Everything delivered to our house goes straight into my ozone box (just what it sounds like — a big box, with an ozone generator inside). I fill the box with about 20,000 X the lethal dose of ozone (no exaggeration) and let it sit for at least a half-hour.
I don’t wear gloves; but, I do use hand sanitizer at every step. I Clorox any parts of my O3 box that I have touched; but, use the O3 to sterilize the items. I think my protocols were better than most hospitals’ for a while.
IMHO, your Mom is on the right track. I might start wearing glasses too. She might want to leave the mail a while longer — AFAIK, the virus can live for up to 3 days on paper or cardboard. With the O3 treatment, I can open things after an hour.
As someone pointed out on an earlier thread, the UVc lightboxes, which are used to sterilize phones, laptops, etc. can also be used to sterilize masks, mail etc. After reading that thread, I ordered a large UVc lamp capable of sterilizing a whole room in 15 to 20 minutes (available on Amazon). Hospitals have been using UVc to sterilize rooms for several years. Recently, I learned that some hospitals are using such a lamp to sterilize masks and other PPE. They put everything in a room, close the door, and fire up the lamp. I might use my lamp for that purpose too when it finally arrives.
A few years ago, I went with a compromised or non-existent immune system for over a year. Apparently, that experience left a mark. I am taking no chances.
My mom everyday thinks she has it, she is absolutely TERRIFIED of this virus..even now she is convinced she is going to die from it..why, because she opened up the mail after leaving it in the mailbox for 1 day, she wore gloves and a surgical mask, but she still thinks she got the virus..we know the mailman, he comes here everyday, young guy super healthy, but she doesnt know who brought the mail in that particular day, she had to pay some bills..the whole thing is insane..Trump is right, mental illness from this insanity is gonna kill more people than the damn virus
“AFAIK, the virus can live for up to 3 days on paper or cardboard.”
It is debatable whether or not it ‘lives’. It does not live according to the definition of life. It has no cellular structure and cannot replicate on its on.
The more accepted time for cardboard and paper is about 24 hours max. It is far weaker in this respect than some others like the norovirus which has a thicker and stronger encapsulation.
Counting on the heat and UVs to do their worst.
I made the mistake of using my ozone box with a mask inside - destroyed the elastic. (I put rubber bands on.)
I used to use my UVC light on masks, but the inventor of the 3M N95 masks said that is bad as the UVC light breaks down the synthetic poly-something inner filter.
He said either heat in your oven, suspended by a wood clothespin (170 at 30 minutes), or better yet - just hang it at room temperature for 3 to 4 days. I have a few masks and don’t go out more than once every three days so that is what I do now.
I try to go out only once a week, but taking care of others, and it seems there is always an extra run to the pharmacy or something. At least nowadays they know better than to ask me to “stop by the store and pick me up some donuts on the way over”.