Covid-19 positive, is my starter affected?

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SweetSublime on 29 Mar 2020 at 14:06

I am wondering if in feeding my starter have I spread the germs to it and  will the virus live in the starter if it is present? 

Thanks y'all.

but your starter will be fine.

COVID-19 is a virus and needs a host in order to survive...an animal, and as we know so far, seems to prefer mammals.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

 

Don't worry about your starter.  SARS-Cov-2 infects vertebrate cells, not yeast or bacteria.

HOWEVER, if you are indeed infected with SARS-Cov-2, you are shedding virus particles which will land on and hitch a ride on flour you use in your kitchen.  That flour dust will drift and if anyone's within breathing distance, they will inhale SARS-Cov-2. 

You should not be doing any baking while you are SARS-Cov-2 positive.

Take care and good luck.

Tom

Thanks for the answers and kind thoughts!

 

I am in total isolation and not baking even though my lame is calling my name.

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hanseata on 30 Mar 2020 at 12:36

Even if you cough into your starter, the virus will not survive and multiply in it. And if you bake bread, the Covid-19 virus would die off, even if you handled the dough with hands that are contaminated with it. 
Commonsense hygiene while cooking or baking is totally sufficient, and I assume you are not preparing meals for other people right now, anyway. There’s really no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy baking bread during this time.

Get better soon!

Karin (MD)