Any virologists about?

[BigGlasses]

So Scottish children have been back at school 2.5 weeks and there is a huge amount of colds and viruses doing the rounds. DS1 had 8 people off in his class of 32 today. DS2 has a cough (not a bad continuous one). I have a razor blade sore throat. My colleage has been isolating most of last week until a covid test for her DH came through, as he had a bad cough - neg it turned out). Where have all these cold viruses been hiding?!?!

I thought that back in March, when we all locked down, those with colds would pass it around their family, get over it, and that family would get immunity from it and then as they weren't seeing anyone and there was no fresh hosts, the virus would just die? Noone I know caught any new colds over lockdown. So how come everyone is getting a cold now? I don't understand, where have these cold viruses been hiding? Who has been playing host to them for them to explode in 2 weeks? DH says that colds can just 'hibernate' on surfaces. But that can't be right can it? Coronavirus apparently dies on a surface after about 72 hours.

Anyone (preferably a virologist) got an explanation?

There's plenty of amateur Virologists on here! Hopefully a real one will be along and be able to answer

yes, I've heard lots of amateur theories. But there must be place the cold viruses have been hiding, waiting to unleash their snot!

We had 2 colds in lockdown, absolutely no idea where they came from. Mum had a cold last week, she’s not left the house since March. Here must have been from Food deliveries

Kids in nursery and keyworker children. My DD got I’ll the first two weeks she was back at nursery.

I think it’s just one of those things. I’ve been near absolutely no one since March except dc and dh. Dh hasn’t been ill, nor have dc. I’ve had a stomach bug and a cold (but no COVID symptoms, no cough, temp, sore throat, loss of taste/smell, just an ordinary cold). I’ve literally had no contact with anyone who had an obvious illness. All wfh. Where a mask absolutely everywhere, hand sanitizer, etc. Who knows where it’s come from?! My dc aren’t back to school til next week and not are any schools near us.

Such a good question! Hope the virologists come out and answer it OP.

And fwiw, I’m not a virologist but I do work in infectious diseases. It would take the absolute wiping out of human and animal life on earth to get rid of viruses. They’re always about in someone. Lots of people still carrying on mostly as normal over lockdown who would have gotten viral infections. They explode when more people come in contact with others again, hence the argument for social distancing and concerns about a second wave.

If it's the sort of 'common cold' respiratory infection caused by OC43, then it can have an animal reservoir (cattle)

Most common colds don't have animal reservoirs.

I'm not sure if it's been established if SARS-COV2 has one