To think some people need to get a grip!

[CurrentBun1981]

There are clearly those who are being far too nonchalant about the current situation, but tbh I'm probably encountering more of the slightly hysterical/OTT types right now.

For example, my friend has been frantically discussing on FB how best to sterilise her shopping and has implemented some ridiculously elaborate system of debagging shopping in the garage, putting the bags in the outside bin, wiping everything down with sanitising wipes, then walking back to put these in the bin too, before then leaving everything in quarantine for a couple days in the garage fridge. She's now worried about whether she's already brought the virus into the house on her shoes or her dog as she hadn't thought of that till she read it, and is discussing this on FB right now, trying to make another process involving outdoor footwear, indoor footwear, and 'transitional' footwear (presumably slippers from garage into house or something).

Her view is that she wants to go 110% in ensuring she doesn't catch it, which is fine. However, she doesn't do anything like this in any other areas of her life, which I suspect is the same thing for many others acting similarly.

For example, I've never seen her check the tyre pressure on her car and am 100% certain she doesn't do this weekly as is recommended. I'm pretty certain she doesn't know the legal tread depth and how to check it as she often needs new tyres at MOT stage (presumably illegally low on tread at this point).

What is it about this recent crisis that's invoking fear in the types of people who rarely use their car mirrors except to check their make up?

I'll concede that theoretically you could probably bring the virus into your house on your feet if you stepped in somebody's spit etc, but the likelihood has got to be tiny, and this is all ultimately to avoid catching a disease which will give the majority of victims 'mild' symptoms and is statistically extremely unlikely to kill her in the unlikely chance she catches it - I'm convinced the government might just let us crack on and catch it if it wasn't for the unmanageable strain on the NHS.

Yes theoretically you could bring it in on your feet, which is why people in Wuhan removed all outer clothing before re-entering their homes

I wash my hair daily

But I’m curious to know, are the people disinfecting shopping also washing their hair in the shower as soon as they get in?

Just because you're not bleaching the soles of your shoes every time you leave the house doesn't mean you're relaxed about it.

People perceive risk in different ways. I know people who would never cycle in a city but happily throw themselves down a snowy mountain on slippery bits of wood

Leave her alone. She's understandably worried and is doing what she can to protect herself. I'd much rather people be like her and do things to the best of their ability and help get a handle on this, than be condescending about people trying to be safe...

I bought some zoflora and mixed it in a spray and wipe all shopping and bags when I get in, even gave my shoes a quick squirt too, I’m lazy and can’t be arsed most of the time but if it stops all this shit and gets us out of lockdown and back with our families then I will do it.

Most humans are irrational. How many people who are frightened of flying (Pre-lockdown) wouldn't think twice of the statistically more dangerous drive to the airport because of familiarity, reporting of infrequent plane crashes and so on. Also, there is some interesting psychology around activities that are perceived as controlling or influencing risk (cleaning shopping to protect from COVID) to help people manage anxiety.

Her view is that she wants to go 110% in ensuring she doesn't catch it, which is fine.

Does she have someone very vulnerable living with her? Personally I would prefer to just catch a virus - even Covid 19 - rather than to go to those extreme lengths to prevent it and have my brain go into anxiety overdrive like that. But if I was in contact with someone very vulnerable, especially a beloved family member, I might feel differently.

Macncheeseballs - I read an article yesterday that was saying the lockdown couldn't be left in place too long, as people would become frightened to go out. I think what you say about how people perceive risk is correct, but I also think that a lot of people have become unable to carry out their own risk assessments, and the article may have some baring based on that

@PineappleDanish Matt Alwright had earlier spoken to Dr Lisa Ackerley, a specialist in environmental health. It was her advice that he was passing on.

YABU for saying 110%

Yes but it was still in a "how do you disinfect your shopping" way rather than "is there any point in disinfecting your shopping".

And "experts" are people just like the rest of us with their own anxieties and worries. They won't all agree on everything. I think washing everything which comes across the doorstep in bleach is total overkill. So do lots of experts. Other experts might have a different idea.

I never ever check the tyre pressure .

But the rest of it sounds ok as from what I can gather in the UK the covid situation is very bad, so it sounds fairly sensible behaviour to me. We’re certainly not bothering with that level of cleaning in Australia but I would if I was in the UK.

Everyone deals with risk - both perceived and real - in their own way.

I'm pragmatic and don't flap about things in life; it's not about being better than the next person, it's just nature (a childhood spent in care will numb the life out of you to the point that panic just doesn't happen). But for some people that pragmatic outlook isn't in their nature, they don't have the tools to deal with this level of threat or risk and judging them unkindly actually doesn't help them at all. Instead, isn't it better to offer solid, sensible advice that's based on what those in the know would suggest and just say "I'm here if you need to talk".

I never ever check the tyre pressure

Neither do I, I've got a little light that comes on for that!

Oh joy. Yet another tedious thread being nasty about someone choosing to do all they can to prevent getting a pandemic virus. FFS PLEASE JUST STOP IT & let people get on with their lives without taking the piss or being nasty. If you don't want to wash stuff that comes into your home then don't, but there's no need for ridiculing those of us who do.

Also it would give her some semblance of control over her situation with the virus. We all like to be able to control what happens in our lives and this is a bit of control in a situation we don’t have a lot of control over.

Like driving to see you in the snow is a choice she made to do against the perceived risks of doing so, even if she didn’t consciously consider it in that way. Still her choice, her decision.

Covid is restricting our lives and taking away our choices to do things or even stay healthy and this can be a way of trying to gain some control back.

The media.

Imagine if every singe day we had a news conference discussing how many people died in road accidents, then ALL DAY LONG we had panels discussing road accidents, pictures of people dying of road accidents, warnings on tv about road accidents, graphic photographs and videos of people in hospital with their limbs hanging off due to traffic accidents etc
Just goes to show how powerful media can be eh?

I don't get the shoe thing. I mean if there is some virus on my floor it isn't suddenly going to jump up and mug me. I think it is different if you have a little one who is crawling or playing on the floor.

Most countries have been put on lockdown, schools are closed, businesses are folding, people are dying, others survived with life-changing health issues...

In a country where we have regular news reports about people left to die, left to rot, or stuck in front of hospitals for hours for lack of facilities and staff...nothing to do with the pandemic, that's just our normal.

How would some people feel a bit of a panic? Puzzling.

Alexis - yes, exactly.

PP questioning why we discuss people doing these things - just as some are worrying about the virus, I’m concerned about mass hysteria and how it will lead to the erosion of rights. We’re allowed to discuss all these things.

I don't get the shoe thing.

just read the threads about posters hysterical about having a shoes-off home.. there is some consistency in there

Another interesting one is obese people suddenly being worried that being fat makes them more likely to die. As if dying from heart disease or cancer was not worth worrying about but covid is.

It's only 'interesting' if you're ignorant of the realities of being obese. There's a big difference between potentially dying of heart disease in 20 or 30 years time and catching a disease which means I have a high chance of not seeing next month. But neither a fear of having a heart attack in my 60s or fear of dying of coronavirus is a cure for my eating disorder. So I'll continue to be fat and scared and you can continue to be judgmental of things you don't understand.

Neither do I, I've got a little light that comes on for that! I've got that as well and the clock changes in March/October. Brilliant isn't it.

While I understand taking precautions to try and avoid the virus etc. I am myself currently caring for 2 elderly parents. Realistically this will go on for some time and most of us will be exposed to the virus at some point.

I think it's better to be realistic about that and to make peace with it rather than to drive yourself mad with OCD washing of everything.

This could well go on a year in different waves, it's not practical or possible for people even those who are vulnerable to stay inside the house for an whole year.