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Original poster

Are you preparing your home in case of Covid?

179 replies

QueenBlueberries · 23/09/2020 09:06

The Government is now saying that most of the contagion happens in the home, so I wanted to ask if you wouldn't mind sharing any tips on how to try and prevent Covid from spreading from one member of the family to others.

I have prepared a small box (shoe box) with gloves, masks, Dettol, an old baby monitor (my kids are teenagers now but I somehow kept a baby monitor all those years at the back of a cupboard), paracetamol, face masks and a face shield. We have two bathrooms so I know how we will use the bathrooms in case someone gets infected. We also have good neighbours and we have all agreed to get food for each other if one of us get ill.

Any other tips??

OP posts:
Yankathebear · 23/09/2020 09:41

We will just continue as we have done since March.

bristolone · 23/09/2020 09:41

My DC are 8 and under. I don't really go anywhere. If they catch it, I can't avoid it as I can't leave them sick and alone. I'll just have to crack on and hope for the best......

Original poster
QueenBlueberries · 23/09/2020 09:44

It's very possible with teenagers to leave them in their bedroom with the door shut, a games console and a phone. They'd probably want to stay in there until they're 18.

Yes we have two bathrooms, so what. I will do everything that I can to stop it spreading in my house, as I have a heart condition, and as it stands it's much more likely that either my kids or husband (he's a teacher) will get it first, if they do. I work in an office on my own, and walk to work so my chances of getting infected outside the home are extremely low.

OP posts:
Northernsoullover · 23/09/2020 09:44

I've got extra 7up in. Every time I am ill I want it. I've got extra toilet roll too but I've done this since norovirus swept through the family and it was touch and go with what I had in.
Other than that no.

halcyondays · 23/09/2020 09:45

Don’t share towels with an infected person is something you can do to stop the spread, even if you have to share a bathroom.

BarbaraofSeville · 23/09/2020 09:45

We do have mobile phones but the wifi doesn't reach the loft so DS can speak to me if he needs to

Well I think that if you end up banishing your DS to the loft as a protection measure against Covid, the first thing he'll be wanting sorted will be that the wifi reaches the loft.

But I think the emergency shoe boxes sound way over the top. Are you really planning to don PPE in your own home?

Staying as far apart as possible, not coughing in each other's faces and not licking the same crockery and cutlery is probably more than enough protection.

GabriellaMontez · 23/09/2020 09:46

@hamstersarse

I honestly think you have lost your minds
This
Original poster
QueenBlueberries · 23/09/2020 09:47

It's a shoe box, not a supply for a war bunker.

OP posts:
hamstersarse · 23/09/2020 09:47

@TweeterandtheMonkeyman

Gosh. The only person I know to have tested positive for COVID didn’t spread to her family, if that reassures anyone. She was quite ill with it as well, stuck to her room etc but I don’t think she went as far as shoeboxes and old baby monitors ...
It is very common.

This is probably something to do with T Cell Immunity. There are estimate that 30-50% of people have T Cell Immunity - i.e. they have a memory in their immune system from other coronaviruses and will not be infected with this new coronavirus. The cruise ships showed this at a larger scale than household examples.

AgentProvocateur · 23/09/2020 09:49

@hamstersarse. I agree.

MadameBlobby · 23/09/2020 09:50

No. We have no spare room and no 2nd bathroom. Will clean and sanitise everything. Always have paracetamol in. Always got enough food in for at least a few days and will get deliveries if we need anything else. Also have neighbours who would get us bits and leave on our doorstep if needed as we would do for them.

Jrobhatch29 · 23/09/2020 09:51

You can be infectious whilst pre symptomatic the same as loads of viruses, so I think quarantining family members isn't that helpful. My kids had symptoms last week and I live in a hot spot, they wanted cuddles so if they catch it I likely will to.

MadameBlobby · 23/09/2020 09:52

I’m a bit Confused at the baby monitor too. Wtaf is that for? If you’re that unwell your family need to monitor you from another room while you sleep you’d probably need to be in hospital!

IndieTara · 23/09/2020 09:53

Just me and 11 yr old DD here ( and her school has just been closed for 2 weeks )
Our home is the size of a Hi De Hi chalet so not much chance to isolate!

MadameBlobby · 23/09/2020 09:53

Presumably an infected person can communicate their needs to others without leaving their isolation ward room? Sounds like a good idea to me

If only there had been some sort of mobile telephone device invented in the last 20 or so years

Original poster
QueenBlueberries · 23/09/2020 09:53

Baby monitor - DS is in the loft. We will be downstairs, two floors down. We won't hear him, especially if the telly is on. It's really not that hard to get is it.

OP posts:
Original poster
QueenBlueberries · 23/09/2020 09:54

He doesn't have wifi, and has a pay as you go phone.

OP posts:
MadameBlobby · 23/09/2020 09:54

You’ve got to love mumsnet. Every time you think you’ve seen the most bonkers and OTT thing ever something else comes along to surprise you.

myrtilles · 23/09/2020 09:55

The main thing I will do is open the windows whatever the weather to reduce viral load. I would move to sofa bed for a few days so all family members have own room to be in. I also read something about drinking regular warm drinks in first couple of days to wash covid down to ones stomach to stop it getting to the lungs. No idea if this would work but can’t do any harm and I drink tea all day anyway!

Stinkyguineapig · 23/09/2020 09:55

I know one family where 4 out of 5 of them were unwell with it, the DH was admitted to hospital, but the teen DD didnt get it.
Another family, DH was v unwell for a week, stayed in their room for meals etc his DW and DS didnt get it.
I'm not privy to their bathroom situation, in either case.

*did you see what I did there? 😉

tearsandtiaras · 23/09/2020 09:56

This is absolute madness.

I hope your adding some MH self care to that list

stayathomer · 23/09/2020 09:56

I had covid and isolated for 2 weeks- handy to have, gloves, sanitizer, more than one mask, spray cleaner, the dettol aerosol cleaner, packet/collection of j clothes, roll of small white bin bags and a few of the large bottles of water. Also something pampery to make you feel nice!

SummersNearlyOver20 · 23/09/2020 09:56

Well I live in a shared house with 3 other people.
We have all worked outside the house throughout the lockdown.
We have 1 bathroom
1 kitchen

None of us (to my knowledge unless no symptoms) have had COVID.

Oh & my other housemates are all men with zero hygiene practices.

MadameBlobby · 23/09/2020 09:56

This is just crazy. Have any of you never been ill before? Just do what you do then

MadameBlobby · 23/09/2020 09:57

@SummersNearlyOver20

Well I live in a shared house with 3 other people. We have all worked outside the house throughout the lockdown. We have 1 bathroom 1 kitchen

None of us (to my knowledge unless no symptoms) have had COVID.

Oh & my other housemates are all men with zero hygiene practices.

My parents neighbours are 7 of them in a 3 bed house. The dad and one daughter got it. None of the rest did. Or at least they weren’t symptomatic