SUPER TIME SENSITIVE QUESTION, HELP

amother

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 4:32 pm

Someone was suppose to make Shabbat Sheva Berachot
She made and prepared everything
Tablecloths, centerpieces, ALL food, desserts, etc.
The sheva berachot was going to be in shul with social distancing and everything 20 ppl.

She came down with covid, her and 1 of her children

Can we use anything from her house
Food
Tablescape things

What if we transfer everything today to a place no one will touch until tomorrow

notshanarishona

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 4:37 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

It can live on surfaces for a couple of days at least

zoom

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 4:42 pm

The food I would use.

Everything else non edible I would spray with these antibacterial spray that kills germs and you just spray and leave to dry.

not cutlery and plates, im talking props, tableclothes etc.

shabbatiscoming

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 4:49 pm

I would not use anything. Unless she prepared everything with masks and gloves, you have no idea what her germs went on. It could all be contaminated.

Perrys

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 4:51 pm

notshanarishona wrote:

It can live on surfaces for a couple of days at least

I’ve been told 20 min in general

notshanarishona

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 4:52 pm

How long will the coronavirus survive on paper?
The length of time varies. Some strains of coronavirus live for only a few minutes on paper, while others live for up to 5 days.Aug 21, 2020
WebMD › lung › how-long-covid-1...
Coronavirus and Surfaces: How Long Does COVID-19 Live on ...

amother

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 4:55 pm

What about the food that can be heated?

What about store bought dips that are closed in the container

Teomima

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 4:55 pm

So much is still unknown about how long the virus lives on what surfaces. Why risk it. Yes it's a shame, but better safe than sorry.
May she have a speedy recovery.

notshanarishona

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 5:17 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

What about the food that can be heated?

What about store bought dips that are closed in the container

You can wear gloves and wash closed containers if you want to take the risk.
My guess is that heat would kill any germs but I would definitely ask a doctor.

amother

Orchid

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 5:20 pm

Oy, what a difficult situation!

I'd confirm with mds but I'm pretty confident we could use closed stored bought dips and food that's to be heated - after first wiping down the outside of all containers and pans with lysol. And I'd probably ask my md about anything else.

Signed,
An Ima who is super careful about Covid precautions and is regularly in touch with my immunocompromised child's mds for guidance.

Just One

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 5:22 pm

Either the world developed OCD or I'm living in lalaland.

Food they've been saying since the beginning of this thing is ok to eat. Non food items you can wipe down or spray with an antibacterial.

Mazel tov, gut shabbos and enjoy your simcha!

Ema of 4

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 5:25 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

I just made sheva brachot this week and had almost the same thing- the person I was going to cohost with (and split the cooking 50/50 with) was exposed and didn’t want to send her food.
I wouldn’t take anything from her house. Where are you? Maybe others in your location can help you out.

agreer

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 5:35 pm

amother [ Azure ] wrote:

I would use everything! It doesn't live on surfaces like orginally believed!

I heard this too. When they tested COVID-19 early in April, they tested it in labs, which are not typical situations.

In regular life, it doesn't last more than a few hours.

However...I'm a germophobe and would no way touch anything from that woman's house. So sorry.

amother

Lawngreen

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 5:38 pm

I was told my a doctor that the stomach acid is strong enough to kill any of this virus. You only need to wipe down containers with s/t antiviral.

Just One

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 5:47 pm

amother [ Lawngreen ] wrote:

I was told my a doctor that the stomach acid is strong enough to kill any of this virus. You only need to wipe down containers with s/t antiviral.

I don't understand this logic. If there's virus on the food, some particles can stick around and get into your respiratory system. However it's unusual for the virus to survive very long outside of a living host

amother

Beige

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 6:01 pm

A question of this type was brought up on the Boston children’s zoom conf they had this week with a pediatrician and ID doc.
My kids interrupted then- so did not hear the entire answer.... I’m going to see if there’s a replay. But of course it’s best if you can speak to a doctor personally.

Last edited by amother on Thu, Feb 11 2021, 9:12 pm; edited 1 time in total

notshanarishona

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 6:08 pm

Just One wrote:

All I can say is after having Covid for over a month, 4 Er vists, 2.5 weeks of Hospital at Home Care, and still having persistent fevers and difficulty breathing I take it a lot more seriously then I would have 6 weeks ago. It’s not fun.

amother

Seashell

Thu, Dec 17 2020, 6:20 pm

So sorry! Yes do ask a dr. beyond that I’m sorry to say it’s not really your call to make. You would have to be transparent with all the guests. And let them make their own decision. If not they would learn later and it could be a big mess. While I don’t see much of a transmission risk I would not take the reaponsibility upon myself and whether rational or not would not want to go if anything from her home were used.
Hatzlocha and hugs