Virus & Cleaning

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Is it hard to get the virus by touching surface & other stuff, like groceries, pill bottles? I never understand the rules or the facts about the COVID-19, they always changing.

The rules are changing because we're only learning about the virus.
The virus won't infect you directly through your skin. Touching an infected surface and then your eyes or inside of your mouth or nose possibly could infect you.
That's why frequent washing or disinfecting your hands is so highly recommended.

From what I have read, the coronavirus is spread by touch primarily in environments where the humidity is high (>60 percent). It is spread by aerosols primarily in indoor environments where the humidity is low (<40 percent).

In general, you are fairly safe outdoors. You are fairly vulnerable in many forms of mass transportation (air, subways, trains, buses, cruise ships) along with crowded elevators, crowded living accommodation.

So during the humid summer, it is important to practice hand washing, use hand sanitizers, avoid touching your face, clean the floors and surfaces where viruses may land.

And during the dry winter months, it is important to wear proper masks, such as N95, when you are up and about, to protect against airborne infections.

Do we still have to clean your groceries? I hate that I can easily get confused about the virus.

Since there is still a lot that scientists don't know about Covid-19, there is no straight forward answer yet. Based on information provided by the CDC (1), which states that it's possible for it to spread through contact with contaminated surfaces, and the research that suggests it can live on certain materials for up to 3 days (2, 3), it is recommended that precautions are taken.

1. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/s0522-cdc-updates-covid-transmission.html#:~:text=Based%20on%20data%20from%20lab,the%20main%20way%20the%20virus

2. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/study-suggests-new-coronavirus-may-remain-surfaces-days

3. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41407-020-0313-1

For the reasons listed above, I continue to either wait 2-3 days before using new items, wipe packing down, or wash my hands immediately after handling packages.