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.

"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 grin"

I think it depends if you live in an area where people spit on the floor. They do where I live and I saw it last time I was in China as well. 'Naice' areas in the UK don't have it as much and you'd still have to be unlucky to stop exactly where the person has spat.

"this lockdown isn't to stop people catching the virus, it's to DELAY people catching the virus so the NHS can keep up. "

Yes, but at-risk people may be willing to take the measures to delay it until we get a vaccine or cure. No way am I staying home for 2 years, but I suppose if you think it's likely to kill you...

From the reaction of some they are happy to live in a bubble forever, or at least until a vaccine is produced, which could be next year, or longer.

The vulnerable, most at risk, don't actually have a choice but wait for a vaccine!

Just be nice to her. Are you her friend, or not? If you're that concerned about her tyre pressures then drop that into conversation rather than just use it as a smug way to demonstrate your superior take on personal perception of risk.

Personally, I wash all my cloth shopping bags when I've done a shop, which I'd never have done before, I lay everything out on the kitchen floor (which is really not very clean in itself ) and spray it all with my Milton spray which is antibacterial AND kills some viruses like H1N1, then after the recommended 5 mins to let the spray work, wipe it down and put away. Really not a huge issue and I'm not shopping very often so it's not a big deal. It helps me feel better though. Is that ok with you?

I also quarantine the post in the front porch, where it arrives, for 24 hours. Again, no biggy, and I think most people I know are doing this. I'd never have done this in Normal Times, and I'm not anticipating that this pandemic will turn me into a full-on OCD germaphobe when it's finally over.

Easiest and simplest method is just put everything in the oven on a gentle heat on entering the house.

If you want melted butter, wilted lettuce, stale bread and salmonella-riddled chicken then yes, that's a brilliant idea!

I am seriously concerned about how many children (and adults) are going to be left with severe OCD as a result of this.

I do not want my son to see me bleaching shopping etc. Just no.

My daughter is very anxious about lockdown and covid-19. I have to balance being sensible with her anxiety. The risk of us getting it is lower than the risk to her mental health at the moment.

"Guidance from preston city council that you should wash food from shops"

I always get my hygiene advice from Preston City Council.

"I don't get the shoe thing.

I think it depends if you live in an area where people spit on the floor. They do where I live and I saw it last time I was in China as well. 'Naice' areas in the UK don't have it as much and you'd still have to be unlucky to stop exactly where the person has spat.

I get that people doing that are disgusting but is it possible or even likely to get it from the soles of your shoes, I mean I can understand if you like to sniff or lick the soles of your shoes or sniff and lick the floor where they have been but otherwise why would a bit of virus on the sole of your shoe be an issue. I am genuinely interested, my husband is very vulnerable and I am being careful but I have never considered our shoes to be a danger.

Sounds like your friend is being sensible to me 🤷‍♀️ that is the advice that's been given after all. We're doing pretty much the same. You do what you want though if if doesn't bother you too much if you catch it.

OPs friend doesn't sound vulnerable though, not if she's out doing the shopping. Yes obviously those in the vulnerable groups will have to take the measures they see fit, but there is massive overreaction by lots of people not classed as vulnerable.

"why would a bit of virus on the sole of your shoe be an issue. I am genuinely interested, my husband is very vulnerable and I am being careful but I have never considered our shoes to be a danger."

Do you never sit on the floor? Genuinely asking, we're Asian so we sit on the floor all the time to eat or watch TV.

Wearing shoes in the house is like peeing in the sink to me. Sure, you can wash away the pee but just why would you?

@1forsorrow - My DH didn't get this either until I explained the following scenario. He goes on his walk, steps in spit from a passing infected jogger, wears shoes into the house, dog rolls on carpet where he has been standing, he strokes dog and puts his fingers on his face - Voila - he has caught it! He is taking his shoes off at the front door now!

It's just odd that the same friend (a pretty bad driver who drove 35 miles to see me during the snow the other year, against all gov recommendations) is getting so worked up over this.

I bet she wouldn't do that again if she could see what you've said about her! You don't sound like a very nice friend OP. Who cares what she's doing if it helps to make her feel more in control of the situation? You don't have to read any of what she's posting on social media so why not stop wasting time on there and invest some time in yourself instead, so you don't feel the need to bitch about others?

@UnaCorda

70c for 5 minutes only heats up the outside of things, where the virus is.

Spraying stuff is ineffective as it won't get every bit of the outside of things, unlike heat.

Easiest and simplest method is just put everything in the oven on a gentle heat on entering the house.

Especially the ice-cream. That stuff is a bugger for carrying infection.

It's anxiety provoking. If people washed hands after going out that would help, but there are posts like the following on my local neighbourhood group...asking us to use leaves or our feet when going out on gates etc.

Some of us are exceptionally fortunate under the circumstances, to be able to exercise for our allotted hour in nearby countryside.
I would like to make a plea to those that do. Please..... when passing through gates - particularly those with latches - be aware that the virus can linger for days on metal or plastic surfaces, and if you touch them, you are potentially one of the spreaders- or could even catch the disease! It is distressing to see so many people handling gates and latches during their walks. There are numerous means for avoiding this; using your feet where possible, a stick or two, subsequently disposed of, large leaves, etc etc. HELP STOP THE SPREAD.

@SociallyDistant Who decides what's an overreaction? Everyone has different standards. I've seen people say that washing your hands on entering the house or before touching a newborn is essentially OCD whereas for me that is just normal behaviour. If it's not harming anyone, why does it matter?

It makes sense to put a lot of effort into avoiding it now. The hospitals are overwhelmed plus not enough PPE or test kits. They still don't know if warmer weather could kill it off to an extent or if we can build immunity to it.

I, for one, will be avoiding it as long as possible.

It can put you off going out if you feel people are watching you to see if you use leaves to open gates etc

You are being unreasonable in that you're expecting someone to react reasonably and logically to something that is unprecedented and unchartered. Anxiety isn't logical. If this is what she needs to do to get through this and she isn't causing herself or others any harm in doing so then leave her be.

This is harming you how exactly? We all have our own coping mechanisms. Yours seems to be coming online to be a bitch about your ‘friend’.

@SchadenfreudePersonified

The tubs are yes. Paper better than plastic.

Some of the comments are like the ones about poor personal hygiene long before Covid. All those posters arguing they were fine to be dirty buggers by not washing their hands after using public toilets etc. or eating with their fingers without washing their hands. Let's hope Covid has improved general hygiene for all and that it continues for the long term.

Nothing comes into my house without being 'decontaminated' by being left in quarantine for at least 72 hours if the wrapping's plastic or 24 hours for paper. Then it all gets wiped over with hypochlorite solution.

One friend and her husband died 2 weeks ago and another is currently very ill and awaiting test results.

I'd rather be viewed as hysterical by those who feel it their place to judge me than be dead.

@kazzy

Are you not worried about ever increasing hygiene causing ever increasing autoimmune disease?