With schools closed across the country over health concerns, teachers are finding ways to make sure kids are still learning, getting lunch and staying active.
With more people staying home, many are wondering if it is safe to order takeout food or have it delivered. The short answer is yes. Uber Eats, Grubhub, Postmates and DoorDash are among the food delivery companies that are still operating. Some traditional fast food restaurants like Kentucky Fried Chicken and Chipotle are also offering free delivery if people don’t want to venture out. The companies are following guidelines form the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Both leading health agencies say there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted through food or food packaging, though germs can live on surfaces for up to 9 days.
The big concern when ordering takeout food or having it delivered is transmitting coronavirus from the delivery person to the customer, or vice, versa, through direct contact, sneezing or coughing. Here is a step by step guide on how to minimize the risk of spreading coronavirus when ordering takeout food and chowing down on those delicious dishes.
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Leave delivery instructions. The easiest way to avoid possible coronavirus transmission to or from a delivery driver is to avoid them entirely. Most, if not all, offer contactless drop-offs or encourage customers to leave drop-off instructions when ordering. Postmates is allowing customers to choose to either meet their delivery driver at the door, at the curb, or go full contact-free and have the deliveries left at the door.
-
Take care of your delivery driver. Delivery drivers often rely on tips and gratuity to bolster any hourly wage they receive for delivering takeout food. It’s especially important to show them a little love right now with their hours likely being cut and demand severely dropping. If you can afford it, overtip your driver. While 20% is customary, if you can swing it, bump it up to 30%.
-
Safely tip your driver. The safest way to tip your delivery driver is through the food delivery app you ordered from. If you chose the in-person delivery option and tip with cash, make sure to wash your hands after you touch any bills. If you have to sign a receipt to add a tip when using a credit card, use your own pen.
-
Immediately wash your hands. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, and avoid touching your face after bringing your takeout food inside.
-
Use your own plates and utensils. The CDC and WHO have yet to issue guidance on how to handle takeout food, to play it safe you will want to use your own plates and utensils that have already been sanitized.
-
Wash your hands. Again. After transferring the takeout food from its carton onto your plate, wash your hands again before you eat.
-
Wipe down everything. Like other viruses, COVID-19 can survive and thrive on surfaces. Coronavirus is an aggressive virus that can live on surfaces for up to 9 days. It’s critically important to keep surfaces and objects clean. Recycle the bags the food was delivered in, and disinfect your tables and counters before and after you eat.
-
Do not share. It’s best to order individually-prepared takeout food instead of going family style. This can limit the transmission of air particles and direct contact. Never share utensils or coups with anyone you may be eating with.
-
Wash your hands. Yet again. What should you do when finishing that delicious takeout food? You guessed it. Wash your hands again for at least 20 seconds.
The self-isolation, social distancing, around-the-clock hand washing and sanitizing surfaces are the new normal as coronavirus continues its deadly spread across at least 150 countries. These are all tedious tasks but for the greater good of “flattening the curve.” The new developments in the battle against COVID-19 are coming at breakneck speed. It’s important to stay up to date on the latest information and guidance. AccuWeather is dedicated to helping you through the pandemic. You can track the latest spread and read the latest news 24/7 on our site, Twitter and Facebook social media pages.
News / Health
Is it safe to eat takeout or delivery food during coronavirus?
By Staff, AccuWeather
Published Apr 14, 2020 7:55 PM EST
With schools closed across the country over health concerns, teachers are finding ways to make sure kids are still learning, getting lunch and staying active.
The global spread of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, is impacting nearly every facet of our everyday lives. Travel is at a near standstill, families are forced to separate or shelter-in-place, places where people congregate, like shopping malls, movie theaters, and gyms are all shuttered due to tightening restrictions on gathering and social distancing. Grocery stores and restaurants are still open as they are deemed essential businesses. However, restaurants have to play it safe by only serving takeout food to curb large crowds being huddled in close together.
With more people staying home, many are wondering if it is safe to order takeout food or have it delivered. The short answer is yes. Uber Eats, Grubhub, Postmates and DoorDash are among the food delivery companies that are still operating. Some traditional fast food restaurants like Kentucky Fried Chicken and Chipotle are also offering free delivery if people don’t want to venture out. The companies are following guidelines form the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Both leading health agencies say there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted through food or food packaging, though germs can live on surfaces for up to 9 days.
Photo by Jeremy Bishop
The big takeout food concern
The big concern when ordering takeout food or having it delivered is transmitting coronavirus from the delivery person to the customer, or vice, versa, through direct contact, sneezing or coughing. Here is a step by step guide on how to minimize the risk of spreading coronavirus when ordering takeout food and chowing down on those delicious dishes.
Photo by Charles Deluvio
How to safely order and handle takeout food
Leave delivery instructions. The easiest way to avoid possible coronavirus transmission to or from a delivery driver is to avoid them entirely. Most, if not all, offer contactless drop-offs or encourage customers to leave drop-off instructions when ordering. Postmates is allowing customers to choose to either meet their delivery driver at the door, at the curb, or go full contact-free and have the deliveries left at the door.
Take care of your delivery driver. Delivery drivers often rely on tips and gratuity to bolster any hourly wage they receive for delivering takeout food. It’s especially important to show them a little love right now with their hours likely being cut and demand severely dropping. If you can afford it, overtip your driver. While 20% is customary, if you can swing it, bump it up to 30%.
Safely tip your driver. The safest way to tip your delivery driver is through the food delivery app you ordered from. If you chose the in-person delivery option and tip with cash, make sure to wash your hands after you touch any bills. If you have to sign a receipt to add a tip when using a credit card, use your own pen.
Immediately wash your hands. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, and avoid touching your face after bringing your takeout food inside.
Use your own plates and utensils. The CDC and WHO have yet to issue guidance on how to handle takeout food, to play it safe you will want to use your own plates and utensils that have already been sanitized.
Wash your hands. Again. After transferring the takeout food from its carton onto your plate, wash your hands again before you eat.
Wipe down everything. Like other viruses, COVID-19 can survive and thrive on surfaces. Coronavirus is an aggressive virus that can live on surfaces for up to 9 days. It’s critically important to keep surfaces and objects clean. Recycle the bags the food was delivered in, and disinfect your tables and counters before and after you eat.
Do not share. It’s best to order individually-prepared takeout food instead of going family style. This can limit the transmission of air particles and direct contact. Never share utensils or coups with anyone you may be eating with.
Wash your hands. Yet again. What should you do when finishing that delicious takeout food? You guessed it. Wash your hands again for at least 20 seconds.
Photo by Creative Vix
The self-isolation, social distancing, around-the-clock hand washing and sanitizing surfaces are the new normal as coronavirus continues its deadly spread across at least 150 countries. These are all tedious tasks but for the greater good of “flattening the curve.” The new developments in the battle against COVID-19 are coming at breakneck speed. It’s important to stay up to date on the latest information and guidance. AccuWeather is dedicated to helping you through the pandemic. You can track the latest spread and read the latest news 24/7 on our site, Twitter and Facebook social media pages.
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