Can You Get Coronavirus from Lazada?

Amid the coronavirus panic and the depleted supply of masks in the city after Taal’s eruption, a friend decided to outsmart everybody by ordering a box of surgical and n95 masks online.

“It’s only P95!” he said proudly.

Unwittingly, he didn’t realize the masks all came from Wuhan, China, where the dreaded novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV originated.

As if dousing the box with a whole bottle of 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wasn’t enough, he set fire to the parcel, not only wasting P95 of good money, but also accelerating global warming just to placate his germophobia.

But can you really get coronavirus from Lazada, Shoppee, and all the other online shopping apps that source their products from China?

It is possible. 

According to a study published in the Journal of Hospital Infection, the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic can remain and survive on surfaces for hours or days, depending on the type of surface. 

ALSO READ: How Long Does Coronavirus Last on Surfaces? 

The research reviewed 22 studies involving human coronaviruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, and endemic human coronavirus (HCoV), and and their survivability on different materials.

The coronavirus causing COVID-19 can last for up to 24 hours on cardboard and similar materials such as paper and money, and two to three days on plastic and stainless-steel surfaces.

But that's not all. New studies suggest you can spread COVID-19 by breathing and talking. Aside from having the ability to survive on surfaces for days, the novel coronavirus can also dwell in the air and infect a person when he inhales it.

ALSO READ: A Single Cough Can Produce 3,000 Covid-Laden Microdroplets Suspended in Air for Hours. 

A single cough can produce at least 3,000 invisible microdroplets suspended in the air for hours, while a single sneeze can produce 40,000 invisible microdroplets, which spread through the air quickly and remain suspended for hours. A microdroplet can harbor as many as 10,000 copies of COVID-19 viruses. 

If you ordered a package from any courier services, make sure to disinfect them thoroughly with alcohol or bleach before and after opening them. 

ALSO READ: This is How You Kill Coronavirus Living On Your Things