Giving Christmas presents during pandemic

Nagmad2016

I'm not too worried about the presents, but I did stop and use a letter opener for the cards, thought that a few lickings to seal them may be a problem. I didn't seal my own, just tucked the flap in.

Our post office always tells us to seal envelopes and not simply tuck the flap in as the edges can get caught in modern machinery.

I’d say that that’s about right as we’ve had a few unsealed envelopes this month and some of them have been quite mangled and torn.

We have done all our Christmas shopping online and leave all parcels untouched for several days, to give the virus time to die. Then I wrap them and put them in boxes which will go round to my DD's house in the next couple of days, for them to open on Christmas Day.

They're more worried about us catching it, as we're more vulnerable, so DD wrapped and bagged our gifts some time ago and gave them to us last week. DH washed his hands thoroughly after touching the bags, which are currently sitting in a spare bedroom. She wanted to be certain that they would be safe for us to handle on Christmas Day.

Although person to person contact has the highest risk, you can't dismiss surface contamination. A study done during Spain's lock down highlighted disinfecting groceries as the main behaviour difference between those who did or didn't get infected. (Bearing in mind, of course, that they weren't looking at direct contact, as it was during a strict lock down.)

Better safe than sorry.

I think the odds on catching the virus are very low, if you do catch it you have a 99.85% chance of survival. Unless you are very elderly and sick. You may also have to be careful if you live with someone who could be considered vulnerable.
Decide which category you belong and be guided by it.
I’m 57, I’m very fit so I don’t worry at all, although I’m happy to wear a mask and sanitise my hands and stay away from the vulnerable, but I’d really like more freedom.

It will be fine. I have never washed or sanitised anything this past year. Letters and parcels are opened as usual. Same for the shopping, it just gets put away.
I wash my hands after shopping, use masks and sanitsier when I am out, but that is it.

I haven't heard that it is possible to contact the virus from goods or wrapping paper.

You seem to have been told differently in the U.K.

If it worries you, wipe down things that are in a packet, or simply give a gift token instead of an actual present.

If it were possible to become ill from packaging, we would all have done so the first time we went shopping for food.

So no, I just wrap things as per usual.

I'm not too worried about the presents, but I did stop and use a letter opener for the cards, thought that a few lickings to seal them may be a problem. I didn't seal my own, just tucked the flap in.

We had an early discussion with family and it was decided that we’d put money in parents bank accounts and they’d take care of Christmas.
So many advantages, we saved on delivery charges, then on postage or travel so we’re able to give a bit more. Parents have a better idea of exactly what the kids need or want. The money can be added to parents spend where a more expensive present had been requested. Last but not least no pressure for us. Laziest most chilled out Christmas ever.
If I’d bought presents I’d have probably wiped them down before washing my hands and wrapping them, then I’d have delivered to the doorstep or posted to those further afield where they’d have had to wipe down and keep them for 72 hours!

Didnt really think about it. However everything we have bought has not been wrapped for at least a few days. Up to the recipients to decide if they want to quarantine themn further before opening.

Initially, because we didn't know much about transmission of the virus, we were warned to be vigilant. Now we have more data, we know that you are extremely unlikely to spread the virus on things so you do not need to be worried about them in the same way.
I think being overly cautious just weakens the message about how the virus is spread. If you exaggerate the dangers of something that doesn't happen, you get disbelief about stuff that does happen.

As long as they have been sprayed with disenfectant spray or cleaned with antibacterial wipes , what's the problem .

I’d rather spread the joy of presents than worry about the slim chance of passing on the virus.
Provided all other precautions are taken (hand washing and disposal of paper immediately) I don’t think we need to worry.

I shopped online, sent to my daughter and asked her to wrap grandchildren's presents. For my daughter's I transferred money to buy her own present. I am staying away this year and have been isolating since March to protect myself as teens are the biggest spreaders. Hopefully next year we will be back to near normal.

Only this week a medic told me if I am concerned about parcels,paper just to use, open then wash my hands.

I stopped washing my shopping in July. I wore gloves once in March and not again: much better to thoroughly wash or sanitise hands regularly.
The virus can only live a short while on surfaces anyway.

Agree Theoddbird same here

I have done nothing other than mask wearing, hand sanitizing and lots of hand washing since the pandemic started. I haven't washed my groceries with bleach. Never use bleach ever on anything. I just wash my hands after touching anything brought onto my boat in the first three days. I really think that hand washing is the most important thing anyone can do

Minimal risk...unless you open them with your mouth! Good hygiene....clean when packed clean when opened....common sense.

I've mine wrapped for weeks now & in their bags so should be ok, although I have to touch them again to give and receive. Plenty of hand washing when opening and I'm doing that anyway with post etc. Never would you believe we would have to be so careful opening gifts from friends and family. So sad.

I don’t know if giving presents spreads the virus. Probably nor does anyone else. But it doesn’t feel right to me, to give lots of gifts this year (and we were thinking of reducing gifts anyway) , so we have sent toys by online delivery to family for the children, some weeks ago, and as times are hard, given money to our children. Neighbours will be given bottles of wine....and they can treat that how they would like! We don’t give to friends normally anyway. I would say, give a gift...and the recipient can treat it however they wish to.

Don't worry Ellianne. Santa is using Dettol spray!!!

Santa is immune Ellianne, what with being magic and everything.

Haha good point Elianne

How will I be able to leave the parcels for a few days when Santa has handled them that night? I'm sure he has no time for hand washing going from house to house.

I think this is one area I'm still a little wary of. A logical part of me wonders at the odds of someone infected with covid handling my groceries/parcels/ mail. On the other hand you never know who has handled your parcel /item before you. It's always at the back of my mind the Governments advice about wiping down surfaces others have touched. As a consequence I am more careful about items leaving for 72 hours etc.
I think with regards to giving presents unless they have been wrapped just before contents be fine.
Really the most essential thing to remember is that the virus enters through mouth,eyes,nose. The most important thing is to wash your hands before eating and not touch your face.

Don’t think I will have many presents to open or give, but won’t worry about it, the wrapping and unwrapping I mean.

Just wash hands after.