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How did we get a cold??

40 replies

RapidRainbow · 05/04/2020 09:32

We've been in lockdown for 3 weeks. I pulled my kids out of school a week before they closed as I could see what was going to happen.

Shopping has been delivered to door, brought in, disinfected, repackaged and surfaces cleaned after and hands washed etc.

This week there was a problem with delivery so we were asked to Click & Collect. I went, put shopping in car (onto towels which were washed after unloading) from the trolleys brought outside then unloaded at home and carried out the same disinfecting routine. Something was missing so DH and I went to collect it the same way (store expecting us). Again staff brought trolley, stood back and we unloaded. I then filled the car up with fuel and paid on card. At every step I/we -

  • Used dis wipes to press the button to call staff/pay at punp/hold pump and put straight into a bin bag/bin
  • used a high quality hand gel after each action (hand gel provides 2-4 hours protection after use)

After disinfecting we also dropped food off to in laws, we put it on their garden bench and then they collected, keeping about 4m distance at closest point and all outdoors. Again wipes used to open gate and handgel etc.

Friday night I get that nose/throat niggle of a cold brewing. DH was sneezing a lot the day before. How did we catch this?

I bleach and wipe around a lot. We open letters and parcels over the bin and wash hands straight away.

If we go to the outside bin, same routine, shoes removed in house and sometimes cleaned (even though it's just our driveway)

When we do go out, it's only into our back garden. We've not even bothered to go for walks, cycling etc. to keep risk even smaller.

If all of this has still resulted in us catching a cold, are we wasting our time?!

OP posts:
DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 05/04/2020 10:20

To me it seems theres an aweful lot of steps involved in your routine that are going to be exposing you to the virus more than if you just left them

E.g. towels in the boot, you have to touch the towels, bring them in to wash, the chanve that suring this you could touch your face etc. Is higher than if you just left the boot.

Washing your shoes again tou will have to touch the shoes, you could just leave them for 3 days and lower your risk.

IdblowJonSnow · 05/04/2020 10:24

I've had 2 different colds whilst in lockdown so also been wondering this.
I thought incubation for colds was relatively short?

pennylane83 · 05/04/2020 10:37

As a PP has said, you need to have some exposure to germs to keep your immune system ticking over so all these people madly disinfecting and sterilising their immediate environment are probably going to find themselves more susceptible to coughs and colds in the long run.

eaglejulesk · 05/04/2020 11:01

@pennylane83 - totally agree with this.

NemophilistRebel · 05/04/2020 11:04

We’ve all seemingly caught colds too
In the vulnerable group so been isolating for a while now

Greywind1523 · 05/04/2020 11:05

DH and I have started with hay fever during the last few days so it’s likely it could be that if you normally suffer. I don’t usually notice mine until grass pollen season either but I’ve been sneezing and sniffling with and itchy throat.

DH never had hay fever until last year so there is a possibility that people are suffering for the first time.

seven201 · 05/04/2020 12:08

I've got a new cold. It's not hayfever for me. I have no idea how I've caught it.

Siameasy · 05/04/2020 13:32

One consequence of my daily walk in the fields is hay fever I reckon. Maybe this applies to others too? We have oil seed rape here and willows which are apparently a culprit for tree pollen at the mo

Egghead68 · 05/04/2020 13:34

Are you sure it is a cold/hay fever? I developed probable COVID 11 days into complete isolation (with 10 days of social distancing prior to that). It can have a very long incubation time.

SunshineMoon100 · 12/04/2020 09:23

Im experiencing this also,
Been sneezing, runny nose, irritated throat and a cough. I havnt even left the house for a month so i have no idea where its come
From

MigginsMs · 12/04/2020 09:26

As a PP has said, you need to have some exposure to germs to keep your immune system ticking over so all these people madly disinfecting and sterilising their immediate environment are probably going to find themselves more susceptible to coughs and colds in the long run.

This is what I wonder

Is there a particular reason why you have been so OTT in your actions?

ifonly4 · 12/04/2020 09:31

OP, how are you feeling now?

SunshineMoon100 · 12/04/2020 18:30

How are you today?

YeOldeTrout · 12/04/2020 19:19

I comply with the law but don't do anything else special... nothing OP listed. In 2018 DH bought a bleach spray we use on mildew, that's the the only bleach in the house. We go to shops in person 4x/week. We are out for exercise at least an hour every day.

6 person household & no one has even had a sniffle.

Does seem enormously unfair, OP. You made so much effort and got so little reward.

RapidRainbow · 13/04/2020 00:04

Just saw people had asked for an update. This hasn't manifested any further. Possibly a hay-fever response I've not been aware of before Smile

OP posts:
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