Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Chatting on the Plot => Topic started by: mrs bouquet on March 07, 2020, 11:36

Title: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: mrs bouquet on March 07, 2020, 11:36
I have tried to make sense of all the news, but I am not sure.      Does the virus live on my gloves ?   Does it live on library books,   and anything else unmentioned but maybe overlooked.     
I am glad I have a couple of aspects of OCD,  ie:    I am always washing my hands even when I don't go out, and I use a fair bit of bleach.    I have always been bought up with the saying drummed into me "coughs and sneezes spread diseases"      Thanks for any advice.    Mrs Bouquet
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: Goosegirl on March 07, 2020, 12:22
MB, do not worry because all I know about viruses is that most only live a couple of days after they leave whatever host they lived in.
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: John on March 07, 2020, 12:58
According to the WHO the virus can live on surfaces like door handles for a few hours. Sunlight is a great steriliser, btw. So outside handles in the sun are safer than indoors.
Your skin is designed to resist penetration but the danger is that you have the virus on your hands and then touch your mouth, nose or worst rub an eye. Thorough hand washing with ordinary soap and water will kill the virus.
A lot of youngsters didn't get the handwashing lesson in primary school - it's important to do it properly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PmVJQUCm4E (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PmVJQUCm4E) WHO official "How to wash your hands"
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: wighty on March 07, 2020, 20:09
I'm just so glad I left community care as a manager when I did.  Met an ex- colleague today in the Co-op and the guidelines they have been issued with are apparently really ambiguous.  My replacements replacement has spent two days trying to interpret them.     
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: mrs bouquet on March 07, 2020, 21:10
Because I have had my tear ducts permanently cauterised shut, my eyes stream down my face, so I am always wiping them.    But, if they are now closed off, the virus won't e able to get in them - will it !
Anyway, thanks for all your answers.    I have decided just to get on with it, whatever.  Having said that, I did wear my gloves into Town today, but had to take them off when I bought something   :lol: :lol:.   Mrs B
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: John on March 08, 2020, 00:30
I think the best thing to do is follow government advice but if there are cases in your area, avoid going out to where other people are as much as possible. On the positive side, the Chinese have it under control and the UK strategy is working. 200 cases is a very small number in a country of 60 million. Of course that will go up but it's the rate of increase to keep an eye on.
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: Growster... on March 08, 2020, 06:32
If the 'authorities' applied the same reporting 'science' to flu, we'd never ever get out of the house at all, and have to eat grass!

We are however, being extra vigilant, such that I'm cancelling a much-looking-forward-too lunch in a fortnight, with some old chums...:0(

The upside is that I'll have twenty quid to buy Mrs Growster a new hat, so it's not all bad, even though she doesn't want one!
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: rowlandwells on March 08, 2020, 08:13
that's a good un Growster a new hat yes I must remember that one  :D hopefully he says we mite and I say we mite see some sun today  when I got up this morning it was actually not raining and the sun was shinning so I hope to I can get some  vitamin D today if the sun stays out that's where you get your vitamin  :D from is it not

we are due to open our garden up for charity in a couple of weeks time along with some others but me thinks that could be put on hold

we went to town the other day on the bus that's usually half empty but that day it was packed we where reluctant to go but because of the present situation but we had some banking business to attend to and since the closed the bank here we have to go into town

 as we was walking to the bank a man came out of an empty  shop doorway and spitted on the path my wife went mad called him all the so and so's under the sun what's the point of tying to contain this virus when you've got people doing that I called him a dirty B------- but he didn't take a blind bit of notice
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: WeavingGryphon on March 08, 2020, 11:12
The upside is that I'll have twenty quid to buy Mrs Growster a new hat, so it's not all bad, even though she doesn't want one!

Does she like hats?
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: mrs bouquet on March 08, 2020, 22:45
Another thought crossed my mind today.    Yesterday at the bus stop a man was puffing away and belching out smoke from these new type of vape ciggies.         She asked him to move away from the crowded queue.  To which he replied.   Well its not a cigarette, its not going to harm you.     She said,   Excuse me,  that has been in your mouth and down into your lungs.   Do us all a favour and move away.  Several others started to agree with her.       He moved !!      Surely there must be some danger there  ( don't mean a fight breaking out  :ohmy:)      Mrs Bouqiet
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: John on March 09, 2020, 09:28
Best evidence is that vaping is 95% better than smoking cigarettes (and half as satisfying :( ) The secondary 'smoke' risk is negligible - probably much less than the traffic passing on the bus queue on the road.
However it is more visible and some flavours are more noticeable smells.
Does go to show how far droplets containing the virus will spread in the air - I suppose the complainer was using breath to speak with that hadn't been in her lungs? :)
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: WeavingGryphon on March 09, 2020, 09:30
Has anyone noticed anything changing in school numbers?

The local nursery is about deserted, when I was signing in youngest there was maybe 20 kids out of over 60. We were late to get in and there was only one other child in his sign in group. This past week there has been fewer children being signed in and the school playground was emptier, fewer adults and children. Including younger ones playing on the playground furniture.

There has also been near fights over the soap and hand wash in the supermarket shops.
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: Aidy on March 09, 2020, 18:31
We have noticed a slight drop in appointments, I was also chatting with a dentist on Friday and he said they had noted a slight drop too.
The funny thing is we have to work to higher standards of hygiene to what Covid requires and yet people seem to panic, need to stop watching the news and reading the papers I think.
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: Plot 1 Problems on March 09, 2020, 18:35
We have noticed a slight drop in appointments, I was also chatting with a dentist on Friday and he said they had noted a slight drop too.
The funny thing is we have to work to higher standards of hygiene to what Covid requires and yet people seem to panic, need to stop watching the news and reading the papers I think.

Or reading the utter tripe on social media...
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: John on March 09, 2020, 19:04
I don't feel at risk from the dentist etc. but sitting in the waiting room, elbow to elbow... And the doctor's doesn't feel too safe either for the same reason. However, we seem OK in N Wales at the moment :)

Maybe the BBC should re-run Survivors now as a training course  :ohmy:

The Walking Dead is, perhaps, a little extreme though. The authorities my take a dim view of beheading people for coughing and looking poorly!

Anyway, time to settle down and read a really scary book about a plague - The Death of Grass by John Christopher
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: Growster... on March 09, 2020, 20:45
"need to stop watching the news and reading the papers I think."

Spot on Aidy!
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: johnjsdb on March 09, 2020, 22:43
Is it to cold to self-isolate in the poly tunnel?
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: New shoot on March 10, 2020, 11:06
The Walking Dead is, perhaps, a little extreme though. The authorities my take a dim view of beheading people for coughing and looking poorly!

OH has just started watching this from the first series.  Who knows why so long after the event, as it were.  Perhaps he is planning ahead, so he can defend me from the infected  :unsure:  :nowink:  :lol:

Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: mumofstig on March 10, 2020, 11:18
OH has just started watching this from the first series.  Who knows why so long after the event, as it were.  Perhaps he is planning ahead, so he can defend me from the infected  :unsure:  :nowink:  :lol:
Or plan how he could get away with chopping off your head, if you start coughing  :lol: :lol: Axe or chainsaw accident?  ::) :ohmy:
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: John on March 10, 2020, 22:56
By series 7 they're really nonchalant about the zombies, hardly missing a beat in their chat as they kill them. Yes, I know they're already dead but .. oh never mind :)
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: Plot 1 Problems on March 11, 2020, 00:20
By series 7 they're really nonchalant about the zombies, hardly missing a beat in their chat as they kill them. Yes, I know they're already dead but .. oh never mind :)

As with all these things, we realise the real monsters are people.
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: mrs bouquet on March 11, 2020, 10:54
Yesterday at the local Tesco, (where I know the boys and girls).  One said to me, you're not stock piling those hot cross buns are you, I know you eat them everyday.     But they did have a list of what was limited to two/person.
Into the Post Office, the lady behind the counter was wearing blue plastic gloves.    Who can blame her.!  Mrs Bouquet
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: John on March 11, 2020, 19:38
I'm keeping a very close eye on the news about this and really feel that those of us at high risk if we catch it should consider self isolation the moment there are cases in the local area. If I was 20 years younger, I'd be far more relaxed about the prospect of catching it and the evidence would suggest that the safest group are young children so closing the schools may be a counter-productive move.
Still, the government has been following the best scientific advice and people like the Chief Medical Officer are not dummies!
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: RubyRed on March 12, 2020, 09:54
  Closing schools isn't necessarily to protect the kids. They can still spread it. They are the safest group but they aren't very good hygienically. :wacko:
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: John on March 12, 2020, 12:15
  Closing schools isn't necessarily to protect the kids. They can still spread it. They are the safest group but they aren't very good hygienically. :wacko:
That's true but children off school means parents off work to look after them - if those parents are vital - nurses, doctors, police etc...
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: WeavingGryphon on March 12, 2020, 14:18
I'm keeping a very close eye on the news about this and really feel that those of us at high risk if we catch it should consider self isolation the moment there are cases in the local area. If I was 20 years younger, I'd be far more relaxed about the prospect of catching it and the evidence would suggest that the safest group are young children so closing the schools may be a counter-productive move.
Still, the government has been following the best scientific advice and people like the Chief Medical Officer are not dummies!

There was a man 2/3 weeks ago before the first community caught case who bought in dried goods and hydroponics. He had respiratory problems and was locking himself in the house and growing veg indoors to keep himself going.
Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: rowlandwells on March 12, 2020, 16:52
we went to do our monthly shop today and it as normal quite busy plenty of groceries including toilet rolls hand wash the only restrictions where on paracetamol limited to two packs and I only seen one person wearing a face mask

I think good old Donald has acted on the side of caution to try and limit the spread of this virus to the US and I think this country  needs to act and do whatever it takes to try and contain or hopefully stop the spread of this virus to the most vulnerable

I also think we need more information from  the W.H.O what actually caused this virus and what's needed to stop this sort of think happening again maybe people from where this started like China need to change  there eating habits and that's putting it lightly I just hope for all that we can find a cure very soon

Title: Re: Coronavirus questions please
Post by: John on March 12, 2020, 19:02
Fact is they don't know for sure if it did come from another species - it could be a mutant that's naturally happened from a harmless corona virus. The government can't stop it unless they start taking actions like rounding up families to the camp and isolating towns. Even then, one person on the rush hour tube could infect dozens of people who in turn infect dozens more.
Latest statement from the PM admits all they can do is delay and slow it down - this will save lives but I'm afraid many are going to die. If you're a fit 30 year old, expect a bad cold - if you're retired with a few health problems on top, you may well need a high care hospital bed. The benefit of delay is there are others who need those beds, especially in winter - if they can hold off the peak and spread it out then many more will survive than otherwise.
There's a very informative article on that here:
https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca
Bit heavy going but worth persevering.