This is so stupid - I’m scared to touch packages

[stupidquestions]

I feel an absolute idiot . I’ve got a package in the hallway that I received yesterday from boots ... I’m scared to touch it, mainly because the delivery driver carried it from the van with his bare hands . I have previous issues around contamination/germ phobia and that’s working overtime just now . I’ve left the parcels for about 30 hours, with the door shut .

Would I be safe enough to open it soon, do I need to spray it down with anything or wear gloves - obviously I’d wash my hands immediately after handling ? I’m assuming the internal stuff is fine - I don’t think I need to wash all that down - it’s the cardboard I’m worried about .

I can’t really help except to say I’m scared too, I have 2 packages that I put out in the back garden 3 days ago, one cardboard and one plastic and I still can’t bring myself to open them.

What is the worst that can happen if we indulge our fears and leave them a bit longer though?

I am aware I am ridiculous by the way

All of mine are being kept in the porch for 72 hours- the virus lives on surfaces for up to that time (cardboard is only 24 hours though I think), so it’s a sensible approach if you don’t need the items immediately.

The virus cannot survive a good hand washing. Dr John Campbell on youtube has a video on handwashing after getting groceries here.

www.youtube.com/channel/UCF9IOB2TExg3QIBupFtBDxg

I think you are fine to open it. I must admit I thought the same thing when I had my delivery of cat food yesterday. The delivery driver carried it from the van and left it on the doorstep. I hesitated for a minute but carried it in and opened it. After all I was in school on Monday looking after key worker children so have more of a chance of catching it from them than a parcel. In all honesty I am more worried about transmitting it unknowingly than actually having it myself.

I understand your fears, I just had a package delivered and as the delivery driver placed it on my step saying they were ensuring the distance thing, they then coughed heartedly (not on purpose) so I picked up the package tore open the box and then washed my hands and covered them in sanitser after disposing of the package.

72 hour quarantine is sensible. From what I've read, it will degrade faster warm than cold so hallway rather than outside/shed or whatever sounds good.

Will go with that then, I can live without the stuff just now for certain , it’s just bits like shower gel and shampoo .

Tbh I’m not doing the same with food but I feel I can trust Tesco’s hygiene procedures more than I can trust DPD somehow . That’s probably not very fair of me .

The world health organisation says that the risk of transmission from packaging is low.

There is a recent scientific paper indicating that this virus survives on cardboard for 24hrs. So just wash your hands after receiving the delivery, set it aside for a day or two, and you should be perfectly safe. Good luck!

OP
Don't beat yourself up for being scared
We all are to some extent
and many of us are asking about how to deal with some aspects

Advice in Germany is that they are not aware of any CV infection from post, packages or food,
including takeaways

Personally, I remove and dispose of outer box (if there is one) and leave contents to stand at least a day
If they are washable I wash them first with soap

and of course I wash my hands thoroughly afterwards

Postal service and delivery firms are carrying out their own safety procedures too,
which is additional protection

One of us opens the doors while the other brings package or post in. The one who brings it in disposes of packaging, wipes item with antibac, wipes surfaces it was opened on then washes hands. I'm hoping that this is careful enough.

I have a Boots package in my hallway too. 😂 I'll give it a few days just to be on the safe side. I've accepted that this is my life from now on.

Remember you can’t catch the virus simply by touching something that may have been contaminated, nor will the virus somehow jump off the surface so you can’t breathe it in either. Open it, dispose of the outer packaging and wash your hands thoroughly as per the usual advice.

I'm leaving mine in the communal hall for 24 hours. It's only me here at the moment as other tenants have gone to family. After 24 hours plus I unwrap them, dispose of packaging immediately into the outside bins, wash hands etc,

I had an item through door this morning a package from China! It was something I ordered from Amazon months ago and forgot about and most likely has been delayed because of the virus. I binned it straight away. How paranoid is that!!!??? 😱

I had a parcel from QVC a couple of days ago. I brought it in, sprayed it with disinfectant spray and left it. Opened it yesterday very carefully and immediately put the packaging in the bin.

Forgot to mention washed hands afterwards and used sanitiser.

Had a package delivered from work Special Delivery this morning just as I was going to get in the shower. Brought it in, emptied out and packaging straight in the bin. Then had my shower.

Can you open it wearing rubber gloves or disposable gloves and shake the contents out? Then wash your hands properly.

@TheDogsMother this is our routine exactly x

DD touched a package then touched other DD yesterday and this thread has made me panic!! Someone tell me I'm being ridiculous?

Unpack your items , bin the packaging then wash your hands .

You're not alone. I wiped down everything in my food delivery the other day then washed hands and door handles!