Not sure how I feel about this, talk me down..

[Gordonsgrin]

My DD, home from uni as a 4th year vet student is going to work i the local hospital as a porter. Obviously v proud that she is prepared to do this, and she is young and fit with no dependants, so that is good.

But we share a v small house, four of us in total with just one bathroom and not much space to spread out. My DH isn’t on the vulnerable list but takes heart pressure meds, and antidepressants. We are also looking after my 84 year FIL. The logistics are scary and I am scared

As long as she maintains strict hand washing she should be fine.

Thank you that’s the stuff I need to be reminded of, and as she is medically trained she is already well drilled.

It's lovely of your DD, but you're right to be concerned. My understanding (from only listening to various experts on the news) is that one person in a household getting it is highly likely to result in the whole household getting it.

I don't wish to alarm you. After all, she may not bring it home at all, and even if she does, chances are you'll all get through it okay. But I think it's worth taking extra cleaning measures such as, DD showering as soon as she gets home, keeping a reasonable distance from others (in case she contracts it without knowing), extra cleaning down sides in shared spaces etc.

Best of luck to you all

I've spent a good deal of last week trying to find out about this because we have children of key workers coming to our house.

The message seems to be "Keep washing your hands thoroughly; avoid touching your face; clean surfaces thoroughly."

The World Health Organisation has some good advice:

www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus

I've also found the BBC helpful:

www.bbc.com/news/av/health-51722269/coronavirus-how-do-i-protect-myself

Nervous all over again now. She said she is thinking through the ramifications. I have told her I can deal with it if she decides to take the job, after all, some one has to be prepared to move dead bodies and help the medical staff do their vital work.

She sounds sensible, I think she'll make the right choice for her and if she starts and doesn't feel safe, she can leave.

She needs to make sure they will provide her with adequate PPE as she will likely be taking a lot of bodies to the morgue. Sorry to be blunt but that's going to be a huge part of the job over the next few weeks.
It's an admirable thing to do but she must put her safety above everything else and not feel pressured into doing anything that she feels isn't safe. The concern is with the amount of viral load she will be exposed to in hospital.
Make sure she gets clarity on what the hospital are doing to protect their staff. My hospital are doing very little and putting lives in danger.

Firstly if she is moving bodies I understand that they will be ‘plastic wrapped’ as is normal with contagious illness to prevent further spread. Secondly she should shower and put all clothes in the wash as soon as she returns. Then finally I would say if you are all social distancing you are only likely to get this if she brings it home. This means even if you get it you will get a low viral load so will be more likely to get the milder illness.
For what it’s worth I would be very proud she wants to help.

Thanks all, I am proud and will accept her decision whatever she decides is best. I fully expect that she, and consequently us, will get it but we are taking isolating very seriously. Luckily we are rural so not too difficult but I will be one of those stockpiles I am afraid as shopping may become impossible for us. Would be ironic if our 84 year old has to drop food off for us!

All the best to you all