I can understand staying away from crowded restaurants. That would be social distancing. But what

[totodeinhere]

about the food itself? If I had Grubhub deliver food from a restaurant would that be safe? Or could the virus potentially be living on the packaging that the food comes in?

My wife and I often go out to eat on Saturday night but we are having second thoughts about it. But we would still like to get a nice restaurant cooked meal if it's safe to have it delivered.

[tblue37]

1. Or the delivery driver could be infected I suppose. nt

[totodeinhere]

4. Yea, that too. n/t

[Renew Deal]

2. This is a good chance to go into those fancy restaurants you couldn't get into before

[appalachiablue]

14. !! 'Plague Doc' avatar, wow

[Renew Deal]

15. You like?

[appalachiablue]

21. Yes, what a document of historical times past:

'Dr. Schnabel' ('Dr. Beak), a plague doctor in Rome, c. 1656.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plague_doctor

[FirstLight]

3. I would think delivery services are REALLY cracking down these days...

That said, I would also think that restaurants (responsible ones) would mandate ANY symptomatic worker from chef to hostess to busboy to stay HOME

THAT said, if you feel like to "know" the restaurant it would probably be somewhat safer. I would just wipe off the outside of the packaging with lysol wipe?

[totodeinhere]

7. Good advice, but we're hearing that people can be infectious before having symptoms. n/t

[jpak]

5. Stay home don't order out!

Please

[totodeinhere]

8. OK thanks. That's why I was asking. We are both in a high risk group. n/t

[hlthe2b]

6. Ready to eat cooked food would be fine unless someone sneezed into it.

and then there is a theoretic possibility of infecting (ingestion studies have not been done), but there is precedence from other viruses, so don't count on gastric acids to kill it.

There has to be a trust in the restaurant you frequent, that they are doing the right things and training their people.

If in doubt, reheat it to at least 165 degrees. And be wary of uncooked foods (salads, for example)

[totodeinhere]

9. Thanks. Maybe we better home cook tonight. n/t

[Lulu KC]

10. I have thought the very same thing

It dramatically reduces the chances of exposure if it is delivered. Nothing is without risk and it feels like we're swimming in the virus right now when you read about it, but the odds are much in our favor this way. Plus, if you are carrying the virus yourself, you're not carrying it out to others.

Most delivery services are offering contact-free delivery.

I'm also motivated by wanting to help small businesses survive the slump.

[totodeinhere]

13. Right. A lot of restaurants operate on a very small margin as it is. A lot of them are going to have

trouble getting through this I would imagine.

[brewens]

11. I fell lucky to be single and retired so I can go grocery shopping very early in the morning.

Looks like for now, my 24/7 supermarket will close from midnight to five for cleaning and stocking. I was there right at five today and there were eight people waiting. I'd say it was three times as busy as usual for that time of day. As long as they keep the store running, that should go back to being dead when I go. I figure my only close contact will be checking out. I need fresh fruit and veggies at least every three days.

[katusha]

12. ummm...microwave? n/t

[ecstatic]

16. This entire situation is so gross, I've pretty much

lost my appetite. Definitely won't be eating anything that's prepared by others for the foreseeable future.

[appalachiablue]

17. Spray or wipe down packaging w Lysol/Disinfect. and maybe

reheat food in the Microwave. Although we don't know if this is effective it's worth a try.

Stay away from anything that isn't already baked, boiled or fried per another poster here.

Stay away from wrapped sandwiches, burritos; raw veggies & fruits.

[totodeinhere]

20. Another thread on this topic.

https://www.reddit.com/r/cvnews/comments/fbnvrn/would_microwaving_delivery_food_kill_coronavirus/

[appalachiablue]

24. Thanks

[Kaleva]

18. The virus can remain viable on surfaces for awhile. A few hours to a few days.

[lame54]

19. abstain for a few weeks - not that hard

[tinrobot]

22. There's a good article in the Atlantic about food

Link here:

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/03/coronavirus-how-get-food-safely/608008/

Basically, cooked food from restaurants is probably OK.

Eating in a crowded restaurant probably not OK.

Jury is out on delivery, the delivery driver may cross paths with a lot of people and become a vector... or not.

Might be best to order takeout and pick it up yourself.

[coti]

23. Yes. Beyond putting one's self in a plastic bubble, it may be impossible to completely insulate

from the virus.

[Brainfodder]

25. The harsh reality...

40-70% of us globally are expected to get the virus?

THE ISSUE...

Not enough medical to handle that or even half of half of half of that at once?

So.... if you wish to do due diligence, then yeah, the best option, pass.

You will be made to suffer your own cooking for a bit, but that is on you?

GOOD LUCK!

[euphorb]

26. Every contact carries some probability of infection.

But individual contacts, such as with a delivery person, has a much lower probability than frequenting crowded or more densely populated spaces. There's no 100% foolproof protection, but the point of social distancing is to lower the probability of infection, thereby slowing the spread of the virus and, hopefully, forestalling the time when the health system will become overwhelmed.

[SamKnause]

27. The way I heard it explained was if the virus gets in your mouth and you swallow it, the acid in you

stomach kills it.

If the virus gets in your mouth while your are inhaling it will get to your lungs, where it will grow.

[uppityperson]

28. Wash your hands, don't touch your face, at home as well as away from home

[KY_EnviroGuy]

29. Not necessarily safe. Here's the thing.....

Foods prepared in any restaurant can become contaminated with bacteria and viruses during or after preparation, either by cooks or those serving or packaging it for sale......IF any of those people are infected.

Therefore, our meal served in restaurants, picked up at drive-through or delivered to our homes can be contaminated.

The only way to be 100% safe with foods handled or prepared by other people is to only buy items that can be reheated to a temperature adequate to denature the virus.

I'm still searching for precise info on what that that temperature and "cooking" time needs to be. I suspect there may be little or no credible scientific studies that have been conducted specific to COVID-19, although the Chinese or perhaps European agencies may have done some studies. We shall see.

I'm being flooded with emails from restaurants for which I've subscribed to their mailing list with articles to reassure customers that they are taking all the recommended steps to protect us. That does not remove the possibility of an infected employee contaminating dozens if not hundreds of meals in a work shift. We know now that infected people are most contagious during the period before they begin showing symptoms.

Will report back if I find something definitive.......

[Zambero]

30. I would probably be OK with

ordering a meal at Mexican restaurant, one where the food is served piping hot on a sizzling hot plate. Would bring my own water bottle, napkins, and eating utensils. Clean off the table surface, and ask to be seated at a reasonable distance from other customers.

[procon]

31. Nothing is more romantic than cooking a meal

With someone you love. Order the ingredients you need to try a new recipe, or lay out a picnic in front of the fireplace, share a bottle of good wine with a selection of finger foods, or a cheese board with fresh bread warm from the oven.

We got hooked on canned fishies like sardines, smoked salmon, oysters and herring served with assorted crackers and icy cold beer.

Do something fun like a loaded Potato Bar, a fondue party, BBQ your favorite foods, breakfast in bed for dinner, make a decadent dessert for two.

Stay home and just enjoy your spouse, you'll be happier without the stress.

[totodeinhere]

32. Good advice. n/t