Are we all living this way or have I gone mad?!

[stardrops007]

Okay, so I'm not sure if I've just lost touch with normality here or if actually I'm living the "new normal"

Today was the first time in months that I met indoors with a friend (I know )

It was in the centre so I had to pay for parking, I found myself using a wipe to touch the parking meter.
Before entering the restaurant I sanitised my hands, once in the restaurant I sanitised my hands as I'd touched the chair before sitting down and became aware of possible contamination!

We then ordered a drink and I found myself sanitising again as I'd touched the glass.

We were there for two hours and I just couldn't stop sanitising.

I've come home and taken off all my clothes to wash them straight away.

My friend only sanitised before eating, but I noticed she'd touched the chair and other surfaces a lot!!!

Am I being OTT? Or is my friend quite relaxed?

@Jigglypuffly

Did you friend pick up on it or say anything?*

No she didn't.

@stardrops007 That sounds fine! I think you did the right thing in not touching the parking metre as that will have been touched by so many people. Some of the sanitising at the restaurant probably wasn't necessary but I can completely understand why you were in a heightened state of awareness after not going out for a while. I am sure that as you go out more you will find that you are more relaxed and sanitise less. I washed all my shopping for while then stopped washing it and all is ok - so far!

Do people REALLY think they're going to catch it from a menu? Really??

I can almost see the logic from door handles or railings, touched repeatedly, dozens of times in 5 minutes by loads of people. Still think it's incredibly unlikely.

But with things like a menu, or a table one person has sat at, the risks are even less.

I've been quite (over) cautious about going out, shopping etc. since lockdown started but when I finally managed to go to a meal with family and visit/meet others I was actually surprised by how 'normal' I felt. There was plenty of room to distance and I only washed my hands in the loo. However, I did find myself worrying a bit later that day that I'd been careless.

@SockYarn

Do people REALLY think they're going to catch it from a menu? Really??

All it takes is for one person who is positive, to touch that menu and then the chain starts...

I took my own knife and fork!

Between this and the clothes washing, I’d be concerned that you’re taking this a bit far. Smearing the glass in sanitiser won’t have done much either. Do you feel very anxious? Would you feel very anxious if you couldn’t do all of this? If you ran out of hand sanitiser?

I’m generally of the opinion that you should do what makes you feel better if it’s not hurting anyone else but I’d be worried firstly this is turning into a coping mechanism that could escalate, and secondly that you’re doing your immune system no favours.

I always have washed my hands well, mainly as I had Noro once and anything to avoid it again
However I use sanitiser but not frequently, it dries my hands out and soap/wster is the best, I do always carry soap strips in case no soap is available
Otherwise I'll sanitise the gym machines after use, but wouldn't bother with tables/chairs in restaurants and def not glasses before drinking

We went out for lunch yesterday - I used sanitiser when I arrived because we had to, went to the loo before the food came, so washed my hands then, and washed my hands after eating because I was picking at chips in my hands. I stayed in my clothes until I put my pyjamas on.

Gently, OP, no, I don't think people are living like that.

I haven’t eaten out yet, so you are doing better than me!

Also, was the menu not paper, and disposable? I thought they were all supposed to be. They still are everywhere that I’ve been.

I don't think that you are being too cautious. It's just that it's your first outing out, so you are probably more on edge. Once you get out and about a bit more you will probably sanitize a little less. I was the same when I first went to a cafe two weeks ago. Since the schools have been back, I am getting used to things more. Am still being cautious, but not as OTT.

@ShellsAndSunrises

Would you feel very anxious if you couldn’t do all of this? If you ran out of hand sanitiser?*

I wouldn't say very anxious, more very careless.

I would feel very paranoid if I ran out of sanitiser!

Totally OTT in my opinion and I hope the majority of us are not living like this.

@wizzbangfizz

Totally OTT in my opinion and I hope the majority of us are not living like this.

I think people are. Well most of the people I speak to haven’t eaten out yet as they don’t think it’s safe.

[quote stardrops007]@myrtilles

I think you have overlooked the greatest risk (re covid) which would have been were you within two metres of anyone else in the restaurant or in a position to be breathed over directly by your friend.

We sat at different tables but I think we were probably 2m apart. [/quote]
How can you go for lunch with a friend and sit at different tables?

I only sanitise with the stuff that shops are providing when I enter. I don't own sanitiser and never will.

@SockYarn

How can you go for lunch with a friend and sit at different tables?

See PP.

No OP I don't do any of this. I do carry hand gel but only use if hand washing isn't available and I would not use it so often in an eating out scenario like you describe.

I'd have a chat with your GP, if you can.

One thing though, you keep mentioning menus and people touching them? Places should all be using paper menus at the moment which get disposed of once used once. Where did you go?

No I’m not living like this. Just because your friend didn’t do it as you did OP. Doesn’t mean you won’t catch Covid and she will.

I’d rather stay at home than be that consumed.

@DobbyTheHouseElk well I guess I'm
In a minority, I've flown, used the train, been back in the office when allowed, stayed in hotels here and abroad and eaten out multiple times. I wash my hands often and wear a mask as required and don't hug/touch.

I’m not living like that at all. I’m probably not even washing my hands anymore that I was before pandemic, life is as normal for me.

Scientific advice has changed over the months as more research is done. All that stuff about how long the virus could live for on various surfaces was fine, but real world data show that there are no known cases of coronavirus transmission except through person to person contact (except in the initial stages when it first emerged in humans). I am being more scrupulous than usual with hand washing, though not to the extent that you've described, but far more important is to stay 2 metres away from anyone else and avoid being indoors with other people as much as possible. Stay away from other people, keep a good general standard of hygiene. That's it.

This must be a joke thread I’ve just read your updates. If it’s not you need to get help for health anxiety.

I left home this morning, came into work, touched the doors, kitchen, coffee machine, my desk etc. Went to shop at lunch and bought lunch (masked) washed hands before eating lunch.

Wash hands after the loo each time.

No sanitiser used and I work in the healthcare sector and have been working in an office throughout. I think I'm lucky in that a) I've been out and about all the time during lockdown so didn't 'do' lockdown Monday-Friday and b) have a good understanding of Covid 19 and PPE through my job.

Last night I went out to dinner and used sanitiser upon arrival and leaving. That's all.

We work with Covid positive people and use adequate PPE as necessary.

To me your behaviour is seriously OTT.

@Juanmorebeer

Places should all be using paper menus at the moment which get disposed of once used once. Where did you go?

It was a local place. It was all very good though.

They made us sanitise on arrival. Staff wore masks and visors.