DH works in a supermarket. I'm vulnerable. He has been choosing not to wear the gloves provided.

[Btdp]

DH works in a supermarket, he has recently returned to work after taking 4 weeks unpaid leave.

He took the unpaid leave because I'm vulnerable, I battled sepsis late last year and spent two weeks in the HDU and needed two blood transfusions. My immune system was wiped out and my recovery has been very slow.

His boss wanted him back and I was worried about it, I was assured by DH that they're taking strict safety measures and PPE is available in the form of masks, gloves and a continuous supply of hand sanitizer.

DH and I were watching a program about coronavirus this evening and got to talking about PPE, he then let slip that he hasn't been wearing the gloves provided at work. I asked him why and he said it's "uncomfortable" to work in gloves. He's touching surfaces touched by 100's of people per day and we live in London, the epicentre of the disease in the UK.

I told him his selfish choice shows that he doesn't give a shit about the people in this house (2 year old, 1 year old and myself) and he huffed "no it's doesn't"

I'm fucking livid

Thank you rose.

It has been helpful to hear these responses as to how the gloves aren't really that important. I won't bother continuing a discussion about him wearing them in light of that.

I panicked when he said he wasn't wearing them because he told me they were a necessity at work, and that provided a layer of reassurance.

Gloves in themselves are pretty meaningless. The most important thing is to keep washing your hands.

Gloves mean he is washing his hands less frequently. You just need him to wash his hands every chance he gets.

OP I don't know how vulnerable you are. But those who are very vulnerable to dying if they catch this are advised to physically distance themselves in the house from anyone who is working outside the house. That means as far as possible staying 2 metres away and sleeping separately.

As a nurse I'd wear gloves for a specific dirty or risky task, be aware which hand had been exposed and was 'dirty' and remove the gloves once that task is complete. Unless he is removing gloves and washing hands to serve each customer I can't see the point. For facing-up/restocking it would be pretty useless. I cringe seeing customers wearing gloves in the supeemarket, it achieves nothing.

Skin is a great barrier. Gloves are only as good as the training, which I imagine he doesn't have. Washing hands and not touching your face are much more effective.

This isn’t about whether globes work or don’t work. It’s about his willingness to do everything he can to protect you - which you feel like he is not in this circumstance. I would also be upset.

The only reason I like to wear gloves is because they stop me from touching my face. If I didn't wear them in the shops I'm pretty sure I would touch my face without thinking. They just make me more aware

This isn’t about whether globes work or don’t work. It’s about his willingness to do everything he can to protect you

If they don't work, wearing them is doing nothing to protect her. If he doesn't wash his hands, he's an arsehole.