READERS of newspapers can be assured that picking up their favourite paper puts them at no real risk of contracting coronavirus, the Society of Editors has said.

In a news bulletin, the society said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had stated that the likelihood of an infected person contaminating commercial goods was low, and therefore the risk of contracting Covid-19 through receipt of a newspaper was infinitely small.

The society also referred to an interview on BBC Radio Scotland with Professor George Lomonossoff, a virologist, who said that newspapers were quite “sterile” due to the way they were printed and the process they had been through to be produced.

In other countries with high levels of coronavirus outbreaks, newspapers remain a part of daily life, the society said.

Many people are helping the vulnerable and elderly to remain safe by being isolated, bringing them food and drink.

If you can, bring them a copy of The Argus too. So they feel less isolated by keeping informed onall the updates and latest news and sport. They can even arrange to have the newspaper delivered with no delivery fee by calling 0800 731 4900.

More details are available in tomorrow’s newspaper.