Customers of the popular online retailer Wish may want to think twice before they click “purchase.” A recent viral Facebook post scrutinized by Truthorfiction.com claims that the warehouse from which Wish ships its products is located in Wuhan, China–ground zero for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, Covid-19.

Wish is an e-commerce platform launched in 2011 that is based in China. They are known for connecting buyers worldwide directly to Chinese merchants.

The online company sells a wide variety of inexpensive merchandise. Shoppers can find clothes, luxury brand knockoffs, makeup, and electronics. Its customers are drawn to the site by steep discounts, which can sometimes be up to 90 percent off of retail prices. At the same time, the items may be a lower-quality version of the name brands. In addition, shipping times can be longer since the items are shipped internationally.

But it appears Wish customers are willing to sacrifice quality and fast shipping in exchange for low prices. According to the iPhone App Store, Wish has over 300 million customers.

The post circulating on Facebook warns consumers to temporarily avoid the retailer Wish due to the potential for Covid-19 to survive on inanimate objects for up to nine days. Although Wish has a shipping period of much longer than nine days, customers have begun to wonder if it’s worth the risk.

Sergio Reyes, a freshman at Calumet College of St. Joseph (CCSJ), admits he “wouldn’t like to order things [from Wish] now, due to the cases already emerging from the United States,” although he has previously ordered products from Wish.

The coronavirus has become a global concern as new cases continue to emerge in countries outside of China.

Wish’s merchandise warehouse is located in Wuhan, China, which is thought to be the epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak.

According to China tech reporter, Jane Li, Wuhan still remains on lockdown due to the coronavirus, which has infected over 90,000 individuals and killed more than 3000 worldwide.

Facebook users have questioned whether it is possible for consumers to contract the virus from Wish’s packaging. The Journal of Hospital Infection has found that Covid-19 can live on surfaces for up to nine days, but can be killed using basic household disinfectants.’

Wish responded to the allegations stating, “There is currently no evidence to show that the virus can be transmitted via packages from China.”

So although the new information about this virus is troubling, Todd Ellerin, MD, for the Harvard Medical Blog, ensures readers that “unless you’ve been in close contact with someone who has the coronavirus — which right now, typically means a traveler from Wuhan, China who actually has the virus — you’re likely to be safe.”

Ellerin advises readers to keep your hands washed, your sneezes covered, and your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth.

These simple techniques are not enough to provide comfort everyone.

CCSJ student Kristen Maldonado admits, “It’s a scary thing to think about.” She plans to wait to order from Wish until the coronavirus outbreak has been contained.