Are you wiping down groceries because of the new variant?

[LaughingStock2021]

I am. Are you?

I have a shitload on my plate at the moment so haven't started digging through articles recommending it or saying it's all nonsense to do so, but with the 70% more infectious strain we are doing it. Wondered if anyone had seen anything related to the new strain and what new precautions we could take?

Nope. I work in a food bank where we deliver out 20+ tonnes of stuff every month. No wiping down there.

I stopped a while after the first lockdown and started again last week

@BeakyWinder

I'd be interested to know how many people who wash shopping also work outside the home. My guess is almost none. I touch so many things at work that other people could touch or cough on it seems like really pointless "hygiene theatre" to do so.

I work at home and live alone so no 'theatre' here.

Yes we are and we've never stopped. DH is a microbiologist. If Covid can be carried on door handles and bannisters, it can sure as hell be carried in on your boxes and packets. We decant as much as possible, have a designated cupboard for dry goods that we just leave for a few days and everything that has to go in the fridge or freezer gets washed. Covid stabilises at low temperatures so potentially could be in your fridge or freezer for days. Not worth the risk as I'm CEV and you'd be amazed at the filth that comes off food packets when you start washing them.

@KatherineJaneway yes that's what I mean, if you are always at home then the only thing coming in from outside is shopping, so I can sort of understand. But in my house with 2 adults at different workplaces and dd at school, wiping down the butter seems daft.

@HesterShaw1

All these wipes...

Can people, if they insist on doing want to do it, at least use kitchen roll and antibacterial spray?

I use a cloth and either a zoflora or Milton solution.

I had stopped doing this as research suggested the chances of contracting the virus in this way were very small indeed.

The new strain makes me very nervous though, we KNOW it's more transmissible so I have started again. It's a pain in the arse frankly, and it might be over cautious but as a CEV person I'm taking all reasonable precautions to avoid getting it.

I will never take for granted being able to put my shopping away without sanitising it first ever again

@BeakyWinder

I'd be interested to know how many people who wash shopping also work outside the home. My guess is almost none. I touch so many things at work that other people could touch or cough on it seems like really pointless "hygiene theatre" to do so.

Dh is a dentist so is in a high risk job for contracting covid and we still antibac the shopping. Better safe than sorry and it only takes a couple of minutes.

Not a chance. Haven't caught covid yet either.

I don't do this, never have, but do understand why many do, esp. those with CEV ppl in household
Be careful, though, all the people using anti bac, it's a virus, anti bac ( unless extremely high alcohol) ain't going to cut it . Something like Milton or 99% rubbing alcohol wd be more effective.

We never stopped. It's a total pain and I so look forward to when we don't need to do it anymore.

We are wfh so it feels risky to have groceries come into the house that people have touched. I'm sure if I were out at work every day I'd see it differently.

Therein lies madness.....

The PM just said people handling something touched by an infected person can catch the virus. Is this the first time he has been so explicit?

I should have said, BJ didn't qualify that statement in any way, he didn't say it had to be something like a lift button that is touched by many. What he said would definitely include shopping.

Yep, I feel vindicated, I'm glad he stressed that the virus can also be spread by touching things.

@Noflora

The PM just said people handling something touched by an infected person can catch the virus. Is this the first time he has been so explicit?

He didn't go on to say we advise you to start wiping down your groceries. Which if they thought there was evidence to suggest this was necessary they would.

I think it's obvious a virus can be spread by say touching a public bannister or a lift button/touch screen just like flu/cold .But groceries are not handled multiple times a day by hundreds of people in that way.

Yes I have throughout and seeing how dirty everything is I will find it difficult to ever go back to not doing so.

Being cautious but have also reverted back to wiping down and to wearing rubber gloves to handle shopping before it has been wiped down.

Can people, if they insist on doing want to do it, at least use kitchen roll and antibacterial spray

That does not sound very eco-friendly. Surely if you feel you must do it, just washing down with soap and water works? It's a virus remember, not a bacterium.

Yes I noticed today they emphasised about touching something then putting it back . For example in supermarket.

Plus we tell our employees not to share tools

we've done this from the start. tins/bottles etc get a bit of soap on them and rinsed under the tap. We do this wherever possible but obviously with some things that's not practical and they'll get a bit of anti-bac spray and wipe with a bit kitchen roll. I have caring duties to an 86 year old so take no chances whatsoever. I get that others might see this as over the top, and maybe it is. But everyone has to do what they feel's safest. I don't judge others over their choices.

What confuses me is that we’re not shaking hands etc incase someone has coughed or sneezed or touched their (infected)). We are all told this then transfers the virus to our hands and then to us via mucous membranes.

So what if someone is coughing or touching things in a supermarket? A quick google search suggests Covid-19 lasts for 9 hours on skin and 24-72 hours on hard surfaces.

Why are we happy to handle packaging strangers have touched when we wouldn’t shake their hands?

• their (infected) face

No. This is fanatical.

No way.