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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:
PineappleUpsideDownCake · 20/06/2020 22:19

I havent been in a supermarket but I thought some had wipes for trollies etc? Certainly many places have hand gel located in more places than before.

ILoveTotoro · 20/06/2020 22:19

You were there too op

If you're worried stay in end of

So bored of seeing stuff like this on social media / online

OMG soooooo many people here waaahhh

JingsMahBucket · 20/06/2020 22:20

@PickACoolUserName

Anyone who thinks the virus doesn’t spread outdoors or in sunshine should look at the giant spike of cases in Florida, Texas, and Arizona after they stupidly opened for things like spring break and don’t have mandatory mask wearing or quarantines, just like the UK.

People in those states aren't spending loads of time outdoors right now though. They're huddled in air conditioned buildings escaping the heat.

The scientific research shows that the virus does not survive in sunlight.

The spikes are the results from several weeks ago, Memorial Day weekend, when everyone was outside and commingling without proper social distancing and masks.
JinglingHellsBells · 20/06/2020 22:20

There are a lot of people here are know-alls when in fact they know nowt.

I know of people who have been near no one since lockdown but still have caught the virus, The only way they got it could have been through shopping, delivered, or parcels delivered, despite them gelling hands and putting a lot of stuff into quarantine.

so this blows your 'doesn't transfer from surfaces' into the water.

The latest evidence was it could live on plastic for days and even 3 weeks. Paper for 24 hours and copper for 4 hours.

It is destroyed by UV light but not in seconds, but it can travel many feet depending on wind strength and direction over a timescale of around 20 seconds.

Puds11 · 20/06/2020 22:21

@RapidRainbow kind of does though if you’re having a go about people touching a gate but you happily continued along a route where SD wasn’t possible and it was busy 🤷‍♀️ Pot...kettle...

TerrapinStation · 20/06/2020 22:22

@thedancingbear

I’m feeling more grossed out that you used your feet on the gate catches. That’s pretty disgusting considering all the things you had probably have walked in.

Agreed. My auntie in law died of athlete's foot she caught off a stile in the Lake District.

That's nothing, my uncle had his foot amputated after getting a nasty verucca from stepping stones in the Peak District
RapidRainbow · 20/06/2020 22:22

Also, why do people miss key points?

It was a new route. Therefore I didn't choose a narrow path. There was no warning of narrow paths. It was a circular walk so once committed it made no difference to turn back or keep going.

The beauty spot mentioned was a waterfall. You have to choose the path to it at a crossroads. We didnt for obvious reasons but could still see people who had.

OP posts:
Orangeblossom78 · 20/06/2020 22:22

I had a man on local neighbourhood site going on about using a leaf or foot on stiles and gates

I told him it would be ok if they washed hands after but he started pm messaging me further about how i should use a leaf or foot as I was putting others at risk Hmm

If everyone makes responsibility for themselves then people should be ok surely as mentioned. stay alert etc

NewAndImprovedNorks · 20/06/2020 22:22

Am still giggling at ‘bitten by an ocelot’ and plan to use that phrase daily

Orangeblossom78 · 20/06/2020 22:23

Waterfalls do usually have tiny paths arrow due to the nature of them. I hope you enjoyed the beauty spot despite the worries.

Puds11 · 20/06/2020 22:25

@RapidRainbow don’t be ridiculous. Of course you could have decided not to go once you realised the route was unsuitable. You choosing that route is the same as people touching the gate. You just don’t like people not agreeing with you.

RapidRainbow · 20/06/2020 22:25

@Puds11

Comprehension is key...

OP posts:
Puds11 · 20/06/2020 22:26

@RapidRainbow enjoy your high horse. Maybe avoid known beauty spots in a pandemic if you’re that bothered ffs.

wintertravel1980 · 20/06/2020 22:33

Does anyone have evidence that it doesn't live on outdoor surfaces?

There is no hard evidence that outdoor surfaces are completely safe - however there is no documented evidence that they are unsafe.

There is also some emerging but not entirely conclusive / not peer reviewed evidence that UV light kills COVID:

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-us-sun-uv-rays-spread-study-covid-19-a9483971.html

I am personally not worried about touching gates / opening doors but it is my own risk based decision.

HoldMyLobster · 20/06/2020 22:33

The spikes are the results from several weeks ago, Memorial Day weekend, when everyone was outside and commingling without proper social distancing and masks.

No - the spikes are being seen most in states that opened indoor spaces sooner than those that didn't, and before cases had dropped to the level they needed to be before reopening.

The outdoor spaces in my state were reopening Memorial Day weekend - we have seen no spike in cases.

IcedPurple · 20/06/2020 22:36

*I know of people who have been near no one since lockdown but still have caught the virus, The only way they got it could have been through shopping, delivered, or parcels delivered, despite them gelling hands and putting a lot of stuff into quarantine.

so this blows your 'doesn't transfer from surfaces' into the water*

Completely unscientific anecdotes from someone on MN don't come close to blowing anything into the water.

IcedPurple · 20/06/2020 22:38

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

I can't imagine going out for a walk in a scenic area and devoting my mental energy to calculating how many people committed the no hand-gel crime when - wait for it - touching a gate.

You should probably have stayed home OP. You seem too paranoid to enjoy mingling with your fellow men and women.

thedancingbear · 20/06/2020 22:41

Does anyone have evidence that it doesn't live on outdoor surfaces?

I agree. In addition, does anyone have evidence you can't catch it through the internet? Or through wanking? Because if you can, a lot of us are in big trouble.

Pumpertrumper · 20/06/2020 22:43

People who reply to threads like this with ‘but you were there too’ are genuinely worse than the over anxious posters themselves.

Yes OP was there but they were observing SD and taking appropriate precautions. Everyone should be allowed to go out now but they should be still following the official guidance.
I went into my local town centre today (first time since March) and I was fully prepared to queue, socially distance, step aside to allow others room to pass...etc. I was happy to shop in a safe way but others were not, when I stopped to give others 2 meters distance, people behind me just pushed past muttering angrily as though social distancing was nothing more than a stupid inconvenience and I was the problem!

wintertravel1980 · 20/06/2020 22:44

I know of people who have been near no one since lockdown but still have caught the virus, The only way they got it could have been through shopping, delivered, or parcels delivered, despite them gelling hands and putting a lot of stuff into quarantine.

Sorry, but this is again anecdotal evidence.

Some countries with highly advanced "track and trace" systems (e.g. Singapore, China, South Korea and, to some extent, Germany) have managed to document most of their COVID transmissions. There were very few cases that involved surfaces. SAGE has only quoted two out of several thousands.

Yes, it is true that COVID can survive on surfaces for an extended period of time but it does not mean the concentration of virus is sufficient to infect a person.

thedancingbear · 20/06/2020 22:44

I can't imagine going out for a walk in a scenic area and devoting my mental energy to calculating how many people committed the no hand-gel crime when - wait for it - touching a gate.

The problem with executing people for hand gel crime is that it's very difficult to operate the gallows without multiple people touching the lever that releases the hatch. You can wipe it with disinfectant and ocelot spunk all you like but at the end of the day the virus is more intelligent than most humans, and will still find a way of infecting you.

Lessofallthisunpleasantness · 20/06/2020 22:44

We honestly don't care anymore. The risk is low in this scenario.

Abracadabra12345 · 20/06/2020 22:51

HoldMyLobster

Also notably we are not seeing spikes in people who attended protests.

www.wired.com/story/what-minnesotas-protests-are-revealing-about-covid-19-spread/

Thanks for posting that link, it’s a really interesting, coolly dispassionate reporting of the testing / results following the protest march and I am really hopeful that it holds good for the marches over here. My one worry is that a lot of protesters in London would have been squashed together on public transport to get in or leave, before mask-wearing became mandatory (assuming that would be adhered to). Still, the article gives hope

Lots of good stuff on this thread!

Newjez · 20/06/2020 22:52

Just use gel like me, and let the other people die.
.
They are beyond help.

Serin · 20/06/2020 22:52

Here's a thought OP, why did you not use a bit of your hand gel or wipes to wipe the gate down a bit.