Is it safe to send letters to high risk people?
March 17, 2020 5:22 AM   Subscribe

I have elderly family in isolation. We are starting to get cases in my community. I have 2 out of 3 of the symptoms. We have been isolating at home since Thursday. I read the virus lives on many surfaces for days. Is it safe to send letters to my loved ones? Why or why not?
posted by CMcG to Health & Fitness (7 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
We're not particularly vulnerable, but we've been treating all objects that come into the house as potentially contaminated. Open mailbox and grab mail, put it in a box by the door, process and file it (into a new filing box), then wash hands.

My dad came up with the idea of using a hair drier to blast the mail with heat for a few minutes, which might work. But I don't know how well the heat tolerance of coronaviruses has been studied—and paper is a notoriously good insulator.
posted by Belostomatidae at 5:41 AM on March 17, 2020


Hand-washing is how we're dealing with this as well. Sort and open the mail without touching your face, then wash your hands immediately afterward.
posted by tobascodagama at 5:57 AM on March 17, 2020 [1 favorite]


One study I saw suggested that it lives longer on plastic and steel, and cardboard was about 24 hours. Paper may be similar. I'm leaving my mail for a couple of days before opening, and then washing my hands. But since you're feeling sick, if you could call instead, that might be better temporarily...
posted by pinochiette at 6:05 AM on March 17, 2020 [2 favorites]


Response by poster: Calling is a great idea! Time zones and having a kid make it hard. I’m often available late at night or very early morning. Alternate ideas? Varying levels of comfort with technology in recipients
posted by CMcG at 6:09 AM on March 17, 2020


I assume by isolation you mean not a nursing home or care facility? Our local retirement home is allowing emails to be printed and delivered to residents.
posted by aetg at 6:18 AM on March 17, 2020


If the mail would travel multiple days to reach them, I would think that the risk would be low. Here is the study saying that the virus can live on cardboard for 24 hours. The CDC says re packages, "In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks at ambient temperatures."
posted by pinochiette at 6:21 AM on March 17, 2020 [4 favorites]


If you are actively sick, you are shedding like the most virus. I wouldn't, and I'd say at the very least use gloves to keep the letters clean.
posted by sexyrobot at 8:59 AM on March 17, 2020 [1 favorite]


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