Given that you’re now more likely to stay home or work from home because of the coronavirus pandemic, you’re probably wondering if it’s safe to order food or groceries. The answer is yes, for now.
There’s currently no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted via food packaging or the food itself, although viruses are known to persist on surfaces for up to 3 days. More precisely, they are detectable on copper for up to four hours, on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and on plastic and steel for up to 72 hours. A bigger potential problem is the transmission of a new coronavirus to the buyer from the person delivering it, or vice versa – through coughs, airborne particles, or other direct contacts.
Many food delivery services are switching to contactless deliveries to reduce the possibility of spreading the coronavirus. One of them is Instacart, a startup from the United States. These delivery services offer customers to choose when ordering – whether they want to meet the delivery driver at the front door, on the sidewalk, or they don’t want any contact and have their food left at the doorstep. You can also find great deals on delivery apps like Getir. They not only ease the burden of buying groceries they also help customers save money through Getir discount code and other promotional offers.
According to Betway’s unique ranking of popular food days, people are more likely to order pizza as the main course, ice cream for a dessert, and coffee to chill out after a meal. Betway gathered on one place search volume on Google and values of Instagram posts to determine the most popular food days around the world, both by categories and in general. According to the list, Pizza Day scored the biggest number of points in the Fast Food category (304,084), Ice Cream Day in Desserts & Sweets (376,477), and Coffee Day in Drinks (611,414). Coffee delivery Singapore is an example.
CNET listed 3 tips for the safe delivery of food or groceries – whether you’re sick, quarantined, or just staying inside to stay healthy.
- Leave Detailed Instructions for Delivery
Whenever you order groceries online, you are supposed to see a blank box called “Delivery instructions”. In this box, you can ask the driver to leave the food at the doorstep or you can send a photo of where the food should be left. Customers can often contact their drivers directly through the app, as soon as they accept the order, to arrange delivery. For companies thinking of getting food for themselves, be sure to consider business cafeteria services.
- Wash Your Hands Immediately
To be safe, wash your hands after delivery for at least 20 seconds and also avoid touching your face after bringing food or groceries inside.
Restaurants and other food facilities have protocols to avoid the spread of influenza, hepatitis A and other viruses.
An emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University, as well as the former Baltimore Health Commissioner, Leana Wen told CNET that there’s no evidence for COVID-19 being transmitted through food but stressed the virus can live on instruments that people touch, including takeout containers and utensils. Her advice is that people should wash their hands after they touch these items and before they eat or touch their faces.
Like other viruses, coronavirus can also survive on the surfaces we eat, so it’s important that they are cleaned and disinfected regularly, both before and after eating.
- Leave a Bigger Tip
Delivery persons usually have a fixed monthly salary or have an hourly wage. In order to earn a living, they can’t work from home but have to go out in the streets.
It’s recommended that you overtip deliverers while the exceptional circumstance due to coronavirus pandemic lasts. The safest way is to get everything done through the food delivery app. If you pay with money, be sure to wash your hands after touching any bill or money. And, if you need to sign a credit card bill, use your own pen and, again, wash your hands afterward.
