COVID silver lining

[P0rtnahapp1e]

Most winters I have to be really careful incase I pick up a chest infection and spend on average, a week in hospital on oxygen. Looking after two small grandchildren means I’m in danger of picking up coughs and colds since little ones are no respecters of social niceties such as covering their mouth when coughing or sneezing.

This year I’ve been so well. Social distancing, mask wearing, hand washing, little outside contact, constantly cleaning door handles etc., and here we are in late February with ne’er a tickle of a cough.

[Butcharts]

My wife and I both realised the same yesterday. I think everyone will be a bit more careful with hand washing etc for a long time. Think I might have preferred a few colds rather than the horrendous toll the pandemic has caused. Stay well.

[Pollypuss]

I had the nova virus a few years back really badly and that taught me always to wash my hands when I get back home and always carry a hand sanitiser . I used the hand sanitiser a lot especially when eating out and I think it has worked. There are other nasties out there not just the COVID after all

[Sunnie2day]

Sadly, if experience from the H1N1 pandemic tells me anything, it's that the average person will almost immediately go back to 'enjoying', erm, less than stellar hygiene once the restrictions are lifted.

I was in the US at the time, close to taking early retirement. I sent around a memo telling my staff if they even thought they might be unwell to stay home - no penalties incurred for 'excessive' sick day call-outs - as we had several members on the team who had underlying health concerns rendering them quite vulnerable (myself included)!

A young man on the team decided to ignore the memo, came into a small room meeting coughing all over us and the papers we all had to share around. Three of us (myself included) ended up in hospital. I took early retirement a bit earlier after that!

And once the pandemic was over, hand-washing, elbow-bumps, hugless welcomes and other social distancing measure, door furniture sanitising, etc, all went.

I hope I'm wrong about people dropping strict hygiene once this is all over - but sadly I don't think I am. All we can do is keep to the regime ourselves and avoid those who won't.

[gladliz]

It's an ill wind!!