COVID-19 Update
All you need to know about receiving packages from us
Can COVID-19 (commonly referred to as "corona virus") be transmitted to an end customer via delivery of packages?
We answer these questions and give you expert advice from official sources. We've done the research so you don't have to (with links to said official sources - we like to be thorough!). Read on for more!
No matter what you buy, where you buy it, whether it's from China, Europe or the United States -- there is no absolute 100% guarantee that it hasn't been handled by someone who is sick. But all hope is not lost; there are precautions you can take to protect your health and those of your loved ones and still get to enjoy the hobby you love.
First, the question you should ask is "who is handling my packages?"
Most packages ordered from Heartful Diamonds originate from Yiwu, China - very widely known for its bustling manufacturing industries and global trade fairs. Because it is such an important economic hub for China's economy, authorities were particularly strict about containing the virus spread in this region.
In the last month, there has been zero cases in the province and heightened measures are in place to keep it that way.
What does this mean: The odds of a person who is infected with COVID-19 handling your package are practically non-existent. Our manufacturing partners have been very transparent about the situation and we are constantly monitoring the situation at all times. HOWEVER when the package passes on to your local couriers... it's out of our hands, unfortunately.
If a person handling a package is sick, could the virus transmit to the package itself?
COVID-19 or (also SARS-CoV-2) can not survive long on packages and other inorganic material.
A clinical research study1 which tested how well the virus survives on different surfaces, found no trace of the virus after:
- 24 hours on cardboard
- 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel
Further, the WHO (World Health Organization) and CDC (Center for Disease Control in America) have reported that it is safe to send and receive packages2.
In conclusion, even in the worst case scenario where an infected person is handling goods to be mailed, it is not possible for the virus to survive the journey.
However, according to an online publication by health.com3, there is still a chance a healthy person can be infected by a sick person delivering their mail (your local courier).
This risk is mitigated so long as there is no direct and a healthy distance is maintained. Keep reading below for more tips on how to stay safe when handling goods delivered to you.
Sources:
1. New England Journal of Medicine.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.09.20033217v1.full.pdf
2. WHO Official website.
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses
3. Health.com article.
Official Facebook post from the WHO. Clicking the image goes to the Facebook post.
How does the outbreak affect delivery of packages?
All orders will be fulfilled on time, always.
However, logistics and postal delays of up to 2 weeks are normal for all countries we deliver to. This delay may become more significant in the coming days as demand ramps up and courier services prioritize the delivery of "life-essential" goods such as groceries, sanitary and medical products. As much as we'd love to argue that in times of such anxiety-inducing chaos, diamond paintings could be seen as an "essential good" to some... *shrugs*.
However, rest assured the team at Heartful Diamonds is always ready to assist you at any time. We are deeply grateful to all our customers for sticking with us. Keeping up with your hobbies is an incredibly effective way to deal with stress, which empowers you to do more for yourself and your loved ones especially in such trying times. We're here to make sure you experience the same stellar customer service Heartful Diamonds is so widely known for.
What if I just want to be extra, EXTRA -- 120% careful?
We get it. It's better to be overly safe than sorry.
If you really want to go the extra mile to protect yourself and your family, then simply follow our advice by taking these extra steps:
- Pick up your delivered package with gloves and leave it in the garage or somewhere out of reach for 3 days.
- After three days, once again pick up the package with gloves and wipe it twice over with disinfecting wipes (clorox wipes for example).
- Now you can handle your package as normal.
This advice is especially pertinent for packages that are received via express delivery or overnight delivery (from Amazon Prime etc.). This is because in the event an Amazon factory worker is sick, not enough time may have passed between the package being shipped and the delivery time, for the virus to have vanished from the surface of the package.
Once again Heartful Diamonds would like to stress that your safety and the health of our workers is our number one priority. There will be delays in fulfilment and shipping your goods for this very reason. We hope to all emerge from this pandemic safe and healthy together.
Should you have any other concerns not answered here, please feel free to contact us any time through the chat widget or via our email customercare@heartfuldiamonds.com.