Why It’s Safe To Eat Takeout Tonight

PLUS: Affordable Options For Finding A Good Therapist Right Now

Shots Paul Taylor/Getty Images Takeout Gets A Thumb’s-Up From Scientists Tired of your own cooking, and eager to support your favorite restaurant? Go ahead and order a takeout meal, say food scientists who are keeping an eye on the pandemic. "I know people are worried, but from what we know currently about the virus, it's safe to eat food prepared at restaurants, so long as you take the proper precautions — in particular hand-washing." That’s the word from Don Schaffner, a food science specialist and professor at Rutgers University, who studies quantitative microbial risk assessment, predictive food microbiology, hand-washing and cross-contamination. Schaffner’s assessment dovetails with guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which notes "there is no evidence to suggest that food produced in the United States can transmit COVID-19." Read on to learn how you can help protect yourself and the people who deliver your food.   Newsletter continues after sponsor message Clare Schneider/NPR How To Find A Therapist When You Can’t Leave The House If you’re struggling with depression or anxiety these days, you’re not alone. Roughly 45 percent of Americans in a recent poll said dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their mental health -- at a time when attending in-person therapy sessions isn’t an option. Good news: The team from NPR’s Life Kit podcast has gathered resources to help you find a therapist, support group or other psychological support, even if you don’t have health insurance and are feeling pinched financially. Read on to learn more about how teletherapy works, and how to get the support you need. BONUS: How A Quarantined Psychiatrist Is Helping Hospital Patients Via Teletherapy   Photo Illustration by Max Posner/NPR Coronavirus FAQ: Should I Wear Gloves To Shop? Is It Allergies Or The Coronavirus? Now that the CDC is recommending face coverings for grocery shopping and similar outings, a number of NPR listeners have written in to ask whether wearing gloves might be a good idea, too. Nope, not for most people, according to the infectious disease professionals we checked with. Instead, just frequently wash your ungloved hands. "Skin is really great because it's like a hydrophobic covering, which means it's kind of waxy and sort of repels moisture," explains Dr. Emily Landon, hospital epidemiologist and infectious diseases specialist at University of Chicago Medicine. "That means when you touch things, they sort of stay on your hands and then you can wash your hands and get rid of them." Wearing gloves doesn’t actually keep people from touching their faces, Landon notes, and that’s the main way unwashed hands spread the virus.   Read on for the full FAQ, which also details how to discern allergy symptoms from COVID-19’s.   More of this week's health stories from NPR What Will It Take To Reopen The U.S.? The CDC Director Weighs In Why Some Patients Crash: Science Behind COVID-19’s ‘Cytokine Storm’ Storytelling’s Power To Connect Us: The Brain Science   We hope you found these stories helpful. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots and follow us on Twitter at @NPRHealth. Your Shots editor, Deborah Franklin   What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: shots@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy