So careful but I've fucked up

[ToLiveInPeace]

Not sure why I'm posting other than to say arrrrrrrrrgh. My husband is extremely vulnerable and I'm incredibly careful about sanitising and quarantining anything coming into the house. This morning, right after the recycling boxes were emptied, I moved them to the back garden to sit there all day and washed my hands...

... And this evening, while we were doing DIY, I moved them without thinking - the plastic boxes handled by the binmen who handled things handled by everyone for miles around - and then touched all the things my husband was touching and touched my face and blew my nose. Probably the worst thing I could ever have touched. I've wiped and cleaned everything but... Bollocks, bollocks, bollocks.

This is madness but I've no idea if I'm overreacting. My job is to keep him safe :/

While people are telling you not to worry, please don't worry about the ambulances. There are currently no problems getting to emergencies or treating them when in hospitals.

You can't control everything. Please keep doing what you're doing but try to relax.

Honestly I am sure it will be fine.

Not touching your face is the hardest thing! I was out shopping earlier and my hair was bristling on my face and it was torture not being able to move it! And I then saw a woman walking round the shop sucking her fingers, it’s just so easily done. Anyway I am waffling. I’m sure you’ve nothing to worry about

Please be kinder to yourself. It's hard to get perspective when it's literally everywhere at the moment READY TO KILL US ALL (/s) but please don't worry, your husband will be absolutely fine.

You've been doing an amazing job keeping DH safe. Don't blame yourself for a few minutes' lapse -- you can't be superhuman. You're very unlikely to have let the virus in. Please get a good night's sleep and try not to worry. I hope all goes well for you and him.

DH extremely vulnerable & shielding.
Asda delivered whilst I was in the shower, he told them -through the window- to put it on the step then he just put it away.
I didn’t even think, until now.
How much should I panic? Do I have to search out whatever I ordered and start cleaning? Weirdly this hadn’t occurred to me until recently, DH opened the mail today and I told him he needed to wash his hands. I didn’t even thing about the shopping, until now!

Try and sleep. Agree the sun would have helped.

It's more like that this lockdown is sending us all slightly doolally.
And you were probably starting from a higher level of anxiety than most (seeing him being resuscitated?).

So, just be kind to yourself. The risk really is minimal from one "mistake".

Oh, come on... Incredibly low risk, please calm down down.

southsideowl I hope you’re kidding, if you’re not, stop scaremongering, you’re not helping anyone, least of all the OP! It’s not everywhere waiting to KILL US ALL! Idiot! Honestly, the stupidity..

Take a deep breath. The chances are very low. Your worry is totally understandable, but the bin men will have been being so ultra cautious for the last few weeks that it is absolutely minimal you have come into contact with the virus.

Don't beat yourself up any further, please. And I imagine that more ambulances are available in an emergency at the moment than ever before because people aren't misusing them. I can't remember the last time I heard a siren near me - and it's usually a daily occurence at least once.

@ToLiveInPeace try not to worry. This virus has us all scared shitless. I am higher risk, not necessarily very high but high enough. Today someone gave me a gift and I got close enough to take it from their hand. I felt really cross with myself because, kind as it was, I did not want to get close to them!

We all do things on the spur of the moment. Be nice to yourself.

XXXXX

Completely understand your worries. He will be fine Op. extremely unlikely the virus could survive for 12 hours in sunlight

Stressful times but don't beat yourself up over this. The risks as re minimal . He easy on yourself.

Stressfull times for everyone, especially those shielding and/or anxious but the virus is transmitting at between R2 and R5 pre lockdown in normal times, if it was transmitting through bins/letters/ shopping etc the whole population would have it by now, lots of people are still going about reasonably normal lives aside from the distancing and touching things all the time but not getting it, so agree with the comments that you and many others are worrying to much.

@ToLiveInPeace first of all, you are not being ridiculous at all as others have said. Your worries are completely understandable. However, as others have said, the virus doesn't do well in sunlight... and remember that the tests they've done on virus particles remaining on surfaces are testing for virus particles, not necessarily live virus that has potential to infect you. So I totally get where you're coming from, but I'm sure as it was best part of a day you'll be ok. Plus most people put their bins out the night before collection so there's extra time for virus to die on surfaces. Try not to stress too much although I know it's easier said than done xx