Has anyone/everyone seen this very important video?PLEASE download and read: https// vimeo.com/399733860

The above is a message from a visibly tired and emotional frontline American doctor, forwarded to me by an enlightened friend.

Briefly, he attributes some of the significant spread of Covid 19 to the human inability to avoid touching our faces. It’s that simple...

Just start noticing how often you do it. If I am anyone to go by it is irrationally frequent and mainly unnoticed. Everyone’s circumstances are different, but when I realised last night that I was constantly touching my face I decided to try and train myself out of it .

I did it like this and it’s working, though not instantly. Not touching our faces any more than we need to is a good thing anyway, hygiene wise, regardless of Covid 19.

Ok, laugh at me if you like, but only after you have watched the video. I just hope I have entered the look-up correctly - if not I will try again, but still try this:

Stand in front of a mirror.

Tell yourself your face or head itches or hurts or is sore in some way ( bear with me, every time I think ‘itch’ my head actually itches).

SLOWLY lift both hands up towards your face. Then quick clench both fists and put your hands down by your sides and then behind your back, WITHOUT touching your face. Do it ten times ,several times a day, of course with freshly washed hands.

STOP the urge to touch your face anywhere. I have just tried it inadvertently as I write. My hair touched my face and irritated it . Normally I would have lifted my hand automatically to my face, but I curbed the urge.

I will now find out whether this entire post is immediately taken down as inappropriate.

All I am saying is ‘Help yourself , don’t touch your face’.

Of course you may already be harbouring the virus and you will never know whether touching or not touching your face made any difference.

Don’t listen to me, listen to the doctor, be patient and watch the whole video.ACTUALLY not touching your face is something you can do that might help, that is ALL I am saying. And what the doctor says is: ‘Always know where your hands are.”

[Hidden]

I am replying to myself as I forgot something . Watching footage of people in lockdown areas I wondered why they were wearing ineffectual masks or ordinary scarves across their faces. I now understand that these are NOT a barrier to airborne infection but a protective layer between hands and face.

[Buffafly]

I am struggling with this at the moment because my face genuinely itches - I have very bad hayfever with sore itchy eyes and nose.

[Hidden in reply to Buffafly]

That’s horrible for you - have you been able to find any way of relieving it?

Did you watch the video it does give good motivation for keeping hands and face separate?

[Auriculaire in reply to Buffafly]

I have instituted a regime of purple nitrile gloves for shopping . I have yet to see if it works for me as we cannot go out together here in France and normally my husband shops so he is continuing this. The idea is that seeing the purple hand approaching the face will remind one not to touch. After shopping the gloves are discarded and the gel used then hand washing on entering the house. I have no idea if this is working for him but so far we seem ok. I think it must be a near impossibility not to scratch if you have an itch. I get hives luckily not often on my face. Scratching makes them worse but it is very hard to just sticking to putting on the cream and waiting for the patch to subside.

[Maggimunro]

Thank you for that.

I can’t get the link to work but I totally agree with you. I used to think it was just me forever touching my face. Nice to know I’m normal!

[absolutepatsy]

Thank you for sharing the video, it is very informative and helpful.

[Hilly22]

Is this the one?

youtube.com/watch?v=WxyH1rk...(Not working as expected?)

[Hidden in reply to Hilly22]

That’s the one!

[IndiraK]

Thank you for posting. Really interesting and strangely reassuring.

[Sereza6]

Extremely informative and reassuring. Well worth the time to watch, and it is easy to understand. Thank you so much for sharing!

[cbaum]

I agree with everyone. If you understand a phenomenon it's easier to deal with it. Thanks for sharing. Very useful.