COVID-19 & Reusables Update

 
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Health Expert Statement Addressing Safety of Reusables and COVID-19

Over 115 experts signed the statement addressing safety of reusables during COVID-19

View Statement

COVID-19 and Reusables Q & A

Thank you Upstream for providing the prompts and resources below

Q: CAN COVID-19 SPREAD THROUGH CONTACT WITH objects and surfaces? 

A:  According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person…between people who are in close contact with one another, through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks” (2020).

The CDC said, “it may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes” (2020). They explained that respiratory droplets are the main way coronavirus is spread and that the “transmission of novel coronavirus to persons from surfaces contaminated with the virus has not been documented” (CDC, 2020).

 

Q: IF THE VIRUS CAN TRANSFER FROM SURFACES - ARE DISPOSABLE PRODUCTS SAFER THAN REUSABLE ONES? 

A: “No. Even though odds of getting the virus from surfaces are extremely low, based on how long the virus lasts on surfaces and typical consumer and worker behavior - disposable products are not safer than reusable ones. COVID-19 can be found on both disposable and reusable materials, and plastic is one of the materials on which it survives longest” (UPSTREAM, 2020).

 

Q: WHAT DO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES SAY ABOUT RETAIL FOOD SAFETY AND REUSABLE FOODWARE? 

A: The CDC and FDA guidelines for reopening restaurants recommend best practices for social distancing, hygiene, sanitation, and personal protective equipment (PPE).  The guidelines do not consider reusable products a concern or recommend their replacement with disposables (adapted from UPSTREAM).

 

Q: WHAT DOES THE FOOD INDUSTRY SAY ABOUT RETAIL SAFETY AND REUSABLE FOODWARE? 

A: The Hawaiʻi Restaurant Association’s COVID-19 Reopening Guidance that is based off the The National Restaurant Association’s Guidance follows FDA guidelines. It focuses on cleaning, disinfecting, & social distancing, and does not promote single-use products.

 

Q: HOW CAN WORKERS BE PROTECTED WHEN CUSTOMERS BRING REUSABLES INTO RETAIL? 

A: While there is not evidence that reusables are an issue for workers, it is understandable that folks may want extra precautions. If a customer brings reusable products into a retail space, contact-free practices are a useful extra precaution. Contact-free systems mean there is no contact between the customer’s reusable cup, container, or bag and retail surfaces or employees—for example, when a customer bags their own groceries (adpated from UPSTREAM).

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, July 10). Cleaning and Disinfection for Households. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cleaning-disinfection.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, June 16). How Coronavirus Spreads. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html.

UPSTREAM. (2020, May 15). Answer to the 7 Most Frequently Asked Question Regarding the Safety of Reusable Products. https://www.upstreamsolutions.org/stay-informed.