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Coronavirus Response: Safe Take Out

Apr 07, 2020
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By 411admin

Updated on 04/07/2020, 3:10 PM EST

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, AmeriLife continues to monitor the situation and share various safety and social living tips, in addition to company updates.

Although eating out is no longer an option, ordering in is.

Depending on local rules, many restaurants are switching to takeout or delivery-only services to keep their businesses going. In addition, some delivery services have launched no-contact delivery, to ensure safe distancing during the health crisis.

Should you be worried about being infected with the coronavirus from takeout food? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is currently no evidence to support the transmission of the coronavirus through food.

The CDC reports that the coronavirus is generally thought to spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets.

In an NBC News coronavirus blog, Dr. Gabriela Andujar Vazquez, an infectious disease specialist with Tufts Medical Center, and Dr. Adam Splaver, a Florida-based cardiologist and internist, offered these safe-food-delivery tips.

  1. Order from restaurants you trust. Now isn’t the time to try that new restaurant in your neighborhood. Stick with restaurants you know and trust.

Dr. Splaver recommends that for extra peace of mind, you should check out the restaurant’s health inspection scores with your local health department before ordering.

  1. Order directly from the restaurant when possible. According to Dr. Splaver, choosing an in-house delivery services over a third-party app means one less person is handling your food.

If you’re ordering food to pick up, try to avoid peak hours to limit being near crowds. Wear disposable gloves when picking up your order, and remember to practice social distancing measures, such as standing six feet away from others.

  1. Opt for contactless delivery. Contactless delivery means that your delivery service will leave your order outside your door. Pay tips through the app to avoid spreading the coronavirus on paper money, where it can linger.Examine the containers to ensure your food hasn’t been opened or tampered with. Wipe down the packaging with disinfecting wipes. After unpacking your food, wash your hands before eating.
  2. Get rid of packaging as soon as possible. Throw away the packaging your food came in, especially if it’s plastic. Store leftovers in clean plastic or glass containers.

Dr. Andujar Vazquez recommends that the elderly and immunosuppressed should prepare their own meals during the pandemic.

  1. Don’t share, but do wash your hands before and after. Share a pizza that’s been cut into slices, but don’t eat out of the same container. Remember, you can’t see germs.

Dr. Andujar Vazquez also reminds people that they should wash their hands BEFORE and AFTER eating.

Click here for more information from the CDC on food safety and the coronavirus disease.

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