Horrid afternoon.

Definitely cooler! Lovely walk enjoying the fresh breeze, then coffee sitting outside, bliss! Us Brits are not used to that heat!

I really have no concept of why people would not open their post as it arrives seems way over the top leave it for days
Mine gets opened as it’s delivered !
Next time the hair in the mouth happens try some “cold tea”

I open my mail and then wash my hands...job done.

What ladymuck said

I do the same as ladymuck and tanith now.
Open and wash my hands.

I open mail and wash hands as I have always done, covid or no covid as by the time it flops through my door a letter has been handled by an awful lot of people!

Exactly, if you wash your hands after doing things you are fine
I ve never kept my post, from day one I never ever felt it necessary if you wash your hands

Massive storm two hours ago, I was driving, bits of trees, floods...anyway, temperature now 22, far more normal, will sleep better tonight!

I open the post as it arrives and then wash my hands while reciting the first verse of "The Owl and the Pussycat".
I'm led by the postman who delivers the mail, and doesn't wear gloves.

I thought the OP was going back 4 months or so, was surprised to see today’s date.

Just how long are people going to leave post for days before opening, and disinfecting shopping? Forever? I’ve never done either.

Until a vaccine is available I suppose.

?‍♀️

BlueBelle

I agree hand washing should be sufficient but I understand how anxious some people are about this virus so do whatever makes you feel comfortable.

We open the post straight away too - and then thoroughly wash hands. We no longer wash the shopping, but do leave the unpacking for a couple of hours. Our Tesco delivery is only handled by one of us after having been on the van for several hours. I do wipe freezer stuff over as it has to go straight into the freezer and Covid isn't destroyed by cold.

If it's clearly junk mail - circulars, catalogues etc - it mostly goes straight to the recycling bin. When packages arrive, I open them with rubber gloves, bin the packaging and gently spray the contents with a bleach solution.

If the new cases in NZ really have come from freight originating in Atlanta, we really have got a lot to worry about.
How long was that in transit?

If it was a baggage handler at Atlanta Airport who was infected it wouldn't have been in transit very long and must survive much longer in cool temperatures than thought.

Why would anyone leave parcels and/or letters to mount up? I open everything straightaway, have always done so. I'm still here, haven't had so much as a cold.

annsixty

If the new cases in NZ really have come from freight originating in Atlanta, we really have got a lot to worry about.
How long was that in transit?

Was that the cause?
I read that it was from a meat packaging facility. Perhaps the meat was from Atlanta?

Bluebellwould
Seems to me that you created your own horrid afternoon
Try lightening up a bit ( well more than a bit) you'll find life is a lot more pleasant.

There seems to be conflicting stories, and confusing sources,
claiming NZ had seen no new cases in 100 days until 2 days ago,
yet the BBC reported 2 UK travellers tested positive when they were there (on June 16th - less than 100 days ago).

Reassuring to know there are mixed messages there, not just in Britain.

Of course it is always sad when there is a spike of new cases anywhere.

About post and parcels : when we receive them we wipe them with antibacterial wipes and open them quite soon after they have dried. Wash our hands thoroughly after disposing of envelopes and packaging. It’s just become habit now.

Allegedly the NZ outbreak was a breach of quarantine.

My horrible afternoon wasn’t the opening of parcels, it was the long hair in my mouth and throat, that I couldn’t immediately remove because I had been opening the post and my hands were dirty. Perhaps I didn’t make that clear.

I hope you are hair-free now,
and it is much cooler here tonight so hoping for a nice slumber ?
Hope it is with you too.

I expect the 2 UK travelers weren't classed as actual New Zealand cases, as they should have still been in quarantine when their symptoms started.