Using toilets during garden visits

[Gardenvisits]

I know, I know-it’s a while off but I haven’t seen my parents since August as they live a 4 hour drive away.
Last year (June?) when garden visits were first allowed people were allowed to walk through the house and use the loo.
Has anyone read anything that says this will be allowed this time round from (hopefully) 29th March.
Last time they drove here and back in a day on the first day they were allowed to and they’ve said they’ll do that again.

It would also be great if they could stay over night (they have a camper van they could put on drive) From my reading this could be just about allowed from 12th April but again, toilet facilities would be an issue.

I’d happily let them use toilets and, if I’m honest would be happy for them to visit indoors and stay in usual spare room but they have followed all rules and are still a bit wary even though they’ve been vaccinated now.

I don’t think detail around that has been released yet. Self contained accommodation is allowed for one household from 12th April, those with shared facilities not until May.

No I can’t find any detail yet. I’m so impatient! I just want to see them

just use the loo it will be fine

I know it will be fine but they like to stick to the ‘rules’.

You can't catch covid from a loo seat, haven't they been vaccinated by now anyway? They can use your loo. It's obviously up to them whether they want to stay overnight.

If my bladder is bursting roolz don't matter. When I need to go I need to go.

Yes they are vaccinated (as am I) If public toilets are open then mine will surely be fine. I’m so excited!

If they have a camper van, can;t they use the loo in that?

I knew we’re officially not meant to rely on it but honestly... if you’re vaccinated and they’re vaccinated, surely the risk is miniscule!

I'd rather use private than public loos but I'm not vaccinated.
Just keep everywhere ventilated.

If the rules concern them that much, then a she-wee for her and a tree/fence post for him, both in the garden. Take some bung-you-up tablets prior............ I mean for goodness sake! It’s a wee in a toilet!

Has the camper van got a loo?

The virus hasn't changed so the risks haven't changed, I'd expect the guidance to be identical to last year on this sort of thing.

Only thing which could change it would be some new research.

(Well OK the virus has mutated but the fundamentals are the same!)

@poppycat10

You can't catch covid from a loo seat, haven't they been vaccinated by now anyway? They can use your loo. It's obviously up to them whether they want to stay overnight.

No but you can catch it from things like door handles or the flush handle they may have touched on the way. That's like saying you can't catch it off a sofa so let people in.

@JanFebAnyMonth Google Covid, fomite transmission.

I know the risks are negligible. They do too I think. Camper van has a fancy bucket but I think they’d draw the line at using that on my driveway 😂

I emptied everything out of bathroom bar loo paper & soap (s 1 for us & liquid for visitors) Kitchen roll for towels for them (or what a friend did use flannels as towels & put straight into a little wash basket) & antiseptic wipes or spray & a lot of cleaning & I wiped handles on doors/taps/loo
(Husband fairly vulnerable)
Extreme maybe but than people won't transmit by touch
my bathroom was never so clean

@JanFebAnyMonth

The virus hasn't changed so the risks haven't changed, I'd expect the guidance to be identical to last year on this sort of thing.

Only thing which could change it would be some new research.

🤔 have you been avoiding the news? Quite a lot has changed since last year.

you can get covid from

• shared air. Person A coughs in the bathroom, person B goes in 2 mins later ==> covid
• particles spread in the air when flushing - the flush throws up tiny droplets of water + poo + covid . Then next person who breathes it in can be infected

www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/how-toilets-can-spread-covid-and-what-to-do-about-it/

formites on surfaces seem to be much lower risk than airborne transmission.

So - make sure the bathroom has windows open. Close the toilet lid before flushing. And ideally, the visitors should use a different bathroom from the hosts with at least 24 hours between use.

I honestly feel like this vaccine is currently achieving fuck all if risks haven't changed according to some people and we have to worry about using a loo.

Yeah they can even use a different loo. It’s literally the legality of stepping inside the house that I’m querying

Yes I know there's starting to be acknowledgement that fomite transmission is less likely than airborne, but I'm not seeing that reflected in our UK guidance really. OK more emphasis On ventilation in schools, but no decrease in instruction to clean surfaces and wash hands.

So I suppose I meant I think the guidance will be the same (although I'm not sure it should be). Maybe I'll be proved wrong, let's see.

My parents are the same - they don't actually mind the risks per se but are absolute sticklers for the rules.

I'm more relaxed in that I am broadly compliant but will also use my own judgement and in that scenario I'd not hesitate to let them use the bathroom as in my mind it's no different to using a public toilet (well it's actually less risky). I'd still stick to only socialising outdoors until told otherwise though.
I realise the reason the govt don't say it's allowed is because people will push the boundaries and stay inside for a cup of tea etc.

Well of course they're not going to stop advising good hygiene 😂 It would be nice to think that people were washing their hands before COVID but lots weren't and it's no bad thing to keep that messaging!