According to Assoc. Prof. PhD. Nguyen Minh Son, former Vice Head of the Department of Epidemiology (School of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University), the capability of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from food or food surfaces has not been proven to date. SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted via the respiratory tract through two mechanisms: directly from an infected person to a healthy person by inhaling airborne droplets and aerosols containing the virus from the nose and throat of the patient during coughing or sneezing at close range, and indirectly through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, followed by inadvertently touching the eyes, nose, or mouth.
This expert explains that, according to biological mechanisms, SARS-CoV-2 cannot replicate and survive independently in the external environment for long, as the virus requires a host (human or animal) to "survive"; therefore, even if present on food packaging, it will not persist for extended periods. Although the survival duration of SARS-CoV-2 on food packaging and food itself depends on environmental conditions, temperature, humidity, and light, no official studies have been published to date.
Meanwhile, Prof. PhD. Le Thi Quynh Mai, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, stated that SARS-CoV-2 spreads and transmits from person to person through close contact and respiratory droplets. Currently, there is no information regarding how long this virus can survive on food. The WHO also has no data on the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from food or food packaging.
Regarding the recent cases of multiple COVID-19-positive workers at a food-supplying company in Hanoi, experts suggest that the infections likely resulted from person-to-person contact rather than through frozen food.
"Small droplets from a SARS-CoV-2-infected individual during coughing or sneezing can land on the surfaces of items in supermarkets or food stores, and other individuals may touch these items and then unintentionally touch their nose or mouth. This is also a potential route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, alongside direct person-to-person spread," hypothesized Assoc. Prof. PhD. Nguyen Minh Son.
Experts recommend that the public strictly adhere to the Ministry of Health's 5K message when visiting supermarkets and food stores, as these are enclosed environments where coughing or sneezing by an infected person can lead to transmission if 5K measures are neglected. People must wash their hands with soap after handling food items or objects in supermarkets and stores. Additionally, thorough cooking of food prior to consumption is essential.
Hien Minh
Source: http://baochinhphu.vn/Suc-khoe/Nguy-co-lay-nhiem-SARSCoV2-qua-thuc-pham-rat-thap/441073.vgp