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Covid

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Original poster

Quarantining post and washing of groceries as new strain more transmissible?

71 replies

AlaskanSnow · 31/12/2020 13:15

My husband and I are both CEV.
Over the summer, and since mask wearing came in we have been a bit more complacent about our activities - thinking nothing of doing a weekly shop in store instead of taking delivery slots, eating out when we were tier 1, etc.

Now the virus is ravaging where we live, and hospitals are overwhelmed we have completely retreated again into full lockdown - only leaving the house to walk the dog.

If this new strain is crazily transmissible, should we be washing our food deliveries and quarantining post?
I know there was a lot of talk of this early on, but cases were so low where we lived in the spring it seemed overkill. Now, I'm wondering if we should start?

OP posts:

Bellieberg · 31/12/2020 13:21

I have done it since March. Envelopes etc go in recycling and wash hands. Shopping gets wiped down with a bleach solution before it gets put away. There are some shocking people about - I've seen people cough onto fruit etc in supermarkets as a "joke". No thanks.

FuzzyPuffling · 31/12/2020 13:24

We've done both things since March. (DH CEV, me CV) System of files set up in the rarely used dining room, so post is just popped in there and opened 3 days later.

Washing the shopping takes us about 20 minutes.

Neither is onerous and it saves worrying.

Cynderella · 31/12/2020 13:26

I can't imagine ever doing any of this, but if it makes you feel safer, why not?

LacyEdge · 31/12/2020 13:27

We got into the habit of doing this in March and just never stopped. Carrying on for the winter, I reckon.

ofwarren · 31/12/2020 13:28

We had stopped washing the shopping but have started doing it again.
My son is shielded.

vodkaredbullgirl · 31/12/2020 13:29

Didn't do it the 1st time round, still here to tell the tail.

Do what's right for you.

BigSandyBalls2015 · 31/12/2020 13:31

Wiping shopping with bleach 😳, blimey that’s not great for your lungs and could put you at a disadvantage if you did catch it!

Manzanilla55 · 31/12/2020 13:35

I was wondering this. Especially after the checkout assistant was both sneezing and coughing while putting my items through. At least it was Tescos where they have really large perspex screens. Wish I had done this yesterday but too late now ....

Phlip · 31/12/2020 13:36

We stopped briefly in the summer but started again in October.
It's just a cursory wipe but DH feels better if it's done and only takes a few minutes. I am the ECV one and I was going out to shops a bit but am now hunkering down again.

YonderTweek · 31/12/2020 13:36

We've been washing our shopping since March too. We just leave non perishables in the garage for a few days and wash fresh things with soap and water. I don't know if it makes a difference or not but it makes me feel a bit better. We have various health issues and are really careful anyway.

eeeyulesmiles · 31/12/2020 13:39

@FuzzyPuffling

We've done both things since March. (DH CEV, me CV) System of files set up in the rarely used dining room, so post is just popped in there and opened 3 days later.

Washing the shopping takes us about 20 minutes.

Neither is onerous and it saves worrying.

Same here. I don't use bleach or anything strong, usually just soap and water. Fridge and freezer stuff only, the rest left a bit before being put away. It's very quick and automatic now.

There may be more chance of contamination from an infected picker/packer/postie now, as firstly the new variant seems to increase the viral load of anyone infected, and secondly there are an awful lot more infected people out there. It's a reasonable precaution if you can find the time.

Bellieberg · 31/12/2020 13:40

@BigSandyBalls2015

Wiping shopping with bleach 😳, blimey that’s not great for your lungs and could put you at a disadvantage if you did catch it!

Actually a bleach solution. No different to cleaning anything with a bleach solution really so I think your last statement is a bit of a stretch.

housemdwaswrong · 31/12/2020 13:40

Each tontheirnown. 2 out of the 3 of us here ecv, but never washed shopping or quarantined groceries oretters etc. If you're happy to do it I can't see why you wouldn't.

TheLeastBit · 31/12/2020 13:42

I don't personally think any of this is necessary but if it makes you feel safer go for it.

NameChange84 · 31/12/2020 13:43

I’ve always antibacced my shopping but now also opening post with gloves on and being extra careful.

I read the “how are people catching it” thread and there were a few too many people saying that Shielders could have only caught it from their shopping deliveries for my liking. My anxiety is pretty high atm.

6 weeks ago I’d pop into a shop late at night or go to an outdoor outlet very occasionally. Was thinking it was a waste of time antibaccing anything but now not so sure.

bluetongue · 31/12/2020 13:43

Won’t washing your hands regularly be enough?

Lovely1a2b3c · 31/12/2020 13:43

It's probably sensible to, especially if you're extremely clinically vulnerable and living in an area where 1 in 70 people (national average) have Covid.

I did wipe shopping until June/July but it was taking two hours after each shop and I have diagnosed OCD so can't decide whether it's worth risking my mental health getting worse if I start it up again!

NameChange84 · 31/12/2020 13:44

I just use antibac or Milton made up in a spray bottle btw...

housemdwaswrong · 31/12/2020 13:45

@namechange84 I know it's almost impossible.to manage anxiety, but if it helps I haven't done any of those things, and have been out to supermarkets at very quiet times and we've all been fine. The only people I know that have caught it have been from schools, not shopping. X

Nohomemadecandles · 31/12/2020 13:46

I would generally give fruit and veg a quick wash anyway. Apart from maybe bananas.

Personally, I think if you're going out to get your own shopping, from a shelf, there doesn't seem much sense in washing it as you've already touched it / had it in the car. And I couldn't live like that.

But if it makes you happier, do it. It's not harmful.

Bellieberg · 31/12/2020 13:50

So true. It is all academic if you have DC who will be returning to school next week... Frustrating.

user1487194234 · 31/12/2020 13:51

Can't imagine doing any of that,but if you want to then crack on

Houseplantmad · 31/12/2020 14:00

We have all got covid and the only place we had been beforehand was the local supermarket so must have caught it there. It's awful and I've never been so ill before so I would be cautious.

Scottishgirl85 · 31/12/2020 14:00

I don't think these measures are necessary, so I find it quite bizarre, but if it makes you feel safer then continue. Certainly with the new strain it's riskier now than it's ever been where I live (we had very few cases locally during the 1st peak).

Original poster

AlaskanSnow · 31/12/2020 14:03

Mixed replies then!

I suppose it doesn't hurt to start, just in case.

Luckily our daughter is nursery age, so we simply aren't sending her back yet.

OP posts:

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