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Country walk, couldn't believe my eyes, this is how it spreads...

265 replies

RapidRainbow · 20/06/2020 19:40

We've been, like everyone else, walking more than usual. Today we walked a new route. The path was really tricky to SD on having to stop and go up against barbed fences to let people pass. We were wedged between a group carrying a pushchair down to a beauty spot (we didn't realise until we got there the insistence to go down the very steep rocky stepped path was because they were clearly gathering for a day out with other families as we saw approx. 20 people in groups in a clearing!). At one point we stopped so we didn't get too close to people in front and a family group behind us went past and I felt their presence on my back, you know that little brush against you! Then there was a group of 3 in their early twenties ish with one man coughing and sensed them very close behind so moved over to let them past. On both occasions a polite 'excuse me' would have been better so we could suitable SD as best we could.

We sat on a hill near a gate, we could see everyone going through it opened it with their hands. My DH and son used their feet to knock the catches open so we didn't have to touch the gate. If we have to touch a stiff gate, we instantly use our hand spray gel, I'm so glad we didn't need to do that today!

I watched as kids climbed over the gate, people opened the gate then rubbed their face or opened a drinks bottle or ran their hands through their hair! I estimated that in the 10 minutes we sat there, approx 20 people touched that gate and not one used a handgel or wipe etc afterwards.

It's not exact, but that would be 120 people in an hour and over a 10 hour day of a busy area, approx 1200 touching that one gate. Statisticly, some of them would be carrying Covid! Shock

These will be the people who get Covid and say 'well I've only been to the Supermarket and out walking'!

I don't think I'm being overly cautious? I feel safe outside if we SD but I try to imagine every person and every surface could be carrying Covid to keep risks to a minimum.

OP posts:
IcedPurple · 22/06/2020 09:53

Same if someone has it and coughing and then you walk through their droplets

No it's really not the same.

Ferret27 · 22/06/2020 12:00

I don’t think you are being overly paranoid ... what Op is highlighting is that so many people have stopped thinking about what they do... the virus is still spreading and only those posters who have not had to work throughout this or have not lost a family member or friend would dismiss what the op is saying... and some of you with such a lot of vitriol.... sadly half the population will be careful and think about others the other half won’t ....

thedancingbear · 22/06/2020 13:06

I don’t think you are being overly paranoid ... what Op is highlighting is that so many people have stopped thinking about what they do... the virus is still spreading and only those posters who have not had to work throughout this or have not lost a family member or friend would dismiss what the op is saying... and some of you with such a lot of vitriol.... sadly half the population will be careful and think about others the other half won’t ....

I agree that the vitriol is not needed but apart from that I don't think this is fair. Saying that it is paranoid to worry about a dozen people touching a gate in a field (but yourself opening it with a foot, exposing people to lymes, ecoli, tapeworm etc) is not the same as abandoning all appropriate measures to stop the virus' spread.

I say this as someone who has had to travel 100s of miles by train during lockdown for work. It's a little bit unsettling but provided people observe social distancing, wear masks when they're on the train etc. I don't feel it's cause for panic.

frillyflamingo · 22/06/2020 13:15

We had a footpath gate latch broken this weekend - I wonder perhaps whether it was your husband or son booting it with their feet rather than using it as it was designed to be used...

We do spray a lot of our gates regularly with virkon which is a virucide, because of the increased use during lockdown. It's mostly a precaution to keep our employees safe but it benefits walkers as well.

As grumpy as we were with the influx at the start of all this, taking air and exercise outdoors is vital and I don't blame anyone wanting to get out and enjoy our countryside, which is perhaps exactly the same as you too.

Please don't kick footpath gates though - it breaks the mechanisms and is wholly unnecessary.

Nettie1964 · 22/06/2020 17:09

Sorry but you sound absolutely mental. Calm down

onlinelinda · 22/06/2020 22:41

I take antibacterial gel with me and use it after touching gates.

Queenofeverything44 · 23/06/2020 10:17

I am a single parent to an 11yr old daughter with a serious heart condition and while I understand the frustration and everyone wanting/needing to get back to "normal" life. My daughter and I are still stuck inside (UK) due to blasé attitude of most people. I don't trust shit that the government say, in fact the only advice I listen to is our cardiologist.. He says it's still not as safe as we are led to believe. There are hotpots popping up everywhere. Being cautious is over reacting it's being sensible. Just because you haven't been hit by a car doesn't mean you stop looking when you cross the road, you may get lazy and feed into the great human self delusion of "it won't happen to me" and therefore increase Yr risks though. Cardiologists analogy not mine but I like it.
Sensible is the key I think

Honeyroar · 23/06/2020 10:34

Nettle you sound mental to me though. If you can do something easy, like sanitising your hands to reduce the risk, why wouldn’t you?

Alex50 · 23/06/2020 13:35

Yes life is beginning to get back to normal from the 4th July, I can get my hair done Smile

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-53146191

Alsohuman · 23/06/2020 13:55

Apparently in high temperatures - like we’re getting this week - the virus is so weakened that it’s virtually non existent outdoors.

Sunnydays123456 · 24/06/2020 12:10

@Queenofeverything44 obviously your situation is different and you need to be more careful

For most people this is a mild illness

Queenofeverything44 · 24/06/2020 14:10

@Sunnydays123456
Yes it is but there are a lot of us out there. All I'm saying is that people should be considerate or maybe more aware that not everyone is going to recover from this. I still hear people saying oh it's not that bad it's like flu. I've lost one young healthy friend to this disease. She leaves 4 young children and a husband. It can't be traced where she contracted it as all she did was go to the supermarket and home. She was ill the Friday and died early hours of Monday. No underlying health conditions. Ffs she was a 10k runner, never smoked didn't drink and was 34. So yes I'm being careful not just for me but for the millions of other people out there.

EarlGreywithLemon · 24/06/2020 15:16

@Queenofeverything44 I agree. Heart condition and asthma here too, though neither bad enough for shielding. Hope your daughter is doing well.
The fact is, as long as other people are careless, people like me simply can’t go out at all. I have a baby girl who needs me around and I’m not willing to play this particular lottery.

Queenofeverything44 · 24/06/2020 17:28

@earlgreywithlemon
Thank for asking, she's doing OK mainly enjoying time off school and staying up past bedtime..
I'm on my own so can't take even the smallest chance. People forget that while they are OK and will most likely be fine but it's the people the can infect before they're even aware they have it.
I'm with you.. Not buying a ticket to that lottery.
Hope you and your family are well 😊

EarlGreywithLemon · 24/06/2020 17:48

@Queenofeverything44 that’s tough. Sending Flowers and an unmumsnetty hug. You’re doing what’s right for your daughter, and I believe there is light at the end of this tunnel. Hang on until then and we will be fine!
We’re good, thank you for asking. We’re lucky that first I, then my husband, are on parental leave until December and the other one can work from home. So thankful for that! Smile

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