes you feel comfortable and is right for your own circumstances using govt guidance as a minimum level.

@notalwaysalondoner

I never did it, just washed hands and washed any food that wasn’t wrapped. The risk must be so small and if you’ve already touched it picking it up off the shelf chances are if it is contaminated it’s too late by the time you get home...

Well, no. You just make sure you don't touch your face until you've had a chance to use some hand sanitiser.

Yes I still do- don't use wipes though. I have a bowl and cloth with a bleach solution and just wipe over the stuff that might be used within 48 hours. Rest goes in the garage then wash hands. Takes about 10 mins for a week's delivery.

Nope never did. The risk is minuscule. Time to get on with life now as ‘normal’ as possible.

I’ve been stunned by some people’s perception of risk during this crisis. I think we now have to decide on our own family situation and act accordingly. My teens have started having friends round, going to theirs and even staying over. If that’s ok with their parents then 💁🏼‍♀️

Still doing it. We are in a very low risk part of the country and the number of cases and deaths have thankfully always been low. Nothings changed. I did at the start so I'm still doing it. I know the chances of transmission from my shopping it super low but it s probably a mental thing giving me a little extra peace of mind through all the madness.

More that I think it's actually extremely unhealthy to worry about washing shopping and quarantining post, and in the long run I think it's going to lead to a lot of serious germ obsessions and anxieties.

Well, no. I don't worry about it, I just take very easy precautions: I wash my hands after opening post, I wipe perishable shopping before I put it away - which takes all of 10 minutes at most - and I quarantine non-perishable for 72 hours. I'm probably the least hygiene-obsessed person I know - for instance, I don't care about "eat by" dates so long as whatever it is doesn't smell - but even I can see that it makes sense to put in 10 minutes work per week to avoid a virus which could cause me to die a particularly horrible death.

Never did. It was shown early on aerosol transmission was most likely and catching it from it being smeared on things much less likely. They went into a house in Germany in the early stages owned by a family that tested positive and we’re surprised to find such small amounts of ‘smearing’ of the virus.

But I live with a key worker who worked with COVID positive patients and therefore my main risk has always been from this person!

Yes still doing it, tbh its become habit now and takes 10mins max

I wash everything that needs to go in the fridge/freezer with a soapy solution. If i can go a while without it, I leave it in a bag for 3 days. I'm in the UK.

Yes. It's knackering, but we're paranoid.

I did for the first six weeks, and I was doing bigger shops less frequently so it would take ages. I never used wipes though, just a cloth and soapy water - I’ve been shocked at how quickly the emphasis on single use products like wipes has been thrown under the bus.

I stopped because I couldn’t be bothered and got a bit blase but I’m considering starting again because I caught a stomach bug despite being in wales and lockdown being much more restrictive... how the bollocks did I catch a bug?? And also because I went shopping and watched a man fully sneeze, twice, over the fruit and veg and not even bother trying to catch it in his hands

Yes, still are. Nothing’s changed has it?

@WwMILd

Dita73 My apologies, didn’t realise it was a private conversation. Have a nice day - binmen came, so off to wipe them off now

Wiping the binmen is excessive even for the most OTT of mumsnetters