Need definitive advice re post and deliveries

[MilkTrayLimeBarrel]

I think we really need some proper guidelines about the chances of the virus being carried on post and deliveries to the house. Some people seem to think there's no problem with cardboard and paper, yet others are leaving post and parcels outside for 48 hours and then washing it all down before bringing indoors. It would be nice to know which is correct - at the moment I am spending ages washing down all my shopping which has been delivered and DH is opening post and parcels outside with gloves on and then throwing away the packaging. If this isn't necessary, it is wasting an awful lot of time!

All of the advice I have seen states that the risk of contracting the virus from post or shopping is minute. Advice is just to wash hands after handling.

I've only read that it's a very very small risk from post and deliveries. We open things immediately and get rid of the envelopes then wash our hands.

I put everything in the sunshine outside for a while when take off the packaging and put into the bin then wash my hands

I've left shopping outside for 48 hours where it won't do any harm eg tins, bottles etc

Ive brought it inside where its frozen stuff or needs to go into the fridge, I've then washed my hands thoroughly.

Very small risk. 24 hours for paper and card 3 days metal and plastic. If we want something sooner we spray and handle with gloves. Washing your hands as soon as possible is also imperative.

I wash/wipe all my shopping down and dispose of any packaging if I’ve got something I can put it in to.
With post I was doing the glove thing but now I just open it and wash my hands.
I get the postie to leave it by the door instead of having to use the letterbox

Sunshine doesn’t kill viruses.

I still wash everything and/or leave post and deliveries in the garage for a couple of days if needed. I know the advice is to just wash hands more but I want to be able to chill in my home and not have to wash my hands constantly, so I figured that by washing everything I don't have to worry about hand washing as much. Obviously I still wash my hands after being outside/answering the door/after using the loo/before cooking etc.

AlmostThereKeepMoving yes you are right that sunshine doesn't 'kill' the virus, but it does help to dry up moisture (droplets) that the virus might be harbouring in.

The virus spreads via droplets (coughing or sneezing) and it will need a host (a body) to continue to exist (and cause harm) usually entering the mouth, nose or eyes. It can 'live' on other surfaces such as metal, plastic etc. but only for a limited time.

I heard an expert on a radio 4 programme explain that it varies how long the virus is 'live' on surfaces that are smooth and hard (like a handrail) depending on the conditions. So somewhere dark and damp it could survive for up to 72 hours, but somewhere outside in the sunshine (that dries everything up) much less.

Apparently it survives less well in paper and cardboard as it gets absorbed into the material and dies off so that's why it's usually safe to handle after 24 hours.

It does survive less time in direct sunlight yes. It speeds up the process as there is less moisture

I wash shopping down with soap and water if plastic/glass and empty anything out of cardboard boxes then put away.
Post or packages i take out of the cardboard or envelopes and put these in woodburner.
I wash hands straight after with all these.

I don't think they can definitely say there is no risk at all because you never know - if the delivery person had just coughed on the parcel and you touched it and then touched your nose or mouth, then technically yes you could get the virus that way... The likelihood of that happening is very small though.

All the scientific guidance I've seen suggests the virus won't survive long on paper/cardboard - max 24 hours, likely much less. It will only infect you if you transfer it to your mucus membranes. So, either leave your post for a day before opening it, or open it, get rid of the outer packaging/envelope and then wash your hands right away. The items inside the package are a very unlikely risk because they've already been in transit for a few days by the time you get them anyway.