IS THIS THING AIRBORNE??

[R2221]

We’ve been going on long country side walks. A few other families/couples were there and they all were mindful of keeping distance. At no point were we within 10ft distance of others. Now I read that Coronavirus could be airborne. Wth !!

Can anyone pls tell me what you know about it? I’ve been to the supermarkets nearly every day for the last 7-10 days to get bits of my weekly shopping. I could never get everything at one place in one go. Should I prepare for getting CV then - like prepare batch meals and freeze, things like that. We’ve been isolating and massively social distancing for the last 2 weeks. Is that all futile ??

Ok, I get that you want to show you're researching. I get it.

I really want us all to be ok.

I just think it is so crucial not to pretend that we're going to be ok because we all think positive and hope for the best. We cannot beat this by saying 'be kind' and crossing our fingers.

I guess you're scared and I'm scared.

The main thing you need to change is believing this virus isn't spread on packaging. It demonstrably is. If you possibly can, when you buy food in plastic wrap and it's a storecupboard item, leave it in the car for three days. If you are buying for vulnerable people, remove external packaging, wash your hands, and give it to them. This virus lives for a long time on plastic, and this would minimise exposure.

In the same vein, think about all the things you touch that a vulnerable person might touch.

I'm quite sure I'm being stupid but if it's airborne does that mean it could come into your home via an open window? If a neighbour in their garden or someone walking past coughs or sneezes? We can smell our downstairs neighbours cigarettes whem they're in their garden. I hope it's not the same. Not sure we could cope being cooped up inside with the windows shut.

If you go out the chances of you avoiding this virus are slim.

I sympathise op as I have had to go to a few supermarkets just to get together one weeks shopping but no I'm not expecting to get it as I'v always been cautious with hand hygiene and wary of outer packaging. Main way it's spread is in droplets produced by coughing so aside from someone coughing in close proximity (less than 2m) to you the main hazards are the shopping trolley and card reader. As long as you're washing your hands or using sanitizer after leaving the shop you can keep yourself quite safe. It made me cringe the other day seeing someone pushing the trolley whilst eating something with her hands, I wouldn't do that in normal circumstances.

Trying to understand this in simple terms.

Is a virus classed as airborne if it stays suspended in the for a certain amount of time?

Someone sneezes or coughs. The droplets contain the tiny tiny microscopic virus. The droplets fall fairly quickly onto surfaces and the virus can survive on these surfaces fo hours, in some cases days.

But some of the virus can remain suspended in the air. Is this for a matter of minutes? Is it above a certain time scale that makes a virus technically 'airborne'?

I've thought of that cinema scene in Outbreak too.

It makes me cringe to see pictures of people packed into parks & supermarkets & eating chips all crowded together outside chip shops today.

A lot of people just aren't keeping themselves safe and isolated.

Boris Johnson hasn't gone far enough to keep people safe.

The WHO says the micro-droplets can stay in the air for up to 3 hours, Flax - and you can get it from just talking moderately closely with an infected person, because they also exhale the micro-droplets.

The govt's "wash your hands" campaign is very important - because it's a very common way for the virus to be spread - but it has somewhat taken away from the fact that it can be spread through the air too. Seems people may be thinking "as long as I wash hands when I get home I'll be ok".

No it is passed on by touch and bodily fluids as far as I am aware.

HOW CAN THERE BE SO MUCH BLOODY IGNORANCE STILL ABOUT THIS VIRUS? OF COURSE IT'S AIRBOURNE, THAT'S WHY WE ARE BEING TOLD TO DISTANCE OURSELVES AND YES I AM SHOUTING

Of course it's airborne.

There has even been discussion that it can linger in the air for 3-hours after a cough. How accurate that is, who knows.

All what SarahAndQuack said

Now please do not get upset with me but The fact that we are this far down the road and we are not clear on if its airborne is shocking.

I went to the supermarket on Tuesday wearing my P3 face mask with filters precisely for this reason. I challenged a man who ridiculed me. He told me CV is only transmitted by touch

Actually it could be a good idea to by one if you are self isolating with family to minimise infecting others in your household.

sarahandquack if you really want people to be informed I think it would be helpful to change your tone or stop posting .

your constant interruptions about it's past the time to be kind just stop the flow of information

WE GET IT ,you think it's past the time to be kind and in your view the best way to spread information is by hectoring .

I just saw another post about should we lockdown

Many said yes

But some said no. Because we all know how to self isolate.

And here there is one saying. We're self isolating. Massive social distancing. Still going to food shop everyday!!

Smh.

Lol, every day? Ffs xD
Once per week should be enough.
I'm gonna chance today. If the shops look too busy, I wont even go in, I'll come straight back home and make do.

I have struggled with agoraphobia for a number of years... (heinous work place bullying and harassment which started in 2013) I have had one visit from family 2 weeks ago) food drop off, two days later have struggled with chest pains, sore throat, headaches. At first thought it was my anxiety, with the chest pains, but it’s nothing like I’ve experienced ever... family only there 30 seconds 5 feet away...

I’ve had zero contact with anyone else weeks earlier or since.. it’s def airborne.

Luckily having mild symptoms but they are still painful. I have searched thru my house, found paracetamol in various bedside cabinets... they have helped... I had a heart attack last year, I’m in the vulnerable category with heart disease and HBP...
I am now home for the next 12 weeks ...
This was my norm before not sure how I feel as now it seems to be every ones norm...

this article looks at various research on the airborne question

The way to stay ‘safe’ (and I use inverted commas as, for most young families, this will be a flu like non serious illness) and protect others, you need to be sensible about social distancing and being careful of much touched surfaces (checkouts at supermarkets, petrol pumps etc).

Daily shopping is crazy. Go once a week to a supermarket which is limiting intake and go early and queue (2m apart) so they have supplies. Use ‘out of date’ food and recook leftovers. We may also learn to be less wasteful through this.

I would also avoid lifts and small mini supermarkets with narrow aisles and people pressured to be close together.

Of course, in some areas this will be easier than others.

It clearly is not airborne in a meaningful way, otherwise the Chinese right lockdown would not have worked as quickly or as well.

@Barbararara thank you very much for sharing that article

Date:
March 20, 2020
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200320192755.htm

Source:
University of California - Los Angeles
Summary:
The virus that causes COVID-19 remains for several hours to days on surfaces and in aerosols, a new scientific study has found. The study suggests that people may acquire the coronavirus through the air and after touching contaminated objects.

So yes, it's best to assume the virus is airborne and infectious while airborne.

The Statnews conclusion depends for its accuracy on accurate and widespread testing. This is not happening anywhere.