A reminder to those stocking up NOW in response to COVID-19... esp. in areas with community spread
This is not necessarily going to be obvious, but those cans, bottles, packages you just purchased at the store may have been handled by an unknowingly infected stocker or other customers. Obviously, you remember to disinfect hands after leaving the store, but now you've got to bring in potentially contaminated items into your house and pantry. There is every reason to believe the virus lives on surfaces for 9 days (or even more). So, what do you do? (and this can/will apply to UPS/FEDX deliveries as well)
*Either wear gloves or plan to wash immediately after handling and stacking your items.
AND
*Either use alcohol wipes to thoroughly wipe down those cans, bottles, external packages
OR (as I am doing):
Set aside one set of shelving for all 'newly arrived' items in an area that is fairly isolated from the rest of the home (e.g., pantry with door) and use signs to indicate they are either 1. not to be touched for 14 days OR 2. handled and used after disinfecting the outer container and washing hands thoroughly after handling.
Having been doing a lot of counseling lately on infectious disease control for both professionals and lay public, this appears to be something few have considered. At some point and if you are coming from an area of probable exposure, you may need to think about leaving shoes outside and bagging your clothes for the wash at the entranceway--especially if you are a health care worker.
Oh, and if you set some hand sanitizer at the front door, you can offer it to the UPS/USPS/delivery person who may need your digital signature. A kind thing for the worker, but helpful for yourself as well.
= new reply since forum marked as read
except for refrigerated items and things we need right away.....which we can wipe down with disinfectant spray and a cloth.
Seems to me that refrigerated items could pose the highest risk because the virus cells could live there in hibernation, then wake up when unfrozen. At least that's what I recall from concerns over bacterial risks such as salmonella. I think viruses would follow the same life-span patterns.
There are many items I can just wash off with mild soap and water in our sink before placing in the frig., such as milk, bacon and packages of cheese - prior to opening. Could even do that with bagged dry products such as chips in sealed plastic bags.
Never dreamed I would be discussing washing my groceries.
KY.........
I think what you are mentioning is bacteria on the product inside the package, whereas we're discussing viruses on the outside of the packages from handling in trucking and the stores by customers and employees.
I don't recall this being an issue before with packaged products with the possible exception of meats and vegetables and those were regarding bacteria, not viruses.
In your case, what's being suggested is washing the bag your strawberries come in - an unheard of situation for me.
KY..........
PS: It was just announced a Walmart employee is believed to be infected here in Kentucky in the town where our first case appeared.
So cleanse the package outside and wash/and or cook the stuff inside. The frightening thing is viruses and bacteria on the inside may well come from any number of nations since so many of our foods are imported.
I may just give up and eat nothing but Campbell's soup for a while.....
We do have some time, I think to get our shit together 'cause there's not a widespread outbreak in our area, but it is coming!
KY.........
Overly sodium-ladened, but a childhood favorite.
Sadly, I note it is flying off the shelves too. 
