That this has reduced the spread of other viruses

[Muddytoes1]

I was just thinking, huge restrictions on world travel, fewer people meeting in large groups, people being much more careful about washing hands, hand gel flying off the shelves, people wearing masks etc. I wonder what effect this will have on the spread of other diseases such as seasonal flu and maybe others.

Should say diseases other than covid19

As a side issue the reduction of pollution from industry and transport has certainly helped the environment.

@Comenext yes I had read that, I wonder if this then too will reduce illnesses of other types.

Pure anecdata, but round here it seems to have been a particularly bad season for bugs/viruses. I know you get them now and again.

If nothing else, I hope it makes people more aware of how things spread and keep up the hygiene practices.

@ClashCityRocker actually fair one. Our house has been sick constantly this winter!

It's been an exceptionally wet and not too cold winter in the UK.
Those are optimum conditions for the spread of colds and flu.
It's not clear whether Coronavirus is similar.

No. It has been a terrible winter for bugs, my kids have been ill constantly. DD has currently got a vomitting bug & tonsilitis at the same time, god knows where she has picked up either :(

A more sinister effect of people absent mindedly (and rather stupidly) slathering on huge amounts of anti bacterial gel is that this will no doubt accelerate anti-microbial resistance, not to mention kill a lot of the defensive species which reside on our skin.

That’s if people genuinely keep up good hygiene. The other day, whilst in a supermarket, I saw a man sneeze a great big snotty sneeze, straight into his cupped hands and then continue pushing his trolley (without wiping his hands or putting hand gel on) without a care in the world. You often see people come out of public toilets without washing their hands. And the other month, whilst walking my dog I stopped to talk to a another walker I often speak with, she told me she felt really grotty with some kind of bug then proceeded to cough in my face! People as a whole are dirty buggers and I don’t think a huge amount of people will adhere to these kinds of good hygiene practices.