Will I get coronavirus from food deliveries or meals I pick up?
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Here’s a bit of good news. There seems to be little risk in contracting coronavirus (COVID-19) from food picked up at a takeout window or from a restaurant according to Ian Williams, chief of the Outbreak Response and Prevention Branch of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the case of hot food, the virus would likely be killed by cooking. Even if you did eat food with the virus, your digestive tract would get rid of it because it doesn’t have the receptors needed for the virus to cling to. The US Food and Drug administration backs up the claim, saying there is no evidence that coronavirus is transmitted through food or water.
For those who are concerned, you can take extra precautions, such as picking up takeout or receiving delivered food wearing gloves. Remove the food from the packaging, put it on a plate, then remove your gloves and wash your hands before eating.
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