My circle is small, my direct contacts limited.
No need to worry about Coronavirus here, then?
Certainly no need to panic, but we do need to be sensible.
We have our grandchildren in for breakfast and tea each school day (and often at the weekends, simply because they regard our home as their second home).
They attend different schools. Total number of students - we'll ignore the teaching staff, TA's, etc - they come into contact with: >900.
Their parents are also teachers. Each day they come into contact with > 1220 - again, we'll ignore the teaching staff, etc.
This means that every school day we are just one step away from contact with over 2,000 children.
So what?
Past experience has taught us to be careful - in the last few months we have had to watch out for nits, thread worms, impetigo and chicken pox, as well as the more usual coughs and colds, thanks to the contacts of our grandchildren and their parents!
So, we are taking precautions.
We are being careful, not panicking.
We are both 'elderly', yes, we have to face up to that fact!
Husband also has underlying health issues.
Life continues as normal, but with sensible lines of defence.
Extra hand washing, using anti-bacterial gel when necessary, extra cleaning of door handles, etc.
Keep calm and carry on, but be sensible.
x
ps I am way behind on blog reading. I will catch up, though it may take a day or two.
That's certainly a lot of children you are one step away from - they are the best carriers of germs and viruses, wise to take care I think. Have we been told if any of the people tested have been children?
ReplyDeleteHi Sue, My older (and very unwell) older brother used to help with science projects in a school near him - that school had to close due to students having been on a ski trip in a high risk area of Italy, so yes, plenty of children will have been tested!
DeleteOne of my daughter's is a foster parent, every new child brings nits, thread worms and on occasion impetigo.
ReplyDeleteShe is a 24 carat super-star!
DeleteI think you are taking sensible precautions. It's surprising how many people we come into contact with each day, directly or otherwise. X
ReplyDeleteTwo of my grandchildren are here right now - coughing, sneezing, the works. Filthy little germ-factories, God bless them!
DeleteI've always considered schools germ factories! LOL
DeleteI'm in the Midwest USA. Finally, just yesterday, our President is realizing and admitting that the virus won't just go away soon "like a miracle". I am concerned cases here are severely under-reported. My daughter is a nurse in a major hospital that will be the hospital to receive patients of this virus, because it has the special quarantine areas with separate air flow from the rest of the hospital. She works in a specialized area that would most likely not be affected by patients ill with the virus. My son in law is a plumber. I think the risk in that line of work is frightening, and my grandson attends elementary school. My son is in the military stationed in Japan, and used his leave time in January to visit Viet Nam, China, and South Korea. At the time he did that, news was still saying the virus was contained in Wuhuan, China. We Facetimed with him in early February and he was fine. He said when he returned from China (Beijing) to Okinawa his temperature was taken before he boarded the plane, and the military has questioned him about places and times of when and where he visited since he returned, as the virus has spread to the countries he visited. When he began his trip, the virus in China was supposedly confined to Wuhuan and not a threat when travelling to Beijing.
ReplyDeleteI still worry about my adult children like they are grade schoolers. My brain tells me that is a bit silly; they are intelligent, sensible,and successful, but my "mom-brain" still worries about them and my grandson.
My husband and I don't travel out of our area and don't attend crowded events. We are careful to wash our hands. So I hope we can avoid the virus. I have been wondering if this virus may be spread by paper money being exchanged. We are going to be using our credit cards instead of cash for a while.
Hello Susie, I think it is almost impossible to stop thinking like a mum, no matter how old our children. Two of mine are in their early 40's, and the youngest one is late 30's - just like you, I still worry about them. It goes with the territory.
DeleteSome people choose to dismiss/ridicule the potential for infection, others panic and live in fear. I hope this is the middle road. We are all different and must take the measures which we deem sensible.
My best wishes to you and your family.
Trying to be sensible here too. I think that our selling at Antiques Fairs will be knocked on the head this year if this kicks off big time. I am sure that customers would also be in short supply, and of course there is the "contaminated money" aspect of it. The huge fairs where we go shopping for stock have dealers from right across the country, and so the potential for infection there is vast.
ReplyDeleteTime to batten down the hatches if the infection spreads. I am choosing a beach walk in a secluded spot for my birthday outing this year . . .
Hello BB, That all sounds very sensible - and the secluded beach walk sounds perfect. Best birthday wishes to you, have a wonderful time and let the family spoil you.
DeleteDon't start me on that, there are more people die from the flu. It's the idiot press that has people panicking and over reacting like is happening. BTW common sense died out a while ago when H&S was invented Grrr
ReplyDeleteNo panic, but we have to be sensible here, Billy. Two members of my immediate family have breathing difficulties as it is. With any luck commonsense, hand washing, and so on will keep them safe.
DeleteI started to think about this and then wondered if I should do anything about it. I am on the fence at the moment but it is surprising how many people you have contact with when you start to really think about it.
ReplyDeleteIt really is surprising, once you stop and think about it.
DeleteJust sensible precautions and plenty of singing "Happy Birthday" going on here, sustainablemum!
It's no more than our mothers would tell us. Wash your hands, don't touch your eyes, nose, mouth. Carry on.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Joanne. It seems to be my constant chorus with the grandchildren - and the occasional reminder to my husband, he is a demon for rubbing his face!
DeleteYou're very wise!! We're in the same situation except that our grandchildren don't live near us so we've never turned down a visit from them. In future, we'll have to set boundaries, however. Just common sense, as you say.
ReplyDeleteHello Tehachap - nice to meet you, and welcome! I see you have a blog, I will pop over and say hello later.
DeleteI honestly don’t know what to think, my normal response would be just carry on as normal without fear. Although interestingly on Saturday as I walked back from the shops, a man was waiting outside the college. I saw him sneeze vigorously into the air, without thinking I slowly gave him a wide berth. Sensible or over reacting I honestly don’t know? What I do know is I resented feeling that way. Your use of ‘elderly’ made me smile, yes I suppose we are!
ReplyDeleteLXX
Hi Linda, Sensible? Most definitely. Why ever would you want to risk picking up a cold?
DeleteI don't feel much different to when I was in my 40's, the mirror, however (and other people - how dare they???) tell me otherwise!
I see that you have written a plethora of posts recently, I shall look forward to a good read later!
Common sense, I say. It's always good to wash our hands many times throughout the day. Having cats in the home I find myself doing that without much thought.
ReplyDeleteMost definitely, Deb! I don't go out to town very often, but hand washing after a trip out calls for extremely thorough and more protracted washing - and don't forget to sing 'Happy Birthday' twice!!
DeleteWe live in a high rise retirement community so if it gets here it will travel without much trying. Elevator buttons, railings, coffee machines can only be made hygenic so often. I've taken to using my sleeve to push buttons. Today I went to grocery store I bought the usual but in larger quantities in the event we face self quarantine. As to the comment above that flu kills more people , yes right now it does but the percent of those with flu its kills is 0.1%. The rate at present of this virus which has no vaccine is 2% dead. If it is a pandemic like the Spanish Flu the number dying will be greater than the flu.
ReplyDeleteHello Marcia, Your precautions sound very sensible. All we can do is take these precautions, follow the guidelines, wash hands with soap and hot water, or use the correct type of hand gel. Life continues, and most people will survive. Stay safe, stay happy, stay strong.
DeleteSo scary just how small our World has become. x
ReplyDeleteDo you remember the original series of 'Survivors'? I feel like digging out my old tapes of that series - pick up some tips, maybe! Stay safe.
DeleteThink I do recall something now you come to mention it...like you I’ll have to have a rummage and see what I can find! x
DeleteI must admit to going to the supermarket at quieter times at the moment, or popping out to a quieter farm shop. That said, I’m still going to watch Exeter City. As you said, it’s being sensible about things. I’m not sure about the recommended Happy Birthday, think I might do Bohemian Rhapsody instead, haha!
ReplyDeleteAnn, You sing whatever works for you, just keep washing those hands! Enjoy your football match - just wash hands afterwards. Life must continue!
DeleteI used to work in a hospital in Cheltenham in the early '70's when MRSA had not even been heard of. The hospital was old but was exceptionally clean and cleaned everyday - I think that was the difference between then and now - hospitals were much cleaner back then, they always look filthy places now - as do schools. So I really believe good habits of washing hands especially after touching money and trolley handles etc are always wise. I often see people going to the ladies and then leaving without washing their hands these days too. I don't think it will do us any harm for everyone to get into the habit of being careful and especially coughing and sneezing into a tissue - it might just cut down the amount of usual cold and flu viruses circulating as well.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter works at a University with thousands of students and a high foreign student count. She has just returned to work after her maternity leave so feels quite vulnerable at the moment. Let's hope this virus doesn't spread too much as the consequences for the world will be dire. I am certainly going to do my bit and avoid crowded places - mainly because we can now we are retired.