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Covid

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Original poster

Are you still wearing rings?

177 replies

Coffeeandcrumpet · 12/10/2020 10:43

I was out this weekend and noticed a lady wearing loads of massive rings, she was washing her hands at the time but there is no way should could effectively clean her hands with massive baubles on her fingers and it got me thinking how many people are still wearing rings? I took mine off in March and haven't worn them since as you can't clean your hands effectively wearing them. Why has this not been communicated to people?

OP posts:

SoUtterlyGroundDown · 12/10/2020 11:23

[quote daytripper28]@Coffeeandcrumpet

Stopped wearing mine in March. I work as a nurse.

To all those laughing and making fun of the OP - she is right. Just sayin'[/quote]
If they are an infection risk, why, as a nurse, did you wear them pre March?

IwishIwasyoda · 12/10/2020 11:23

No because my hands are getting extremely sore because of all the hand sanitising! 70% alcohol rubs are hard on skin

ginsparkles · 12/10/2020 11:24

I work in a jewellers. I wear my rings every day. I sanitise and wash my hands (and therefore my rings) after every interaction with a customer and before eating, and when I get home. I separately clean my rings once a week (as I did pre Covid). I'm happy my rings are not a source of infection.

Devlesko · 12/10/2020 11:25

I forget to put mine on, so not wearing them often. Nothing to do with a virus though.

CandleWick4 · 12/10/2020 11:26

@Todaytomorrow09

I took mine off in March and now only occasionally wear them - I find I was constantly taking them off to dry my hands properly so not to get sores under the rings - I panicked I would leave them somewhere! But that’s just my choice as I would end up loosing them head in clouds at times!

Same! I was getting sore under them so I take them off for most of the day and tend to put them on if I’m going out.

ScaramoucheFandango · 12/10/2020 11:27

Now I forget to put them on tbh.
I had returned to putting on my dangly bracelet as I could see it!

StillWeRise · 12/10/2020 11:28

all these people taking the piss, why do you think HCPs are expected to be bare below the elbow? and have no false nails?
I have taken off all my rings except one which is a very plain band and I can't get it off. My nails are kept short and plain. I look at people with long false nails and I know they cannot possibly be properly clean. When I trained as a HCP, very early on we had a demonstration where we put some kind of cream on our hands, then went off to wash them and then were tested using some kind of light, NOBODY had washed their hands effectively.

Original poster

Coffeeandcrumpet · 12/10/2020 11:29

Wow mixed responses. Thankyou daytripper.
Of course people washed their hands before covid (although you wouldn't think so given the soap shortages!) and of course people have lived wearing rings for a long time but the fact is you cannot clean your hands as effectively with rings on and we are in the middle of a pandemic. They harbour germs that is why in a hospital you are not supposed to wear them (except a plain wedding band) . When I started my training they made everyone put uv gel all. I've rtheir hands then wash their hands really well, guess where that gel still was... under rings (and false nails).
No need to shave your pubes, Boris isn't worried about telling you to wash them, generally they don't go near the supermarket trolly or anything else!

OP posts:

SoUtterlyGroundDown · 12/10/2020 11:29

@StillWeRise

all these people taking the piss, why do you think HCPs are expected to be bare below the elbow? and have no false nails? I have taken off all my rings except one which is a very plain band and I can't get it off. My nails are kept short and plain. I look at people with long false nails and I know they cannot possibly be properly clean. When I trained as a HCP, very early on we had a demonstration where we put some kind of cream on our hands, then went off to wash them and then were tested using some kind of light, NOBODY had washed their hands effectively.

But viruses existed before Covid.

CentrifugalBumblePuppy · 12/10/2020 11:30

I only wear my wedding ring, but then I only have my wedding ring. Now-husband bought me a new sofa instead of an engagement ring (but at the time, I worked in the theatre as a tech lead, too much risk of a de-gloving injury).

Now I work in a different field, I am wearing gorgeous acrylic nails (adult daughter used her lockdown to start learning nail tech stuff). Hand washing within an inch of my life as usual, and God invented nail brushes. Plenty of nasties outside of COVID, is great to see more people hand washing properly rather than a splash, flick & go you’d usually see.

Typing is an art form however.

Wheytaminute · 12/10/2020 11:31

I stopped wearing my engagement ring as was doing a load of DIY - but still keep my wedding ring on every day.

It's bad enough having to wear a face mask to go out for a nice meal with DH -- let alone stripping me bare of all my jewellery

EmilySpinach · 12/10/2020 11:31

OP has been ridiculed but she's right. Since the beginning of the pandemic I have worn my wedding band but not my engagement and eternity rings.

MrsGrindah · 12/10/2020 11:32

But it’s about minimising the greatest risks not zero risk altogether. So washing your hands regularly is a sensible risk limitation given how virus spreads but going without rings probably isn’t worth telling everyone to do.

PennyDreadfuI · 12/10/2020 11:33

I stopped wearing my engagement ring outside in March because it was getting manky with all the hand gel, and I was worried it might be damaging it. I've always been a fastidious hand washer but I hate sanitiser as a rule so never used it much in The Beforetimes. Still wear my wedding ring though - it's just a very narrow plain white gold band and it's a bit loose because I've lost weight since I got married, so it's easy to clean under. The alcohol in the gel has totally stripped the rhodium plating though, it's now a lovely warm buttery colour which is much nicer than the harsh silvery white it was!

I do miss my engagement ring though. I still wear it (and my other rings) around the house, because I don't have to use sanitiser at home.

daytripper28 · 12/10/2020 11:33

@SoUtterlyGroundDown

good point.

I had been told to take them off previously, and had a go with soap/handcream etc and they wouldn't budge.

Then in the intervening time I lost around 2 and a half stone - so then when Covid came along, thought give it my best shot, and they came off. Been married 20 years, and they had never come off before.

A boring story, but you did ask

CentrifugalBumblePuppy · 12/10/2020 11:34

I’ve also taught kids how to hand wash properly (as part of first aid training) using UV powder & cream to test they’re doing it properly; still have the odd check with my acrylics on & they’re spotless. Takes longer, but hey.

Not in a healthcare or food handling field though.

IrmaFayLear · 12/10/2020 11:34

Far worse than jewellery imo is nails - long ones and those extensions. Think of what could be trapped under there - ugh. When I see people with them I wonder about their toilet hygiene...

BovaryX · 12/10/2020 11:34

@Coffeeandcrumpet

Ludicrous. Why shouldn't people wear rings?

WearyandBleary · 12/10/2020 11:34

I’ve stopped wearing my engagement ring. I always used to take it off if working on an NHS site but now it’s off all the time. Shame because it’s so pretty!!

silverbubbles · 12/10/2020 11:35

@IrmaFayLear

I think we should all be naked. And body hair is a bit problematic, too, no end of nasties can be caught up in that.

Love this

timetest · 12/10/2020 11:35

I got a bit of a rash under my rings that I put down to frequent sanitiser use. I only wear them now and again these days and the rash has cleared up.

Belle0705 · 12/10/2020 11:35

I took my engagement ring off earlier in year due to all the handwashing and it was getting damaged.... and now I've lost it.

OhMsBeliever · 12/10/2020 11:35

I only wear one ring (not to be confused with The One Ring, I am not a hobbit) and it stays on. My mum bought it for me for my 13th birthday so I have trouble getting it off sometimes. Don't wear fake nails or polish or anything.

Belle0705 · 12/10/2020 11:36

But I think its ridiculous to suggest people are unclean for wearing rings.

52andblue · 12/10/2020 11:36

@HaggisBurger

I can’t take mine off due to being devastatingly beautiful - these are the only things that stop me being besieged by suitors daily 🤷‍♀️

This comment wins the thread ! :)

I'm not wearing mine much no.
Just because I've found the extra washing and sanitising makes my skin sore if I'm also wearing rings out and about.

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