Leave objects in the sun to avoid contracting the coronavirus.
More Info, , There’s no evidence that sunlight can kill the coronavirus., Experts say ultraviolet light in the sun isn’t strong enough., The best way to avoid contracting COVID-19 is to wash your hands with soap and water, avoid touching your face, disinfect surfaces in your home daily and avoid close contact with people., Advice attributed to a delivery driver calls for leaving objects in the sun as a way to avoid contracting the coronavirus., This is what was shared in a Facebook post:, "I received an Amazon delivery this morning. The driver was almost to his truck by the time I opened the door, bent to pick up the box and said thank you. He turned and walked back toward the house. He said, ‘Ma’am, these deliveries come from the distribution center. We’ve had positive testing for the virus. Leave the box out here in the sun for six to eight hours, then open the box and take the item out of any packaging before you take it in the house. Leave the box and packaging outside. Then go wash your hands immediately.’ Wow. Good information but this is getting freaky.", If only., Sadly, there still is no proof that the sun can kill COVID-19., The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.) It was soon deleted, but we found the same claim elsewhere., Preliminary research into coronavirus indicates it can live on cardboard surfaces like boxes for up to 24 hours. But there is no evidence that sun exposure kills the coronavirus, as we said in rating False a claim that "being exposed to the sun for two hours" kills the virus., We also rated False a more general claim — that sun can kill the coronavirus. That claim was made by U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, a North Carolina Republican and a physician. Experts said ultraviolet rays in sunlight aren’t intense enough to kill the virus., That sunlight isn’t strong enough has also been reported by AFP Fact Check., So what should you do about your cardboard packages? After digging into the research and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Wirecutter’s Ganda Suthivarakom on March 24 wrote: "The CDC’s advice on protecting yourself does not include advice on disinfecting packages. Its general advice stands: Wash your hands frequently and avoid close contact with people.", To be extra cautious, she writes, "you can dispose of the outer packaging outside your home and wash your hands immediately after handling.", There isn’t evidence that leaving items in the sun can protect you from contracting the coronavirus. The best way to avoid COVID-19 is to wash your hands with soap and water, avoid touching your face, disinfect surfaces in your home daily and avoid close contact with people., We rate the Facebook statement False., Facebook, post, March 25, 2020, PolitiFact, "No, sunlight has not been proven to kill coronavirus," March 20, 2020, PolitiFact, "Sun exposure does not kill the coronavirus," March 11, 2020, PolitiFact, "Novel coronavirus could live up to 3 days, depending on the surface," March 20, 2020, WPXI-TV, "Coronavirus Fact or Fiction: Are delivered packages safe to handle?" March 26, 2020, KCRG-TV, "Fact Check: Don\t trust social media tips on Coronavirus," March 25, 2020, AFP Fact Check, "Misleading report claims UV light, chlorine and high temperatures can kill COVID-19," March 20, 2020, Elemental, "The Truth About Vitamin D, Zinc, and Other Coronavirus Rumors," March 26, 2020, Wirecutter, "How to Handle Packages During the Coronavirus Pandemic," March 24, 2020, The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter, In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts., Sign me up, District of Columbia\n\n\n\n1100 Connecticut Ave. NW\nSuite 1300B\n\nWashington, DC\n20036, Florida\n\n\n801 3rd St. S\n\nSt. Petersburg, FL\n33701\n727-821-9494
PolitiFact | Still no proof that sunlight kills the new coronavirus