To think we might not catch colds any more

[Pannacottaformeplease]

Because of lockdown and social distancing, hand sanitising, masks etc, do you think it's possible that catching colds might be something of a rarity in future? I'm certainly hoping so.

I was wondering this same thing.
I guess there will be colds but like you say any sign of them people will surely go into self isolation??

We aren't going to be in lockdown forever and even if we were people still cross paths in the supermarket etc colds will still be a thing

Yes I'm hoping that the majority of colds that were still doing the rounds in March have died out now. I know it's not a serious illness but I hate colds - it seems to take weeks for me to get over one these days.

@flyonthewall01 but hopefully less of a thing..........

I think we’ll still get them, but people might be more aware of hygiene.

I definitely think we will see a big decrease in them (at least for a while).
It's been lovely not having the children bringing back sickness bugs and colds from nursery!! It's by far the longest we've ever been as a family of 5 with no cold/bug/virus..

I was wondering this, and if people will now be less tolerant of people who go into work with coughs and colds.

It's not a case of them dying out, its constant new strains developing, which is why there isnt a vaccine. So they will still be around especially as schools will be back in September as will most people who are currently on furlough.

@madisonavenue I imagine anyone who dares to go to work coughing and spluttering will get lots of evil looks which will send them scuttling back home.

Whilst I hope hand washing is maintained, never catching a cold is not a good thing. We will lose our immunity, such as it is, to so many things if we live a 'sterile' life. Then on the occasions we do catch something we will be more seriously ill.

It could be that it is only because we catch them fairly regularly that cold is a fairly minor illness most of the time. Each of the cold viruses could have started off as bad as or worse the CV19 and it is only through repeated infections that we are now mostly resistant except for a 'cold'.

Maybe, but masks result in bacteria going into your throat —or something else that I’ve not understood properly— so can cause sore throats

These are short term measures. We wont be social distancing forever. Maybe this winter there will be fewer cold hanging around because people will be social distancing to some extent but they wont die out.

I seem to have a really mild and short lived one every few weeks and I know that because every time, I think 'is this it?'

I'm hoping there will be less of them in future yes. I'm hoping people keep up the good handwashing and sneezing practices they've learnt.

@borntohula are you sure it's not hayfever

@SquirtleSquad

I definitely think we will see a big decrease in them (at least for a while). It's been lovely not having the children bringing back sickness bugs and colds from nursery!! It's by far the longest we've ever been as a family of 5 with no cold/bug/virus..

Same here! Absolutely no signs of illness in my 2 and 4 year old since February and it has been bliss!

@FinlandFlag actually, I'm not sure but I don't recall ever thinking I could have hayfever. When I think hayfever, I think of gunky eyes and constantly streaming nose but I suppose you can just have it mildly?

I seem to keep getting colds despite not going anywhere. Maybe its heyfever/allergies?

I fucking wish. I've had two nasty ones and a persistent sniffle during lockdown so far, and we've been isolating quite hard. It was the one silver lining I was hoping for!

We haven't had a single runny nose at the nursery since lockdown, even the chicken pox outbreak had a quick ending! The whole time we are cold free it makes me think we might also be covid free as everyone will have been following lockdown rules correctly.

It has made me wonder if we might get rid of some other nasties though.

As a hay fever sufferer of many years' standing, I would like to say that a hay fever attack is nothing like having a cold.

He careful what you wish for. Some very serious diseases are correlated with under exposure to common viruses and excessive hygiene.

I don't care about colds but I am hoping in a reduction in nits and worns!

I think the regular hand washing will definitely help.

I'm wondering the same about Norovirus. It will be interesting.