Takeaway bags should be dumped into a sink and all packaging discarded before eating, Dubai Police said. Officers urged diners to remove all plastic or cardboard containers and use your own cutlery to eat. In a social media post, the force listed the following to ensure drivers and residents avoid unnecessary contact. The life-span of the virus is estimated to be several days on plastic and about 24 hours on cardboard. Many restaurants have sent emails and messages to customers assuring them that precautions are being taken, but police urged the following to be sure. Despite concerns over the ability of the virus to spread on surfaces, the vast majority of patients are believed to have caught the virus from someone else with it. There is no evidence that Covid-19 is spread through mail or parcels, according to the World Health Organisation and US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Health experts said the risks are very low that the virus would remain on envelopes or packages and infect anyone who handles them, Associated Press reported on Thursday. But, it's still a good idea to wash your hands thoroughly and regularly - and avoid touching your face - after handling deliveries.