Is It Possible to Contract Covid-19 Through Food Home Delivery?

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The novel coronavirus pandemic has led to a boom in food orders for home delivery. And with that comes the question: is it possible to be infected when receiving these meals? According to experts, it has not been confirmed that food delivery can be a form of transmitting the coronavirus.

The reason is that the novel coronavirus is not spread through food. However, attention to how you receive the food you order and taking certain preventive measures are crucial for your health.

How Covid-19 contagion occurs

The Covid-19 is highly contagious and severely affects the lungs. People can spread and be contaminated with the virus by being in contact with someone infected, through the release of saliva droplets, sneezing or coughing, which usually enter the body through the eyes, mouth or nose. In addition, individuals can also become ill by touching surfaces where these droplets remain and then placing their hands on their face.

Therefore, if the delivery person is infected with Covid-19 and expels droplets that in turn remain on the surface of the package, it is possible that the package recipient may contract the disease if they do not take the appropriate care.

How should I proceed?

You are advised not to have any direct physical contact with the delivery people. They may not be infected, however they may be a carrier if they have been in contact with someone infected shortly before. With this in mind, most home delivery Apps offer the option of contactless delivery.

Next, when you grab the package you should place it on the floor, remove the food from the package without touching it with the hands that held the package, place the food in a clean, decontaminated container and dispose of the package.

In the end, wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds or rub them with hand sanitizer.