Here are 3 links on how to self isolate safely and sucessfully from the UK NZ & Canada.
I want to remind members that you are not alone you are a member of the HU forums and we are going to do our best to support comfort and help to keep all our members safe and informed.
Stay safe folks and there is no need to panic buy as that exacerbates the situation and makes life harder for others.
I also feel great concern for those who are homeless so instead of panic buying lets look at how we can reach out and help one another and that’s how we will beat this.
The photo is to help cheer members up as this little fella knows how to relax and take life in his stride.
Jerry
65 Replies
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The Canadian advice makes a really clear distinction between social distancing and self-isolation:
"Please note: that these guidelines are not meant to say “you must stay in your home!”
You can still go outside to take a walk, go to the park, or walk your dog. If you need groceries, go to the store. We simply recommend that while outside you make sure to avoid crowds and maintain a distance of 1-2 metres (3-6 feet) from those around you. "
AND
"Self-isolation is when you have been instructed to separate yourself from others, with the purpose of preventing the spread of the virus, including those within your home. If you are ill, you should be separated from others in your household to the greatest extent possible."
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Thank you for pointing this out Hidden as fresh air and exercise is paramount to good health.
This is very helpful information. We need to do something for the homeless.
Thank you Jerry and away from the current situation, your photo has cheered me up no end, it certainly is a cat's life. What a gorgeous cat he is, beautiful.
On another note, I am not panic buying and agree with you a regarding this. We did our normal weekly shop last week and will continue to do so, I refuse to panic buy.
Hi alicia I went shopping this morning and asked an assistant where the panic aisle was as I wanted to panic buy...
I bought my normal shop of fresh veg and organic was aplenty the frozen had all gone, which isn't fair on those who cannot afford to stock up things.
It has made me realise just how lucky I am as I wonder about the homeless and what about all the refugee's how can they cope with a rampant virus doesnt bear thinking about.
Here's a link that I know will interest and inspire you as it very imaginative forward thinking:
One thing that really please me is the common theme of people wanting to help each other on here so I'm proud of 'our' members.
Jerry. 😊
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Oh I love that, bet she was amused and I expect you're the first person that's said that.
I'm glad you managed to find the fresh food but agree it's not fair on others that people panic buy.
I also realise how lucky I am as I dont have to worry about keeping a business going/having enough money. Also as you've said the homeless.
Thank you for the link, I'm going to look at that.
I've offered help to a friend whose husband is waiting for a life saving heart operation as she's self isolated early so her hubby keeps well before his planned operation.
What plans does your friend have in place if you get the virus and have to self isolate immediately? Who will take over from you in helping her, does she have any extra supplies in to tide her over until that’s sorted? As you said you’ve only done your normal weekly shop, If you fell ill at the end of the week, who will you be relying on to bring you supplies for the following two weeks before you are allowed out of the house again?
My friend thought ahead and she self isolated a lot earlier i.e. when the virus wasn't quite a prevalent. I would use online shopping if I fell ill and to be honest I have quite a lot in our food cupboards and freezer as I've been following a low fodmap diet so have a lot in my cupboards for the diet.
Some friends of mine have already reported that they can’t get a delivery slot for at least a week. As this situation became more pressing, not everyone was in the position of you and your friend of already having a well stocked cupboard that would last them for weeks, which explains why they have gone out to buy extra, and are seen by others as panic buying.
Well so be it, we'll just have to wait if we can't go out. My hubby certainly doesn't want to risk being infected with his chest.
I don't know whether my friend bought extra but had no choice anyway as her husband's condition is now life threatening and the operation he has scheduled will be saving his life.
I haven't panic bought at all, I've been buying toilet paper regularly as I have IBS and need it so I've made sure I have enough. I was poorly 2 nights ago and went through loads.
What I’m trying to say to you, but perhaps not clearly is please stop thinking of it as panic buying, and take a sensible precaution now, while you can, of buying enough to keep you self sufficient for a couple of weeks. The fact that so many people have done that simultaneously, in my opinion, has given a wrong impression that they are being selfish. I think in some ways, making sure you would be self sufficient is the opposite in that you will not need support which can then be redirected to others.
Not a problem re wording. I've got quite a lot in the freezer and that's because I'm following the low fodmap diet so batch cook, it's the only way I can do it as most recipes are for 4 or more.
Yes we are making sure we'll be ok when we can't get out and hope you'll be ok as well.😊
I’m more concerned for my young relative, now isolated for 12 weeks as immune system suppressed, so I’m aiming for the best statistical odds of avoiding contact with the virus for as long as possible, so I can continue to support them. Unfortunately that means taking “social distancing” very seriously and in particular avoiding contact with other close relatives for a while too, in the hope that the extended family wouldn’t all get it at once. A bit sad, but it’s the best plan we have.
I'm exactly the same as you as my 4 year old granddaughter is on 2 different chemotherapy drugs as she has JIA, she has Uveitus ie. the disease attacks her eyes and without the drugs she would have gone blind. The NHS have been amazing.😊
I hope she stays free of this. I’ve suggested that as self isolation doesn’t stop us going out for a drive - we take it in turns for two cars to go and park up with a view somewhere, flask and picnic, chat on the phone within view of each other. Total isolation otherwise could be a mental challenge. Good luck. Xx
Thank you, she's doing really well at present and long may it continue. I'm on the phone to my daughter just about every day now as we are checking up on each other. The other difficulty I have it my other daughter without the children has serious mental health issues so I'm also keeping a very close eye on her.
I have a close relative that struggles with mental health too. I worry that lack of social contact will not be good for them, so I’m on high alert (but it’s not always possible to see signs of them struggling). Right now this second I’m feeling pretty stressed myself having got an absolute torrent of abuse for not moving up, from the woman behind me in a supermarket queue - next time I think I should explain in advance why I’m not moving closer to person in front and keeping trolley behind me to create a distance there too. Only mentioning it as you are taking the “distancing” seriously too and I wouldn’t want you to have a similar incident.
It's very difficult and the only thing we can do is be on alert. How awful for someone to be that abusive whilst in a queue, that's not good at all. When I went to the supermarket today they had put tape on the floor as isolation lines so you kept your distance from the person in front of you and behind. I really hope it doesn't happen to me so thank you for the warning.
I love a solitary life, it is my default setting, but I haven’t the fight to contend with young fit shoppers intent on clearing shelves, it’s exhausting, let’s hope more stores bring in an early hour for older patrons
Hi Tudee me too, I am very content with my own company and I don't drink alcohol or eat out as I'm a coeliac who is very sensitive to tiny traces of gluten.
I believe this bulk buying will peter out as there are plenty of stocks and the supermarket shoppers will calm down.
True Jerry, nice to find another eremite, I think things will even out shortly, my Tesco Express caters for most of my needs, apart from Pearl Barley and Mung beans, but I have a large supply of dried goods so I manage. Take good care. Dee
Hi Jerry, perhaps there need to be a definition of what panic buying is? I have certainly stocked up on two weeks extra worth of supplies that I wouldn’t normally have, so that in the event of one of the three of us in the household getting the virus, we can all self isolate immediately without having to make further trips out of the house, or rely on others to deliver to us. To me that is a sensible strategy, not a panic buy. Having done it once, I have no need to repeat it, just carry on shopping (social distancing) at normal levels for the duration of the pandemic until needing to actually isolate, when going to the shops will be out of the question and the extra supplies will be used.
This is what I have done, we are a family of four adults and we have enough stored to manage for two weeks, I’m not buying over and above that because if we catch it the first one of us with symptoms will be free to go back out to the shops by then. I consider this sensible planning, not panic buying. The only thing I still want to get if I can is a little more paracetamol, we have enough for 4 days each but possibly might need a few more days worth for the raised temp.
Thank you Fran Having read isolation guidelines about asking friends / delivery services to bring shopping and leave it at the door, I am happier to not have to put others at risk, or rely on friends who may themselves be in isolation as well.
Hi PandQs you are quite right as we have been told to be preopared to self isolate and now over 70's are being advised to do this.
My opinion of 'panic' buying is buying far too much and the supermarkets should have seen it coming as the same thing has happend across the world like a domino effect and yet the supermarkets werent prepared for the extra demand leading to supplies of hand sanitisers and toilet rolls running out thus creating a panic situation.
The people that I've seen massivley bulk buying aren't in the over 70's age bracket.
I am a coeliac and rely on GF foods and always keep extra stock so I haven't had to buy extra and I still need to buy fresh products and intend to locally at off peak times.
I saw someone clear the shleves of all the 6 packs of baked beans now that was 'panic' buying in my opinion rather than taking sensible precautions so please do not think that I am criticising you or anyone else for buying a little extra.
Thank you for your honest answer as it helps clear things up and please stay safe.
Well apparently plenty of people seem to think buying anything more than your normal weekly shop should be condemned as selfish or over reaction. I’m also shocked by the number of over 70s I know who think that recommendations to at least “social distance” don’t apply to themselves personally. One even said they were still planning to hold a houseparty in a few weeks time.
I think that it's always easy to criticise and blame others.
Really we have to look at why and it's empowering for some to feel that they are as ready as they can be. Bulk buying tiolet paper will come to an abrupt end as there is no real shortage it's just the supermarkets weren't prepared for the extra initial demand of long life basics and then others think I better get some before next month and thats what causes it, so it becomes self perpatuating.
It is very dificult to comprehend it all as less then 0.5% of the population have the virus and yet it's negatively impacting on the remaning 99.5%
I think that you've been very sinsible and I'd avoid the house party personally but to some people the 'show must go on'.
Personally I'm for adhering to the current advice to keep me and everyone else as safe as we can.
Panic buying shows human nature to over prepare rather than take sensible action.
Since hearing advice in U.K. yesterday, I have one relative self isolating for at least 12 weeks due to a suppressed immune system, and another because she is pregnant. During the next three months we will try to keep them supplied with at least 2 weeks worth, to cover for the situation where we may not be able to go out and get things for them. All this and I’ve not even heard of anyone actually having the virus in the near vicinity. That may change soon, but we are as ready as we can be if the situation alters.
At the present moment, but numbers increasing. I’m not feeling alarmed in anyway, but coming into contact with the .5% could kill my relative so it does seem sensible to take precautions against that happening. Probably even a lower percentage of the population get run over by a bus during their lifetime, but maybe that’s because as a matter of normal behaviour, knowing danger can be present, we look both ways before crossing. Sensible precautions in given circumstances.
Well it depends on the illness. The adage "feed a cold, starve a fever" came about because those with the cold become more hungry. The common cold is a type of Coronavirus, so we might find we feel hungrier
If I was I’ll probably not - but others in the household would be required to stay in isolation for two weeks as well, even if they don’t feel unwell, and they eat like horses 😀
For me personally food doesn’t taste, when I’m poorly, so I must be one of those who isn’t bothered too much about eating. As I’m over eleven stone you can imagine I’m not ill very often 😂😂😂. Hope it stays that way too for myself and everyone else too, stay safe everyone😀
That’s a philosophy we’ve followed all our lives, with money as well. So maybe now, if we have a financial cushion, it’s not just because we’re lucky, but also because we didn’t always have the newest, biggest and flashiest :)) It’s the biblical tale of putting by in years of feast, to tide you over the famine. Best wishes to you during this difficult time, hope the troubles bypass you!
It's good to keep a stock of food if you can, the only thing I can't get is spelt flour which annoys me as it's the only flour I can tolerate, I use it to make sourdough bread. It annoys me so much that people stockpile foods that they probably never even buy so leaving the shelves empty of all the special foods i.e. GF for those on special diets.
I've had IBS since 1996 and it was well under control right up until November 2018 but then I got food poisoning at the end of November 2018 and it turned it on it's head and I started to get acute nausea and diarrhoea just about every day. I've had loads of tests and to cut a long story short I'm now following the low fodmap diet and it's working, I feel so much better. Keeping a diet diary is really good as I know exactly what I'm reacting to, I had cornflakes on Saturday and Sunday last week and the Sunday night (just over a week ago now) I was very poorly, feeling like I was going to be sick and awful diarrhoea. The cornflakes were supposed to be low fodmap but they certainly weren't has they had barley in them so I will not be eating cornflakes again for sure.
I really hope you find something that makes you feel better, have you tried the low fodmap diet?
Yes I'm the same, I've always kept a well stocked cupboard. I don't agree with hoarding.
I don't like the GF but I can't have it anyway as I'm a Vegan and most contain eggs. I make everything I eat myself so I know exactly what I'm eating.
It’s all rather difficult and different, but I prefer to do my own shopping, I wear a mask and gloves, wether they help or no is still in question, but I feel at least a little protected and people tend to give me a wide berth. Take care. Dee
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