If my neighbour's smoke is getting in, will their Covid particles too?

[MiraWard1]

We have some gym equipment in our garage. Our garage is on the end of a row of 3. We have new neighbours with the garage at the other end (so there's one garage in between).

The new neighbours seem to have turned their garage into a sort of 90s pub with smoking and darts etc.

Their cigarette smoke gets into our garage, which is unpleasant at the best of times, and more so when wanting to exercise.

We can't ask them not to smoke in their own garage (though I suspect they smoke there because it's rented and not allowed to smoke in the house). We will be having some work done on ours in a few months and will have it sealed off then.

But a worrying thought struck me: if their smoke particles are seeping into our garage in concentration enough that we can smell it, would COVID particles travel in the same way.

And if they could, (as a brief google suggests, though with little evidence), would enough make it through to cause infection? (Presumably this would be exacerbated if someone was breathing hard from exercise)

Is there an expert lurking who can either validate my concern or reassure me robustly?

If they’re all one family, they’re entitled to use their garage to play darts and smoke. Sorry you’re worried about it. Can you seal your own garage?

Your comment about those of us with mental health issues is abhorrent. I have a diagnosed mental health issue. I am not sitting here rocking and screaming. That is a disablist attitude.

@Siepie

And no, there's nothing wrong with my mental health. To suggest so is pretty rude to people with actual mental health conditions. I'd say this is a normal, back of the mind query in the middle of a pandemic. I'm not sitting here rocking and screaming.

Not nearly as rude as you suggesting that people with mental health conditions are all ‘rocking and screaming’

Fair point. That wasn't my intention, of course, but badly worded. Apologies.

@Bellofbelfastcity

If they’re all one family, they’re entitled to use their garage to play darts and smoke. Sorry you’re worried about it. Can you seal your own garage?

Your comment about those of us with mental health issues is abhorrent. I have a diagnosed mental health issue. I am not sitting here rocking and screaming. That is a disablist attitude.

Yep, I worded that bit badly. Of course I don't think that about MH conditions.

Yes, we are getting it sealed. But it'll take time and I'm a bit disappointed we can't use the space as we had been.

These are small houses. There's no way all those people live there.

They could be a bubble. Are you privy to the personal information?

@Bellofbelfastcity did you come here to be helpful or just have a series of digs? Does it make you feel better?

It's very unlikely. Unpleasant thou to get smoke, especially in a gym. As a temporary measure, you can buy spray insulation foam to fill gaps, that should stop the smoke from getting in at fairly low effort/ cost.

Re. a previous comment that Covid isn’t actually airborne but only travels a few feet - I am fairly sure that’s been debunked now. It’s been confirmed that it does build up in the air, especially in poorly ventilated rooms, and people in offices etc are getting sick despite not sitting near the “original” sick person.

Thanks @MRex

[quote MiraWard1]@Bellofbelfastcity did you come here to be helpful or just have a series of digs? Does it make you feel better?[/quote]
I was helpful.

Why are you so aggressive?

If you’d seen my dad’s garage the other night you’d have had a conniption. But we were all there perfectly legitimately and within the rules.

Seems to me you’re worrying over very little risk in the grand scheme of things and you’re getting very angry and aggressive here and insulting. Perhaps it might be best if you didn’t use your garage if you’re that worried?

AS a PP pointed out, if their exhaled smoke is getting into your garage, then your exhaled breath is also getting into theirs. Doing exercise increases your breathing rate, so you would be pumping out more droplets potentially carrying Covid into their garage, making you the grater risk.

I think you're projecting with the aggression there.

Sounds like your dad might be my neighbour.

The guardian article linked above would be a good read for you. The bit about focussing on what we're "allowed" to do, rather than what is safe.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Oh, there's my "conniption"

@Ifailed

AS a PP pointed out, if their exhaled smoke is getting into your garage, then your exhaled breath is also getting into theirs. Doing exercise increases your breathing rate, so you would be pumping out more droplets potentially carrying Covid into their garage, making you the grater risk.

Maybe.

Their smoking may save us all by highlighting that air is flowing between the garages.

@MiraWard1

I think you're projecting with the aggression there.

Sounds like your dad might be my neighbour.

The guardian article linked above would be a good read for you. The bit about focussing on what we're "allowed" to do, rather than what is safe.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

Oh, there's my "conniption"

Is your dad neighbour terminally ill? Because unless he is, he’s not my dad.

We are allowed to visit because he’s terminal. But you wouldn’t know that looking in the garage door.

Nice suggestion that I and the rest of those who care about him should leave him to sit in shit and piss and die without comfort. Thanks for that.

Belittling and gaslighting you? No. I said you sound irrational, which frankly, you do.

To suggest people wouldn't have died if they'd been as worried as you is utter, utter bollocks.

I assume if people were as worried as you many would have died from crippling mental health conditions or starved to death, or died from lack of medication. This level of fear is unhealthy.

Nobody is saying you have a mental health condition but your reaction speaks volumes to me.

And "may save you all" - do you believe you may all die? What makes you think that? Are you all cev or extremely elderly and unvaccinated?

This isn't belittling this is engaging the facts of the risks.

What exactly are you hoping to get from this thread OP? It sounds like you don't like your neighbours, resent the smell of smoke (understandable, to be fair), and are now seeking extra ways to bash them for their Covid germs?

Is there a risk of you catching Covid from them? Probably, but it will be akin to the same risk as you being struck by lightning, winning the lottery, or finding Elvis hidden in your garage.

In other words, yes, it's possible, but extremely unlikely and you should be more worried about going to the supermarket.

Your comments about mental health say it all really.

I'm glad to see you managed to get in that they rent. Always very important when complaining about something a neighbour does or doesn't do. Must make the distinction between filthy covid riddled renters and superior homeowners.

I'd hate to have their smoke wafting in whilst I was exercising, so inconsiderate whether it can spread covid or not!

My god people can be such arseholes on here. There's really no need for it.

OP, I understand why you're concerned. Being alert to possible infection routes seems entirely sensible at the moment. However, smells linger far longer than covid droplets, so providing you're exercising at a different time to the garage smokers the risk is probably minimal.

Bear in mind that the smoke you smell won't have all been in their lungs. The cigarette burns too!

Thanks @Blondiney and @MoiraNotRuby

I know it's a cliche to say it, but this place (MN not my neighbourhood) really has changed. (I'm a serial name changer).

I've never been on the receiving end of the pile-on, though I've seen it happen to others. The projection is fascinating.

If they were in their garage and not smoking, would you have been concerned?

@Northernsoullover

Bear in mind that the smoke you smell won't have all been in their lungs. The cigarette burns too!

I know. Logically, I know.

It smells like a 90s pub out there of an evening. But not in the good way I seem to remember! I've got old!

@JengaNonConfirming

If they were in their garage and not smoking, would you have been concerned?

I wouldn't have realised. So no. But the smell of smoke is what made me start to wonder.

@JengaNonConfirming love your username, btw!