BY KAREN BOSSICK

It’s no secret that Amazon and other online delivery services are booming as people avoid crowds—and the chances of running into an opportunistic coronavirus droplet--at groceries and other stores.

But the packages you order have been touched by multiple people from the person who puts your order in the box to the person who delivers it to your door. And news that Amazon warehouses have been hit by the coronavirus only adds to the anxiety.

One Eye on Sun Valley reader asks just how careful you need to be.

The Centers for Disease Control says that the coronavirus can survive on plastic and stainless-steel surfaces for at least three days.

But the chances of getting coronavirus from delivered packages is likely very low. No COVID-19 cases have been linked to delivery packages.

And the Food and Drug Administration has not found any evidence of coronavirus being transmitted from food or food packaging.

A study by the Laboratory of Virology indicates the virus can, however, survive on cardboard and other porous materials up to 24 hours.

Given that, you can play safe by leaving packages outside for a day, if possible. Set your mail on the counter and come back to it the next day. And quarantine your newspapers for a day, as well.

You don’t need to disinfect your packages, says the CDC. Just wash your hands after handling.

It’s thought that coronavirus is transmitted primarily by respiratory droplets that someone deposits on another person through sneezing or coughing. That’s the reason for the six-feet distancing guidelines.

But the jury’s still out on how much risk you incur by touching a surface or object with virus and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

UPS and FedEx both say that they are keeping sick employees from working They are also sanitizing trucks regularly. And they say they’re providing hand sanitizer to employees. Of course, gloves don’t help if the wearer sneezes into their gloves.

So, it probably wouldn’t hurt to err on the side of safety.

OPT FOR HOT FOOD OVER COLD

COVID-19 virus has been detected in the stool of some people. So, it’s possible a food worker who has not washed his or her hands could transmit the infection via uncooked foods like salads or sandwiches.

The virus would likely be killed by cooking so hot foods may be the safer choice for take-out right now, according to researchers at Harvard Medical School.