Coronavirus cannot be caught from newspapers or packages, WHO confirm

Post by **POSTMAN** » 29 Mar 2020, 15:38

Coronavirus cannot be caught from newspapers or packages, WHO confirm

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/c ... s-21774561" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The World Health Organisation has confirmed that newspapers remain safe to read during the Covid-19 pandemic which is sweeping the UK and rest of the world

Health experts and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have confirmed that newspapers cannot transmit Covid-19.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain Dr Hilary Jones said: "For public health information right now it's important people have access to information through newspapers."

Dr Jones stressed that they were an essential service and that "it's possible to deliver newspapers safely.

"If someone physically picks them up and delivers them to a doorstep or letterbox it's safe."

And a statement from WHO backed that up.

It says: "The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low.”

Virologist George Lomonossoff, of the John Innes independent research centre in Norwich, uses molecular biology to understand the properties of viruses.

He said: “Newspapers are pretty sterile because of the way they are printed and the process they’ve been through to be produced.

"Traditionally, people have eaten fish and chips out of them for that very reason.

"So all of the ink and the print makes them actually quite sterile. The chances of that are infinitesimal.”

The reassurance also extends to Royal Mail and Amazon packages.

In countries with high levels of coronavirus, newspapers remain a part of daily life. Even in the worst-hit areas of the world, including Italy and China, newspapers have continued to publish in order to maintain this public service.

5plusbonusball · Post by **5plusbonusball** » 29 Mar 2020, 15:41

What about when it rains and the bags are damp, bacteria and virus heaven . You try and get a new clean pouch, they think you are joking!
Also half of all packets are second hand clothing and shoes , not sterile in used carriers!!

Post by **POSTMAN** » 29 Mar 2020, 16:12

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15yX8iD ... qzxiG/view" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 29 Mar 2020, 16:33

It's a bit of a mixed message.

Coronavirus cannot be caught from newspapers or packages, WHO confirm

The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, travelled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low.”

So which is it?
And what is low?

Post by **POSTMAN** » 29 Mar 2020, 16:39

WHO wrote:Is it safe to receive a package from any area where COVID-19 has been reported?
Yes. The likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low and the risk of catching the virus that causes COVID-19 from a package that has been moved, trave"lled, and exposed to different conditions and temperature is also low.

https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detai ... onaviruses" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So they probably didn't confirm it to the mirror or did they, why the f***ing mixed messaging.
Now I've had to bloody register on there.
I've emailed the reporter as well.

mailroyaly · Post by **mailroyaly** » 29 Mar 2020, 17:04

Just another mixed message to add to the pile

A2B · Post by **A2B** » 29 Mar 2020, 17:26

Very misleading article and potentially dangerous!

sirchewey · Post by **sirchewey** » 29 Mar 2020, 17:44

The processing of parcels is mostly automated through the network, however there aren't measures in place that reasonably safeguard any contamination within DOs. RM need to address these issues at local level.

LouBarlow · Post by **LouBarlow** » 29 Mar 2020, 18:30

How is it low risk catching the virus from paper, or packaging, yet high risk on surfaces? I don't buy it. Sounds like we are being placated to.

Woody Guthrie · Post by **Woody Guthrie** » 29 Mar 2020, 18:42

At the risk of stating the obvious 'Exclusive: Newspaper runs story that newspapers are safe'.

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 29 Mar 2020, 19:09

sirchewey wrote:The processing of parcels is mostly automated through the network, however there aren't measures in place that reasonably safeguard any contamination within DOs. RM need to address these issues at local level.

Nope, mostly manually sorted. AFAIK only one hub is built but doesn't have the sorting machinery in yet

LouBarlow · Post by **LouBarlow** » 29 Mar 2020, 20:07

It is amazing how picky this virus is - has no problem existing on shoes, dog hair and pretty much everything you touch in the home, yet refuses to even set foot on papers or post being sent to every house across the country.