Hi MealMasters! I am Dr. Monique May, Board-certified Family Physician and Founder of Physician in the Kitchen™. Through my videos and best-selling book, MealMasters: Your Simple Guide to Modern Day Meal Planning, I help busy households enjoy healthy eating without impacting their hectic schedules. As you may know, due to the coronavirus outbreak several governors have issued stay-at-home orders (as of this writing: NY, CT, IL, OR, CA, NJ, PA). That combined with food shortages at many grocery stores are making people seek alternative ways to get food. One of these ways is to have food delivered directly to their homes from local restaurants. But with a lot still unknown about this new virus, there are valid questions and concerns about how long the virus can survive outside of a human host on inanimate objects. This is because viruses are not living organisms and require a living host to survive. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, (SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19) may last from as little as 3 hours in the air up to 72 hours on surfaces, so there may be some risk for exposure from touching contaminated objects. And since an infected person can be contagious without having symptoms, he or she could still be working as a delivery driver (scary thought, I know!). That being said, here are my 5 tips for staying safe while ordering food delivery:
Tip #1: Per both Postmates and Uber Eats, you can leave a message in their apps requesting that your food be left at your door so that you won’t have direct contact with the driver. If this is not an option, maintain at least an arm’s length distance from the delivery person and avoid touching hands. Do not touch your face and wash your hands immediately after you take your order.
Tip #2: If you are ordering from a restaurant that does not participate with these services and do their own deliveries, pay in advance with credit or debit so that you do not have to handle cash. Money is very dirty (it has more germs than a toilet), and in general viruses can last on paper money for over 3 weeks.
Tip #3: Unpack your food and transfer to your own dishes and storage containers immediately. Disinfect your countertops that came in contact with the delivery bags or take-out dishes with an alcohol- or bleach-containing agent as well and wash your hands immediately. Here is a link to EPA-recommended disinfectants.
Tip #4: Always check online for the most recent health department sanitation score for the restaurant, keeping in mind it may not be exactly up-to-date at this time. A lot of establishments have closed their doors for eating-in and are offering only drive-thru service to decrease exposure risk and facilitate social distancing.
Tip #5: For those with food allergies, ask if there have been ingredient substitutions due to possible supply delivery interruptions or ingredient shortages. This may be especially true for those with gluten or dairy sensitivities.
ADDENDUM: We are still learning about how the virus is transmitted, and it is not known at this time if it can be passed by an infected person through the food he or she may have handled after not washing his or her hands. To be on the safe side, order food that has been cooked instead of sandwiches or salads, because the heat from cooking would probably kill the virus.
Right now it is too soon to tell just how long the coronavirus will be with us, and it has definitely already left its lasting effects by changing the way we do things. As we all adjust to the new normal, please keep washing your hands, staying well-hydrated, getting enough solid rest, eating healthy, exercising, and practicing social distancing (or just staying home). If you are sick cover your cough and sneezes and stay home! If your symptoms are getting worse (shortness of breath, fever, or cough), call your local healthcare facility before you go.
If you are looking for a new recipe to try while you are cooped up at home, head over to myeasypesto.com for a delicious super easy pesto recipe (featuring immune-boosting garlic).
For more information, be sure to visit me at DrMoniqueMay.com, and join the #MealMastersCommunity at www.Facebook.com/groups/mealmasters today.
