COVID and Used books

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COVID and Used books

1Frank_Zwolinski
Edited: Aug 5, 2021, 9:52 pm

Like many of us, I just cannot resist buying, and even when I do not visit bookstores right now, I am active buying on the secondary market. How do others insure that what they buy is safe and not infected. Personally, I open my used books and let them air or 4-5 days, but I am interested in what others are doing.

2Limelite
Aug 5, 2021, 11:52 pm

>1 Frank_Zwolinski:

As per Cleaning and Disinfection in the Workplace

Isolate papers or any soft (porous) surfaces for a minimum of 24 hours before handling. After 24 hours, remove soft materials from the area (book case, table, etc.) and clean the hard (non-porous) surfaces per the cleaning and disinfection recommendations.
But be aware that COVID infection comes from exposure to infectious respiratory fluids.:
Modes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission are now categorized as inhalation of virus, deposition of virus on exposed mucous membranes, and touching mucous membranes with soiled hands contaminated with virus.
So, wash your hands after purchasing used books and let them 'cool off' in isolation a day or two before reading them.

If you're really anxious, surgical gloves can be worn when handling your purchases. Dispose of them after use as you would any other contaminated item, like a used baby diaper.

3tardis
Aug 5, 2021, 11:56 pm

Nothing. I never even considered that as a risk, any more than it's a risk from the things I get at the grocery store. Surface contamination isn't the primary vector of Covid infection.

I know my local public library started out quarantining returned books for three days before sending them out again, but they stopped doing that ages ago.

4yolana
Edited: Aug 6, 2021, 1:35 am

Since you’re not going into bookstores I assume you’re buying online. The shipping time should be all the time you need to kill off the virus from surfaces. Though as Tardis said, it’s sadly more of an airborne virus than something we can clean and sanitize our way out of.

5mart1n
Aug 6, 2021, 5:04 am

A virologist friend of mine told me some time ago that the virus will last on paper for at most one hour. Since then estimates of its ability to survive outside the body have if anything reduced, so I don't think there's anything to worry about.

6MrAndrew
Aug 6, 2021, 9:24 am

Cleanse them with fire. It's the only way to be sure.

7reading_fox
Aug 6, 2021, 11:20 am

>6 MrAndrew: nuke 'em from orbit?

8HeathMochaFrost
Aug 6, 2021, 11:41 am

OCLC began sharing research on this last year, doing tests to determine how long the virus remained detectable on different types of surfaces--and in some cases, how long it was detectable on unstacked items versus stacked items:
https://www.oclc.org/realm/research.html

My local library was doing a one or two day quarantine on materials after they were initially returned, but I haven't checked whether that's still their practice. I haven't really thought about it since maybe last summer for any books I get in the mail. As others have said, it's my understanding that surface transmission is possible, but much less likely than airborne.

9lilithcat
Aug 6, 2021, 11:53 am

>8 HeathMochaFrost:

"Detectable", of course, is not the same thing as "transmissible".

10Bookmarque
Aug 6, 2021, 11:56 am

>7 reading_fox: You now have 20 minutes to reach minimum safe distance.

11Limelite
Aug 6, 2021, 12:59 pm

>7 reading_fox:

Zap them with "MTG solution," aka, Jewish space lasers?

12Cecrow
Edited: Aug 6, 2021, 6:28 pm

>9 lilithcat:, you've a sharper eye than me, I read 'delectable'. Also not the same thing.

I was half way through a used book once before I realized that black stuff all over it was probably mold, which explained where that horrible smell was coming from. I finished it before I threw it out, of course.

13Frank_Zwolinski
Aug 6, 2021, 7:07 pm

Thank you to those "serious" thoughts. I am concerned because my partner is an immune compromised transplant patient so I wish to be extra careful.
In appreciation.