TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Recently, the public was shocked by the news that Covid-19 could be transmitted through food. This opinion originated from the discovery corona virus in some frozen chicken wings shipped from Brazil to China.
However, is it true that this virus can spread through food? Further research is being undertaken by the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO Head of Technical Epidemiology for Covid-19, Maria Van Kerkhove, also spoke up.
He explained that testing had been done on hundreds of thousands of products food. As a result, it is undeniable that some of them are contaminated with the corona virus but the numbers are very small.
“Only less than 10 types were found contaminated with the new type of corona virus,” Kerkhove said, as quoted from the website Mental Floss.
Even so, he appealed to the public not to immediately fear and worry because the risk of getting into the body is very minimal.
“If you buy a contaminated product, pathogens will only enter the body if you then touch the face. That means, you can reduce your risk of being exposed to Covid-19 through food only through consistently washing your hands and keeping dirty hands away from your face, “he said.
In addition, the Executive Director of the WHO Health Emergency Program, Michael Ryan, also said that until now there had been no patient cases Covid-19 that is transmitted through food. As with other viruses, the SARS-CoV-2 virus can be killed through heat or in other words through cooking food.
“People shouldn’t have to be afraid of fresh or packaged food. There is no evidence that food or food chains participate in the transmission of this virus so you should still feel comfortable and safe, ”he said.
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