How to protect us from covid ward worker in the house?

[CertainGecko]

DP is a nurse and is due to move onto a covid ward next week. I'm pregnant and asthmatic, so obviously we're trying to minimise risk to me as well as the rest of the family. I can't move out, all family around here are health care workers for elderly people so likely carriers.

Our house is full, with grown up kids and a 5yo. One bathroom. We do have a room for the baby coming, which I don't need yet as will co-sleep. So I was thinking DP could sleep in there for now. We'll have to have disinfectant in the bathroom and after DP uses it she'll have to clean it down.

She already comes home after shift to the door nearest the washing machine, strips down in front of it, washes hands and goes straight up to shower. I was thinking then of also disinfecting everything she's touched on the way in and upstairs.

Does disinfectant work? If so, what do I need to look out for for an effective one?

Can anyone suggest anything else we can do to keep us safe? There's a significant risk to her, as some other colleagues on the ward have been seriously ill with it and there's been a number of patient deaths. Obviously there's not much more she can do to keep herself safe beyond the measures her employer provide, but she's keen to not infect the household where possible.

[Dimosaur]

I know it's a tough thing to think about, but are the hospital giving out accommodation for keyworkers?
It's a possibility for him to move out for a few weeks?

That's what our hospital is doing.

Otherwise, it's getting changed and showered at work, disinfect everything, I use Dettol on all surfaces, door handles etc. More regular washing of bedsheets and towels.

I too am a nurse and DH is moderate risk, that's what we've been doing, so far OK, but I am being kept on a low risk area because of my DH health.

[Coughisoff]

I have no practical solutions but it does sound really tough. I think you’re doing everything you can. Does she wear PPE at work? What is she catches it at work though and brings it home? Is there definitely not alternative accommodation?

[bossybloss]

There was a programme on the other night about isolating if you are in a house with others and I can’t remeber when or where it was on or what it was called.It was basically saying that the person who is infected ( or in your case a possible carrier) should use the bathroom last and wash everything downClothes , Towels,bedding etc should never be shared and should be put on a 60degree wash and the outside of washing machine washed down with soapy water once the items are in it.

[CertainGecko]

I'm not sure what the score is on alternative accommodation. Obviously we'd prefer not to but if it's for the best it might be necessary. Only if its free though, we definitely couldn't afford to pay rent.

Thanks for the extra tips on how to minimise spread. I think the two main ones we can't do is use the bathroom last - she's up at 5.30am for morning shower, we can't all get up before that, and we'll still need to use it throughout the day after that. And washing at 60 will only work for some stuff, it would ruin most of my clothes. We all do separate loads so that might minimise cross contamination. I hate sharing towels so that's not an issue and I wash those on 70.

She'll get full PPE on the covid ward apparently, though given the news reports I'm not sure how long it will last. They don't shower at work though. At the moment she's wearing uniform but I think that switches to the full suits when on the covid ward. So I suppose the uniform will only be slightly contaminated.

The worrying thing is that even with the PPE some of her colleagues have ended up in ICU anyway.