The outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in late 2019 and early 2020 had a ripple effect on the world economy. One consequence felt by consumers across the globe was longer than usual delivery times on products purchased online. Retailers like Amazon and delivery services like the United States Postal Service informed consumers that products and packages may require more delivery time due to limited transportation ability resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak. That’s an important consideration for holiday shoppers who want the gifts they purchase for loved ones to arrive on time this holiday season. In anticipation of longer delivery times, which may be even longer during the notoriously busy holiday season than they were at the outset of the pandemic, shoppers may want to begin their shopping early. Doing so not only accounts for longer shipping times, but also increases the chances shoppers will find what they’re looking for during a time when many retailers’ supply chains have been interrupted. Shoppers concerned by online shopping this holiday season due to the likelihood of catching COVID-19 by contacting cardboard boxes likely have little to fear. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that the chances are low that the virus spreads from packaging that’s shipped over a period of several days at ambient temperatures.
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