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Coronavirus: Are imported baby goods safe for my family?

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Baby Products

As more cases of Covid-19 are confirmed in South Africa, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has labelled the outbreak a pandemic, parents are becoming more and more concerned. 

Parent24 has received a variety of questions, which we have answered in several articles (see below) but a common question is along the lines of: 

I've ordered baby goods from China, are they safe to use?

We did our research and the WHO says the likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods is low. 

It seems unlikely that the virus can survive outside the body for extended periods, so packages sent from the East in the last few weeks should be safe to open.

Nonetheless, if you are concerned, wash or sterilise the products before you expose them to your family. 

So how long does the new coronavirus live outside the body?

New information suggests that Covid-19 can remain viable in the air for up to 3 hours.

The virus might live longer on other surfaces: on copper for up to 4 hours, on cardboard up to 24 hours and on plastic and stainless steel up to 2 to 3 days. 

The small study has yet to be peer-reviewed.

Learn more about coronavirus and your family here:

Pregnant or breastfeeding:

Coronavirus: What pregnant women need to know

School and activities:

Coronavirus: Is it safe to take your kids to daycare, and other questions parents ask

Coronavirus: Will South African schools be closing, and what will that mean to parents?

Coronavirus: Is closing schools an effective measure to prevent an outbreak? History has some answers

What to tell the kids:

What to tell your kids about coronavirus, and how to help them stay safe

WATCH | Kids, learn how to wash your hands properly with these catchy tunes

Eight tips on what to tell your kids about coronavirus

Chat back:

Share your questions with Parent24:

WhatsApp: Send messages and voicenotes to 066 010 0325

Email: Share your story with us via email at chatback @ parent24.com

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