Don’t microwave your newspaper

In a recent Gazette, a front-page headline read 'Is the mail safe? What about my shoes?” This begs the question, how safe is my Gazette? Should I bring it in and spread it out for a day to let any viruses die off before I read it? What precautions is The Gazette taking, from printing to distribution, to minimize our risk of getting this scary virus? What if the delivery person is contagious, does The Gazette take precautions here?

I wonder about this every day when I bring my Gazette into the house. One day I put it in the microwave oven for about 20 seconds, Don't do this folks, it almost caught fire. Had a few dark brown spots on the inside pages.

Guy Gooch

Cedar Rapids

Editor's note: The World Health Organization has said it is safe to handle newspapers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Gazette's printing facility and delivery contractors are taking additional precautions including providing gloves where appropriate and frequent cleaning of equipment and user stations in the printing facility and distribution centers. A digital version of the newspaper can be found at thegazette.com by clicking Green Gazette on the page footer.