First of all remember you can do as you please with your own choices of behavior if you want to but don't start a food fight in this thread as it is counter productive behavior at this point in time. You do not have to go into long explanations of how you do things either. This thread is just for presenting the information from a single video.
Remember eventually we will get back to our old normal everyday way of life but this situation is going to be around for quite some time yet. It is for sure a royal pain to go through making the food and other objects that come into your dwelling space safer for you. Many won't bother with it but if you want/need to do so the video will give you some sensible guidance on how to approach it.
This is a video from the CDC youtube channel. The information is well presented, easy to watch, presented by a doctor This is very important for reducing your risk, not just now but for all kinds of coronavirus including the infamous "stomach flu".Many in the van dwelling community are older than 60 so I hope you younger folks indulge us and remember we elders do need to take extra precautions.
Even if you are low on bandwidth this is very important for you to know how to handle the foods you purchase at grocery stores or from takeout food suppliers.
I am not going to do a written step by step description because that has likely been done on the CDC website or elsewhere. If I do come across it later I will also post that.
But I will tell you some things he does discuss the importance of not taking grocery store food into your home right away but leave it in a space such as a garage for several days (other than items that must be refrigerated). That is regarding how long the virus might survive on surfaces. Of course that would be very difficult for anyone who is dwelling in a vehicle unless they install an outside storage box on their rig just for that purpose.
But if you can't do that or if you need to use the food right away then he shows how to set up two areas you first prepare by cleaning those surfaces with some sanitizing solution. One area is to set the food you just brought down on and a second area where you put the food containers you have just sanitized. He is using sanitizing wipes on all sealed containers and on plastic bags. For cardboard boxes with an inner liner such as cereal or crackers, the box is opened and the inner bag carefully removed with your sanitized fingers and then placed onto the clean zone area. He also recommends transferring foods out of the original container if it is difficult to clean that original bag or container and put the food into your own clean containers. Then take that original container out of your living space.
He also discusses the issue that freezing does not kill a virus so you must also clean all the containers on the foods you put into the freezer. Of course also clean all the containers on foods you bring home before they go into the refrigerator or the pantry.
Then he shows how to always transfer foods from takeout container onto your own plates rather than eating them out of the containers or wrappers. Immediately taking that original container out of your living space then of course washing your hands before you eat. Plus he recommends staying away from cold foods at take out and only getting hot foods. Plus if you can heating the hot take out foods in the microwave until it is hot enough for steam to come off the food.
Sounds like a good time to consider having a microwave if you have been on the fence to get one or not. Of course you can also use a covered pot on the stove top or a regular oven to heat foods in.
Yes he does talk about the food itself not being a good host for the virus but of course remember you should not touch food with unwashed hands. You should also wash your fruits in soapy water, the same as you do for your hands. The stores do sell special washes for fruits and vegetables if you want to go that way.
It is all a bit more difficult for water conservation but sometimes the road of life takes a detour and is not so smooth for a bit of a bumpy drive. We will get past it eventually. It is not a forever way of life for most of us.
Remember eventually we will get back to our old normal everyday way of life but this situation is going to be around for quite some time yet. It is for sure a royal pain to go through making the food and other objects that come into your dwelling space safer for you. Many won't bother with it but if you want/need to do so the video will give you some sensible guidance on how to approach it.
This is a video from the CDC youtube channel. The information is well presented, easy to watch, presented by a doctor This is very important for reducing your risk, not just now but for all kinds of coronavirus including the infamous "stomach flu".Many in the van dwelling community are older than 60 so I hope you younger folks indulge us and remember we elders do need to take extra precautions.
Even if you are low on bandwidth this is very important for you to know how to handle the foods you purchase at grocery stores or from takeout food suppliers.
I am not going to do a written step by step description because that has likely been done on the CDC website or elsewhere. If I do come across it later I will also post that.
But I will tell you some things he does discuss the importance of not taking grocery store food into your home right away but leave it in a space such as a garage for several days (other than items that must be refrigerated). That is regarding how long the virus might survive on surfaces. Of course that would be very difficult for anyone who is dwelling in a vehicle unless they install an outside storage box on their rig just for that purpose.
But if you can't do that or if you need to use the food right away then he shows how to set up two areas you first prepare by cleaning those surfaces with some sanitizing solution. One area is to set the food you just brought down on and a second area where you put the food containers you have just sanitized. He is using sanitizing wipes on all sealed containers and on plastic bags. For cardboard boxes with an inner liner such as cereal or crackers, the box is opened and the inner bag carefully removed with your sanitized fingers and then placed onto the clean zone area. He also recommends transferring foods out of the original container if it is difficult to clean that original bag or container and put the food into your own clean containers. Then take that original container out of your living space.
He also discusses the issue that freezing does not kill a virus so you must also clean all the containers on the foods you put into the freezer. Of course also clean all the containers on foods you bring home before they go into the refrigerator or the pantry.
Then he shows how to always transfer foods from takeout container onto your own plates rather than eating them out of the containers or wrappers. Immediately taking that original container out of your living space then of course washing your hands before you eat. Plus he recommends staying away from cold foods at take out and only getting hot foods. Plus if you can heating the hot take out foods in the microwave until it is hot enough for steam to come off the food.
Sounds like a good time to consider having a microwave if you have been on the fence to get one or not. Of course you can also use a covered pot on the stove top or a regular oven to heat foods in.
Yes he does talk about the food itself not being a good host for the virus but of course remember you should not touch food with unwashed hands. You should also wash your fruits in soapy water, the same as you do for your hands. The stores do sell special washes for fruits and vegetables if you want to go that way.
It is all a bit more difficult for water conservation but sometimes the road of life takes a detour and is not so smooth for a bit of a bumpy drive. We will get past it eventually. It is not a forever way of life for most of us.
