Ordering in: Is food delivery even safe?
Staying fed has just gotten a lot more complicated, said Amanda Mull in TheAtlantic.com. Whether you order a grocery delivery, visit a market yourself, or call in takeout meals three times a day, the coronavirus has created a set of concerns that for most of us were unimaginable just two weeks ago. Is takeout ethical? It “might seem selfish or cruel” to sit at home avoiding the risk of human contact while making a delivery person travel to your door. But the delivery business is keeping many food workers employed, and many businesses are offering contact-free deliveries—which are considerably safer for you and the courier. But do consider doubling or tripling a normal tip.
Is the food safe? You wouldn’t want a salad that a sick person has sneezed in, but cooked food is very unlikely to carry the virus, said Rebecca Onion in Slate.com. Experts say the surfaces of the containers are more worrisome, but the coronavirus is mostly transmitted by respiratory droplets, passed between people by coughs, sneezing, and even breathing. You can handle the bags and containers without worry if you don’t touch your face until you’ve washed your hands thoroughly.
Is grocery shopping safer? Visiting a market is riskier than having groceries delivered, because you will probably be in close proximity with multiple people. Minimize your risk by shopping at off hours, and avoid touching your face until you’re done shopping and can wash your hands. You shouldn’t otherwise worry very much about touching food or food packages. Fresh food should be washed, as always. But the likelihood of the virus surviving on packages and transferring to you is low.