How To Handle Packages During COVID-19

Can home-delivered parcels become carriers of the coronavirus? This guide on how to handle packages during COVID-19 provides best practices to stay safe & mitigate the spread of the disease.

It has been established that the virus can live up to 24 hours on cardboard, and up to 3 days on hard surfaces such as plastic or steel. The EPA has a list of disinfectants approved for the use against SARS-CoV-2.

Best Practices on How to Handle Packages During COVID-19

1. Set up a delivery zone on your porch or outside area where deliveries will be made. This will give you a controlled zone of potential exposure or contact with the virus.
2. Before bringing the parcel into your home or office, wipe down the exterior of the box with a disinfectant spray or wipe. It is not necessary to wear gloves for this. Just be sure that you do not touch your face. You may also choose to unpack your box outside, before bringing it inside.
3. Have a dedicated area inside with a hard surface to place your package or the package contents onto. Wipe down the next layer of the box (package contents) with disinfectant and put away.
4. Wipe down the designated area where the packages were placed inside and wash hands.

For additional information and resources on the Coronavirus visit the Center for Disease Control & Prevention.

If you have any additional questions regarding packaging, containers, or shipping hazardous materials please contact us.