Need advice on how to safely read the morning paper.

[DURHAM D]

Today it is in a plastic sleeve because it was raining.

How long does the virus live on paper?

[apcalc]

1. I stopped my newspaper... doing online version.

[TheBlackAdder]

2. Pull the plastic down, pull the paper out, don't run your hands down edge of paper... safe reading

[zackymilly]

3. Porous paper up to 24 hours. Plastic, up to 4 days. n/t

[DURHAM D]

5. Thanks for the timeline. nt

[In_The_Wind]

4. You could wear plastic disposable gloves.

Enjoy reading your newspaper.

[DURHAM D]

6. I have gloves but have not figured out how

to read a paper without touching surfaces or my clothing.

Maybe I should just pitch it in the trash.

Thanks

[LisaL]

7. And after you read it, you can use it as a toilet paper.

[DURHAM D]

8. Great idea.

When I was little and we visited my grandparents out on the farm sometimes we had to use the outhouse because the plumbing in their house was iffy. Actually the water well that fed the house dropped too low in the dry months.

So, I have experience using the Montgomery Wards catalog.

[LisaL]

12. I also speak from experience.

[Hoyt]

14. I was always afraid I was going to fall in the wooden hole in my grandparent's outhouse.

[Liberal In Texas]

9. Newsprint is actually pretty clean.

Aside from the ink of course. It is in huge rolls that are run through a massive printing press. There is very little human handling. The outside like any product may have been handled by someone distributing it, but the inside pages are probably nearly sterile.

[cwydro]

10. Just read it. Don't touch your face while reading it.

Then wash your hands.

It is NOT transmitted through your skin.

[Claritie Pixie]

11. Dr. Fauci thinks the amount and quality of virus on packaging is not enough to infect.

He said this in a Q&A on MSNBC last night. Recommended not touching face and washing hands thoroughly after handling but no need to disinfect them.

[GeorgeGist]

13. Microwave it?

[In_The_Wind]

15. Sounds like a good idea.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Best not to:

Lunch bags aren't as innocent as they seem. Keep paper bags, plastic bags or newspapers out of the microwave. The USDA says that, "They are not sanitary, may cause a fire, and may emit toxic fumes. Intense heat may cause a bag to ignite, causing a fire in the oven..." Yikes!
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/microwave-cooking-tips_n_5488231

Do not use brown paper bags from the grocery or other stores for cooking. They are not sanitary, may cause a fire, and may emit toxic fumes. Intense heat may cause a bag to ignite, causing a fire in the oven and possibly contaminating the turkey. The ink, glue, and recycled materials in paper bags may emit toxic fumes when they are exposed to heat. Instead, use commercial oven cooking bags.
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/poultry-preparation/turkey-alternate-routes-to-the-table/CT_Index

It seems to be a question of the water content of the paper - if it dries out totally, you may have a problem.