After a rather heavy post last night I am just bringing up a comment I saw on another form which may be of interest to any who are to self-isolate and who have family members who would normally be going out to work, with the attendant risks.
I don't know the details but this was sent out to staff at B&Q:
"Following the government’s latest guidance on the 1.5 million most vulnerable members of society, colleagues living with anyone who’s been identified as extremely vulnerable and received a letter from the NHS can now stay at home on full pay. Please share the letter with your line manager and they’ll make sure you continue to be paid."
I realise that by no means all companies will be as generous - but it does suggest that the government is providing a subsidy of some sort to employers for people in that situation and it is worth asking. My daughter (herself vulnerable) is still working as a nurse and is intent on continuing - so her daughter, who is also vulnerable, has moved out to her boyfriend's home for safety as his mum is on chemotherapy and must shield anyway. Not everyone is as lucky.
Here in Italy there has been a fall in new cases for 2 or 3 days running - a positive sign that the just over 2 week lockdown is now achieving something. That is how long it takes to work at all - the incubation period is about that. You are just starting in the UK and USA - but there is some light along that tunnel. That won't be the end, there will be restrictions for months before we are out of the woods. But it is a start, A glimmer of hope.
But the message is: STAY AT HOME! It will be worth it.
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Obviously better to work for B&Q than Wetherspoons -
“The millionaire boss of Wetherspoon pubs has suggested his 40,000 staff should go to work at Tesco amid uncertainty over their futures due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Tim Martin indicated the company would not continue to pay employees who were now not working after pubs in the UK were closed to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Instead, in a rambling video sent out late on Monday, the 64-year-old said that supermarkets were hiring – and wished his workers good luck.”
Hopefully many of his customer base will show their disapproval by boycotting his company post Covid-19.
I'll never go into Edeke again. I can't believe, now that there are so many vulnerable people who really can't get out of the house and have little help, that any such large supermarket would stop deliveries.
Having seen the situation in the UK and the sudden increase in demand I do understand how they may have got to a state where they can't manage it. Getting extra people to do it will pose problems.
As a good news story to make wetherspoons md look even worse, asda are paying their staff an extra weeks wages in june for stepping up and covering other staff who have had to take time off. Good on them. YBB
Aldi are doing a incredible job , one of the first to allow staff members to self isolate on full pay , increasing staff pay by 10% backdated to March 9 th for their extra work and offering a bonus after the period , increasing staff by 4000 to help customers but also offering jobs to people who may have had their freelance work suspended , accepting the applications in less than a day and one of the first to decide to use and place in plastic screens. And paying suppliers immediately instead of the usual wait to help them cope with their extra costs in supply.
I have just shot off feedback etc to Tesco but you aren't getting through to the right people. They are not letting me check what on my list now, as of now they have NO clear support for isolated or elderly customers in terms of delivery. Only a daily rugby scrum and a plea for non isolated to click and collect. I mean fully able bodied, no illness people aren't using click and collect.
I think the people who raided the shops and then threw things away are despicable and should be put on rations. If it and some others can't respond more quickly with their access to goods then we are truly messed up.
I agree - don’t use his Pubs following the aftermath, as a protest to this despicable Rich bloke following his statement dropping a bomb on his worried loyal staff.
please ask everyone on Health Unlocked to wear disposable gloves when bringing their wheely bin back in , as the bin men are transmitting the virus from house to house. keep your home safe, do not bring the virus into your home.
The logical extension to that is that they should not touch the bin itself without disposable gloves at any time. Or it needs to be cleaned regularly too.
But do you have any evidence that this is happening?
I don't. But I always wear gloves. I now wash the handles to lift the lids. The surfaces are surfaces and they do 100 bins in.mynstreet. I am lucky that I don't need to touch the bit they pull along with. But if I wash the things I bring in the house...then I ain't gonna touch no bin. I get my rubbish bin washed on emptying. A couple in a white van come round and clean with with soapy disinfectant and a power washer.
I saw at least one borough stopped waste collection earlier in the week and reports waste collection suspended due to overload ...different issue I know. ... But it was about workers safety in some cases, so if workers are at risk? Part of the reason is social distancing from public so they are starting earlier. I think people should be washing their hands after handling bins anyway.
We only have one bin - the bio bin and since my bio rubbish is collected in a small bin in the house and transferred to a paper bag to chuck out I can use the paper bag to lift the lid. Someone else transfers the bin out to the collection place. The ordinary rubbish is put in bin bags that you collect from the local authority and you are effectively charged by volume which is fair. So the outside of the bag is clean - only you touch them and take them out the night before! Simples ...
I have 3 bins. They block my front yard. I am in the council list for them to get my bins so I don't move them. But I started leaving them at the front. The black one for rubbish is fornightly, but they missed last one. The blue for paper and brown for plastic and glass. Sometimes I can best get in the front door!?
our bin was collected today and the bin men like all those across the uk, handle the bins, with or without gloves on, the public wheeling their bins out may have the virus and infect the bin handles, the bin men then wheels them to and from the lorry, and touch their faces noses eyes reflexively... if they have the virus, from touching the handles , or in themselves, they then infect our handles, the public then return the bins with naked hands, and go indoors and have sandwich or whatever... peple are walking he virus in to their homes....
if only I could get hold of boris and ask him to tell the nation that everyone must wear disposable gloves or use paper towels to wheel their bins out to the kerb and to return them home, to stop the virus spread. this affects every single home in the country. yes stay home, but guard your door, with your life!!!!
also the bin men should have face visors to stop them touching their eyes mouth nse and face, as they then could unwittingly return an infected wheely bin to a home. his is happening now! everyone should have a visor, they are affordable on ebay ad amazon , they stop people touching their face and are a barrier to be couch on.. in A & E wait room, on the underground, in an isolation home with family, will and kate, charles the queen boris you me everyone should have and wear a visor!!! i am a grandmother and this makes perfect sense to me... i pray someone will help me get these common sense messages out there and save lives... uk slogan, be wiser, wear a visor!!!!!please help me if you can to get this out there....
I fear that, since NHS staff on the front line, treating potentially infected patients, don't get a face guard it is not likely the scaffies will be offered one. It is called supply and demand.
I fully appreciate your suspicions - but each of us has to take responsibility for our own health. And we are no better able to get it out there than you are.
I smiled (even though it's not a smiley matter) - scaffies! Haven't seen that word used in SO many years. Took me right back to an Edinburgh childhood- thank you 🙂
In Canada the gov has finally stopped playing nice. People returning from travel now must self -isolate for two weeks, the law, not just strong advice, which means not leaving their home (they can go onto their outdoor property. Tough for apartment dwellers). They can be fined or arrested if they break quarantine. On the other hand the gov has also passed a bill providing 107 billion dollars for emergency funds to help both individuals and businesses that are affected by everything being shut down. I expect this amount will increase as the crisis continues but enough to be getting on with. Some of the money is to go directly to affected workers, not being funneled through employers.
On a personal level I have found it increasingly frustrating trying to have a decent walk without encountering other people who simply will not move over to allow me enough room to pass them safely. Oh well, I am lucky I can still go outdoors.
This morning I could not remember if it was a zero pred day or not. Couldn't find my little diary in which I keep track. Eventually I did and took my .5 mg. It's encouraging that I had no PMR symptoms to remind me. It's been nearly 5 years so I guess as in most things in my life I'm very "average".
I'm going out very early in the morning, between 5.30 and 6.30. The only other people around are a few joggers and dog walkers and when I see somebody approaching, I normally dodge across the road or sometimes the other person does.
You are almost there. Its a good sign when you dont have symptoms to remind you after being late taking the pred. Good that uour government is getting strict. Its the only way with some people. We have had hundreds of holiday makers descend to caravans on the coast ignoring all warnings!! YBB
They were there in their hundreds treating it like a damn holiday. Plus they were all on the beach close to each other!! I just dont understand stupidity and definitely dont have the patience for it!!x YBB
Yes, just look at the photos of all the cars dangerously parked along the mountain road at Snowdon last weekend.
My old work colleague in the Snowdon Society said it was the busiest weekend ever , not just in their memory but based on figures kept over many decades.
As well as all these , ' let's just get one more jolly in before the crackdown ' visitors up the mountain of every age , we also had a bunch ( 100's) of people having a 24 hour rave and second homers travelling to self isolate from all over the country .
People taking no account of the fact that rural communities have very limited medical support ( even for the full time residents) or about the possibility that they themselves would be bringing the virus into areas that might have been clear of infections without their arrival.
I am also sympathetic to people in big Cities , as my daughter's accounts of London showed that not all the irresponsible behaviour in pubs and clubs and shops was actually being done by Londoners alone but by people taking a trip to sightsee while it was quiet.
I am conscious of a lot of consideration and giving going on out there and hope this will continue for the vulnerable well after Covid is gone but the Selfishness and lack of Empathy to the isolated of some people has known no bounds. And there is no excuse for that .
And the Scottish, Welsh and English Mountain Rescue Teams all had to deal with call outs at the weekend. Team members are volunteers, often working in hospitals. They have limited if any PPE. Think of the consequences, and for what? A last walk up the hills for a bit....? It's beyond stupidity I think. Extreme selfishness.
I liked this version of how the virus would spread last weekend:
"Let’s talk about just one of the people who has ‘escaped’ to the hills to ‘socially distance’ themselves. Let’s call him Richard. Richard has been at work all week, he isn’t lucky enough to work at home. Richard eats the lunch he carefully prepared at home on Tuesday, at his desk. Tom the cleaner cleaned Richard’s desk on Monday evening, but Tom had spent the weekend getting smashed in various pubs with his mates. Tom didn’t know it but he was infected. Before Tom cleaned Richard’s desk, he coughed into his hands. He doesn’t care about COVID-19 because he’s young and he believes it wont affect him. Whilst cleaning Richard’s desk he sheds some of the virus onto Richard’s keyboard. Richard has been using his keyboard all morning, and he just started eating his sandwich. Richard is now infected, but he wont show symptoms for another week.
Fast forward to the weekend and Richard decides, because he’s fit and healthy, he’s going to climb Pen y Fan with his wife. They arrive at Storey Arms Carpark after a 2 hour drive during which Richard shared some of his water with his wife.Richard is literally a virus incubator right now and if she hasn’t breathed in the virus, she’s covered in it, it’s only a matter of time. Richard pays his parking charge using the machine and off he goes. There’s lots of lovely virus on the machine now, waiting for the next person...and the next...and the next. Richard and his wife decide to take the track past Storey Arms and it’s really busy. It’s so busy in fact that on the way up he has to wait in a queue to go over the stile .Richard isn’t wearing gloves today because the weather is nice and walking keeps you warm. He’s feeling a little more fatigued than usual though. Over the stile they both go, innocently shedding virus as they do. He’s sweating quite a bit and keeps wiping his face with his hand. At several points they have to put their hands on rock, the same rocks everyone else has to. Finally though, they get to the top, yay! They both have to wait in another queue to get onto the summit trig, which they touch, because it’s a kind of ritual. They don’t think about the 1000 other people who will do the same after them today. On the way down Richard’s wife takes a little tumble and twists her ankle. Mike, a local, comes over to offer assistance, which Is gratefully accepted. Mike and Richard support Richard’s wife to the bottom, Richard shakes Mike’ s hand and they depart. Under normal circumstances Richard would take his wife to a minor injuries clinic, but they know the NHS is under strain because of the virus, it’s probably only a light sprain anyway, so they dont bother, they’re doing their bit to help by not going to hospital. Richard doesn’t know that he’s just infected countless people, and they don’t know either. Richard thinks what he is doing won’t harm anyone and he goes home really happy with himself that he’s only doing what the government told him to do.
On the way home he really begins to feel rough but thinks he’s tired from the walk, so he stops for a coffee at the garage in Brecon and gets himself a express coffee. After he’s chosen his drink using his bare hands on the touch screen, he uses some hand gel, because, he doesn’t want to catch the virus! He’s a responsible citizen though, so he keeps his distance from everyone else in the shop, 2 metres!
Richard has no idea he’s just unleashed a plague on Wales in spectacular fashion."
There was also a stupid british woman who went in the hotel pool despite supposedly being on lock down. There are some really stupid people out there and probably as many nasty little thugs happy to spread what they can. YBB
I think people are still doing that here although all our parks and beaches and most of the trails have been closed. Fools. At least our family members are all being very careful. Concerned about my brother in law an his wife who drove back to Canada from Yuma Arizona, getting back a day or two ago to British Columbia. My husband was just talking to his brother and he said that they stopped in restaurants along the way in the US where they talked to people who actually believe the pandemic is a hoax. God help us.
The two of them are now serving two weeks self-isolation. I hope they know how to do it right. I think the so-called "snowbirds" returning from wintering down south have little idea what the actual situation is.
I live in Idaho, home of many, many hoaxers. I’ve been sounding the alarm for weeks with family and friends. Much of the time it falls on deaf ears. We have national news (Fox) and a president (and plenty other conservative sources) telling people it’s a hoax, it’s a cold or flu, a liberal attack on the president and all kinds of other BS. Fake news, “alternative” facts, attacks on the media, disbelief in science, conspiracy theories...we are bathed in this constantly. This country is in for a rude shock. It’s a slow moving horror story.
Even by their own very low standards the sources your mention have really found new lows on this particular subject. Our lot took a while to wake up (too long in my opinion) but some of what we hear from your side of the Atlantic is truly mind blowing....as you say 'a slow moving horror story'.
At the end of February, as it was all starting elsewhere Trump said something about a hoax and that Covid19 was "just another flu" in the same campaign rally speech
Then he spent the first six weeks of the outbreak insisting that the situation was under control. He had characterized Democratic criticism of the federal government’s response, which has been lowlighted by an inability to test sufficient numbers of people for the virus, as “their new hoax.”
👍 to Snopes. Exactly in the “what’s false”. Lots of political rhetoric otherwise.
in reply to
I think it was a summary of the whole crisis during the past month or so. There are people who have been on here that have stated not to believe the news it's no worse than flu.
Trump and fox news both said it was a hoax last month. It happens in all countries, Canada has had people who state it's a hoax.....but leaders don't usually say it. 🤔
During a Feb. 28, 2020, campaign rally in South Carolina, President Donald Trump likened the Democrats' criticism of his administration's response to the new coronavirus outbreak to their efforts to impeach him, saying "this is their new hoax."
Given the desperate situation in New York at the moment you'd have thought the light would have dawned. But you know who has seen his approval rating go up, my husband thinks because he's now approved major spending.
For all those in Canada, you cannot base your opinions of the US response on the Canadian news reports. It is SO biased here in Canada, you would not hear a good word if Trump personally found the cure himself. If you look at the actual FACTS, per population the US is among the leaders. If you take off the 1/3 of cases which are in NY, and their governor refused to shut schools etc till much later, the stats (aka facts) are even better. I know this is not the place to have a political argument, but having lived in both USA and Canada, it infuriates one how everything is always based on biased and false news media reports. Canada would be doing better IMO if Trudeau would get out of his damn house and do his job. Once his wife tested positive, why did he not get a test? I could go on and on.......
The information about the opinions of some people living between Yuma and Vancouver is first hand from a relative. I have no opinion who is "responsible" for the situation in New York, where they do not expect the peak for another three weeks. What matters is even the emergency morgue has needed already to be expanded. I love New York. My heart aches. And it brings home in stark reality the situation repeated in places all over the world. For the first time in many lifetimes the whole planet is fighting the same enemy. You and I both.
I'm in the UK so I'm not fully aware of the rules in Canada but over here he'd be expected to self isolate inside for 14 days in these circumstances so he'd be irresponsible if he "got out of his...…house" like you suggest. Surely he has the resources to do his job from home with technology, video conferencing etc...?
Indeed. He gives a "physically distanced" news update and answers questions every day. He has called parliament to a (physically distanced) session in order to pass the bill which will enable thousands of Canadians, including the self-employed, and businesses, to access emergency funds. He acknowledges that the situation changes continuously and the government does its best to keep up with challenging situations, including financially assisting factories to retool so they can start producing much needed medical equipment asap.
Our President is not saying it’s a hoax today (he was upset with dems for scaring people) and is working very hard to get this virus under control and keep our economy from imploding. It’s been a huge learning curve for all!!
Suggested date, not hard and fast. Will be determined by what his task force says. I have been watching his daily briefings and heard it live. Don’t want to get into a political debate here. How we feel about him is determined by which news outlet we watch.
You only had to look at the faces behind Trump when he was spouting this rubbish. Deeply embarrassed ;and the poor health spokesman who had to find a diplomatic way of putting the truth out.
My b-i-l and wife returning by car from winter in Arizona a mere two days ago passed through towns where people believe it is all a hoax. Probably the same people who think Elvis is still alive, or that the moon landings were staged on Earth.
It is unfortunate that these same people have not yet got the new more serious message from the "top". I do hope this man has recognised that he will not be able to get everyone back to work by April 3.
I have to say I'm concerned that in my condo bldg there have been repeated memos warning returning residents that they must adhere to the self-isolation rules. It makes me think some of them aren't. Of course we are careful to wash our hands any time we have to take the trash or recycling or compost out, or fetch the mail, and of course whenever we've been out of the building. But the returning travellers must do their bit too.
My son, who has Asperger's syndrome is quite pleased with the 2 meter rule which lets him off the dreaded task of making small talk to neighbours. (Ominous wind?)
He complains bitterly about the people who will not conform. I haven't been out at all but if I was able It would annoy me greatly. They are not worried about their own health and seem prepared to put others at risk. We are going to have to be less polite I suppose.
I would like a series of t-shirts or sweaters or even pinnies with slogans like "Don't be a Victim, Don't be a Vector", "I'm not being rude, I'm social distancing", "Keep your breath to yourself" and others of that ilk. I'd buy a set!
Yes , my friends son has Asperger's and commented on the same thing , he said it was his ' Silver Lining ' and I had a tear as he spoke to me on the phone as he then said ,
' because I know that's your thing and that was my joke for you.'
He said he wants everybody to think about keeping it up after the lockdown , he hopes they will start to understand how good quiet can be and how you don't have to touch or chatter all the time at people to be heard or to get your point across.
I agree totally. Tell him I am totally with him. I am always saying to a friend when we walk that people are so unaware of their surroundings. They treat the world as if it belongs just to them. Like the ones who walked in pairs gabbing, bearly aware they have effectively pushed other people into the road or the wall. Or when you are trying to park and they stand in front of your car looking into the distance and ignore you. I don't like tooting my horn (😉). Noise pollution is terrible. I don't mind hearing kids playing outside, laughing etc. But I won't tolerate arguing. Fortunately their parents don't mind when I shout out the window or when I fire my nerf gun at them. They try and catch them. I can't bear 90% of cafes either, the hum of noise and clanking plate puts teeth on edge.
Many of us with pmrgca suffered severe symptoms of fatigue and a lack of mobility for other reasons as well as pmrgca. One of the things we always say to new members is accept the new normal, as you pointed out bee. Our skills of body management, managing being limited in social and physical movement , and grieving for these changes can help those we know.
Being sensitive to those who are isolated whether they are usually active in life or limited to to social engagement in the old normal, is vitally important. Enjoy your walks and interactions while you can, but please be aware that some are alone, isolated and are literally stuck at home for a minimum of 12 weeks. Others are isolated with family, which can probably be worse than trying to isolate alone! Keeping distance indoors can be a trial.
To hear about companies who are treating their workers with respect is great. There are households who may now have to use the food banks, which are all but empty, and hopefully relationships will survive if money worries are alleviated.
My friend's son is the only person that I let in the house without warning because I know he needs a quiet space and we both understand each others needs and limits.
He comes in , he makes a cuppa , we smile and will often carry on oblivious of each other ( apart from making two drinks instead of one ) for the whole visit. He knows I will talk if he wants to , I don't talk until he does.
We love to walk together ( when I could ) because we go into nowhere and will often only speak to others ,if we must , along the way. We both hate the sudden noise or intrusion in space not because we don't like people but because of how that suddenness makes our Body react.
Even before I knew I had Dysautonomia I hated the human need to fill the void .
And having Chronic Pain and Neuralgia as well gives you the same response to intrusive human behaviour as suffered from Asperger's.
In fact , many Mums of my daughter's friends would ask if I was "on the Spectrum" , just because I didn't want to sit and natter with them but might sit and read or play with the children instead ( or quite often because I was polite but honest with an opinion!).
When I worked in the Craft Centre the children and I would often be quietly working being deafened by the sound of adults . I would often look around when the kids were looking and feeling annoyed and say , " and they say your the noisy ones".
Funny thing is that over the years when alleged friends dropped away because I couldn't do what I did before , he has rang me every week to check if I'm alright if he didn't come to call. The call takes ten minutes , we may talk for five of them .
You are a very understanding person and your friend's son must gain a lot from knowing you. You also have gained a wonderful friend.
I am a very quiet person myself and have often been thought stuck up! I have met few people who are comfortable with silence but even before PMR I found constant chatter very tiring.
Thank you , your Son is very lucky too having a parent whom knows the value of Silence.
I'm actually feeling more symptoms just now because of the added noise in the house of people working at Home.
People think I'm funny but sometimes I actually tell my family not to ring while they are away for the weekend so I can indulge in a few days of Absolute Quietness.
And I tell my friend , nothing needs to stop her Son being Successful , You don't need to make a Noise to make an Impact , take care xxx
Direct to workers is the only way to work. Businesses, especially bg businesses with slick accountants and lawyers, will find a way to funnel some off if it goes to them.
But when returning from travel, how do they get from the airport to their home? The UK is having 3 planes in from Madrid, epicentre of the Spanish outbreak, to Heathrow - and they will be told to go home and self-isolate if they have symptoms. And will be set loose to travel by tube and train. It is blatantly obvious here and in other countries, that at least half of the infected show no or only minimal symptoms - if you don't test to prove otherwise, everyone must be considered infected.
It is ridiculous. Surely they can be stuck in a hotel for 14dayd at the airport. 🤦
Just texted my friend whose brother was stuck in South America..some might say not as risky but have advised 2 cars there, they drive home alone and then quarantine. Car to be fully cleaned etc etc.
My wife is on holiday from Lidl and it’s good to be in social isolation with our 9 year old son but she is due to return to work on Sunday. I haven’t received a letter about my vulnerability, I have GCA, PAD amongst others and on various meds including Prednisolone 30mg daily. Any further info would be much appreciated. Thanks Bob
A woman I knew basically "drank" wd40 when I went to get a tool to help her get in the car. Then of course denied it. But the can had gone which I presumed she threw over the hedge.
Interesting - Austria hasn't publicly admitted to CV at that stage although the ski resorts in North Tyrol are bad now. The first reported case in Italy wasn't until 31st January when it was 2 Chinese tourists. The first Italian case wasn't for another week - although it is obvious there was a fair bit in that region by then.
Have read the article - maybe they will stop blaming Italy for causing it now!
Patient 0 makes me laugh , the concept itself is inaccurate unless there is only a tiny linear outbreak.
As soon as China had the outbreak and had no lockdown on the airport's it was streaming around the world .
Wether it then did its final hop from Austria or not is of academic interest but cannot really be proved.
Originally , they talked about a business person as the first victim who had also travelled to other countries and then gone to UK cities before it's discovery in them.
Just because the first people with a Covid badge showed symptoms or were proved positive by needing treatment doesn't mean that it hadn't been in the UK for months before and they were actually the first patients.
If people did not get a serious case , they were being sent home with flu , nobody knew not even Doctors.
There will be people across the world that everyone assumed died from something else.
There is no blame for China , Austria or Timbuktu , it began as a virus out of their control , the only blame can really be in the lack of speed in dealing with it , and that's a worldwide responsibility.
By the time it left one province of China it had begun a spiders web that Criss crossed in many directions across the World . It just as feasible that a business person from the US travelled to China , stopped off in Britain and then went to Austria on holiday , dropping it off in towns along the whole trip then finally giving it to Family 0 who started the circle heading back again.
Virus spreads like a jar of beads that drops upon a floor . They may roll around and spread out but they also bounce against each other as they escape and roll in many directions before they finally get lost under the sofa.
Think that that accounts for the large nos in London - and yes, saw an article that said it was possible it was already in Europe in mid-December. The first known Brit in Wuhan had it in early December but it was "flu"
Yes , also accounts for the sudden change from no Covid in the US to then a mass of people after they finally started acknowledging what they were seeing by testing for it .
It is not quite clear if it originated in China. The head of CDC was questioned and he specifically said that US may have miss-diagnosed some COVID-19 cases as flu last fall.
I haven't seen my grand daughters in March 7th, the day before one of the 5 year old twin came down with the influenza A. She was sick for a week of fever, vomiting and did not eat and lost 3 lbs in a few days. Her twin then came down with it after she recovered and now her 7 year old sister had it. They are all recovered now but my question is, can I go and have a walk with them outside, keeping our distance, not holding hands or kisses? I miss them so much or should I continue to stay home? I'm in Michigan and we are under a "Shelter in Place" order till April 13th. Thanks
Are they going to understand not to hug you? Think about their safety rather than you missing them.
I haven't seen my grandchildren since before christmas and it will be many months yet. You are not alone in this, think carefully, perhaps a video call?
These are very difficult times. I have just watched a family funeral procession leave. Each household in a seperate car. Her favorite grandson lives alone so is alone in his car crying his eyes out. My sister and I stood outside our homes, alone as they passed, crying in sympathy with the grandson, our nephew.
I turned round to find he'd left some flowers on my doorstep because he won't see me again before my birthday, and I can't touch tbem!
I think there will be many changes in our lives, enjoy your calls. Don't you just ache to hug them!
Oh no. How sad for your nephew in particular. And how lovely of him to have thought of you with the flowers. I hope you can take some comfort from that.
We have a family funeral tomorrow - I'm not close family so wouldn't be allowed to go although in ordinary circumstances I would have - but the minister is apparently going to try and broadcast it on FaceBook. I'm not sure about that but it I guess it will give people the chance to feel included. Difficult times for everyone. Take care. x
He is very dear to us, a giant of a man that wouldn't harm a fly. He was prepared to do anything for his nan. I really felt for him, normally he would have come for a hug, and I could do with that today, and so could he.
I have put them and all their many wrappings on the garden table where I can see them. They came from a small corner shop and I have no idea who has handled them or coughed over them I would rather be safe than sorry at the moment.
I fear for my nephew, he works in this shop, in an area where not all people are as aware as they should be
I know how you feel. Not for the first time I bless the day not all that long ago that my son and his girlfriend got together. He'd lived alone quite a long time, but now there are two and I do feel better about that.
They've just interviewed a researcher on our radio. He was discussing the length of time covid-19 survives on surfaces. He had this interesting thing to say about the discovery of covid on the cruise ship. He said the method used to find the virus is different and what was found was "traces" of genetic material from the virus. It has not yet been determined whether is is actually still infectious.
That being said of course you do need to be careful with freshly delivered plastic....
You have taken the most sensible and positive action at this time .
It was a lovely thought on his behalf and you must feel very cared for but it will take many people time to understand how something even as simple as giving a bunch of packaged flowers can have its own risks.
With your Teaching background and knowledge of the sciences you know better than most what risks are worth taking and which are not.
I can still see them through the window and somehow flowers always look better in the sun.
I've just had to bolt the garden gate. We are encouraging the young children to play in our front gardens away from the traffic. One little lad became facinated in trying to open the gate. I would love to play with him. There so many hard new decisions to make every day at the moment
Most kids would love your gardens. Christ i love your garden!! Grandson had a field day there collecting hundreds of conkers!! Its hard but necessary unfortunately.xx YBB
Yes. I normally stand chat to the kids next door on nice days. They are cricket mad and I like it too so we discuss that all the time. Oldest one will be devastated the team he plays for are cancelled.
I keep forgetting this. We wash the cardboard that things come in - leave for a while then open them and take out the content - in a plastic wrapper!!!
The box would be the risk rather than the inner wrapper though , as the food in the plastic wrap will have been in there some time and the wrapper not touched recently because of the box.
This one was sent from within Germany (a small firm) within 2 days. It is said plastic can be 'infected' for 72 hours!! But why look on the black side?😂
Marcus: The New England Journal of Medicine just published a study that tested how long the virus can remain stable on different kinds of surfaces within a controlled laboratory setting. They found that it was still detectable on copper for up to four hours, on cardboard for up to 24 hours, and on plastic and steel for up to 72 hours.
But it’s important to note that the amount of virus decreased rapidly over time on each of those surfaces. And so the risk of infection from touching them would probably decrease over time as well."
"Is there a risk of being infected by groceries and packages that we have delivered?
Marcus: It’s a low risk, but it’s possible that if someone is delivering a package to your house and they are sick, that may be a route for transmission. I would recommend that any time something new comes into your household, be conscious of washing your hands after handling it.
Iwasaki: The [virus’s] stability is pretty good on the cardboard. Once you get those packages, open them, quickly throw away the cardboard, wash your hands, and try to avoid touching your face. Take any measures that you can to minimize contact from the surface of the package to your face."
People who have suffered a virus or flu like symptoms should be remaining in their own homes , and not going for a walk , so total self isolation until 7 days after the last Family Member has suffered from an illness. If someone in the house comes down with an illness with cough ,flu like symptoms all members of the household are meant to go into total self isolation for 14 days .
If the last family member caught the bug on Day 13 that individual would still have to be restricted from contact with others for 7 days from Day 13 to ensure what develops is not Covid 19 , even if the other people in the house were not tested positive during their own illnesses.
If you are in a high risk group you should be in self isolation yourself while the outbreak is still reaching its peak. You should really follow the directive you have been given until April 13 th and beyond if more people within the Family come down with something after that. By the 13th as stated you could also be more sure that the Family have fully recovered from whatever they contracted , and hadn't accidentally come into contact with Covid 19 after they finally left the house. Don't forget , outside the Home , even in rural locations , you can't be sure who you will pass along the way .
There is a serious reason for this . Even if your Family have not developed Covid 19 part of the reason that people with underlying health issues should Stay at Home , only have household members beyond the front door , not go on walks, and get deliveries , is also to prevent you catching other illnesses that would reduce your Health and Immunity further and make it more likely that you would have a critical attack if you then caught Covid 19.
I understand that people miss contact with family members and a walk at distance seems like it would be ok , but this restriction is not OTT , it's important for everyone . A month really isn't very long in the greater scheme of things , especially as you can't have physical contact with people anyway when you get used to it , phone or Skype is actually very good, richer and more flexible right now with children and actually better for their Mental Health as well.
If you aren't in the same physical place children will not get confused , more frightened of the restrictions and upset by not being able to get those cuddles and kisses they also long for when Grandma is only a few feet away from them.
You could really help your children and grandchildren through this crisis by having daily , positive chats and interaction instead. Conversations or Skype for half an hour , singing , playing games ( sending them to find things then bring them back to show you etc. ). Not concentrating on the negatives of the situation or talking about missing each other or how you can't wait to see each other ( as this only upsets children and reminds them of the restrictions and the loss ).
Acting as if being able to do things like that on the phone is fun and what you want to do also helps them to cope with the Anxiety of Social Distancing every day. The time spent with you in this way can also help your children get a few minutes to themselves or to do a job and help their Mental Health. It may even become something special for you to share that you wouldn't want to give up even after you can see each other face to face again.
Thanks for your wisdom and wise words. We moved to the same town after the twins were born to be of a help. I certainly do not want them to be at risk nor myself. I will take your advice and share it with my husband also.
As scats has mentioned earlier she doesnt see her grandchildren that often due to distance yet she would be very very strict on not seeing them even if they lived on the doorstep no matter how hard. My grandson is normally always around here but we are making do with face time and waving from the door to him in the car when his mum and dad have dropped food off to us. I really feel for everyone missing their precious grandchildren but know i am luck to have a way of seeing mine even through a laptop.xx YBB
But everyone who is on here has at least a smartphone - my daughter uses FB messenger to video call, propping the phone up next to her while she cooks her tea/dinner/supper - whatever you want to call it. Works fine ...
Or even a landline , positive verbal contact is more important to use all than seeing a face. Psychologically speaking a chat has more impact on your Health than seeing a face.
Using digital contacts is far safer - look back at some of the Covid19 threads because it has been talked about there quite a lot. I see my grandchildren once a year if I'm lucky - we've actually been in contact more since Covid19 blew up! In many ways I think that is easier than trying not to touch each other - after all, you can kiss each other on the screen as long as it is clean!
Hoorah to your Son , clearly thinking far more about the little troops Morale than Army Grandad is.
It will be very upsetting to a child to see a grandparent within a few feet and not be able to touch them. Adults are different , and it may be a great thing for Grandad to stand by the door and say how much he misses them , but the children will only be reminded of how upsetting that is for them and what they can't do and why.
I really feel for grandparents , especially those that are more used to regular visits , but we all need to be a bit more logical and adapt for the moment to make things easier on everybody. Two minutes , two metres apart will be torture for the little ones .
-Spend time doing things you enjoy - reading, cooking and other indoor hobbies
- Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, and drink enough water
- Spending time with the windows open to let in fresh air, sit and look out at the world where you can, or get out into the garden or sit on your doorstep if you can.
I would normally opt out but I want to see what they come up with next. It's going you don't know this stuff. But to be honest..I was a bit tongue in cheek..howerd or Williams stylee
I can't use a mobile so can't get texts , I often found that a relief even before this virus, no constant communication.
Since my OH has worked at Home online teaching this week I feel like I'm living in a call centre . Not just from the overheard phone calls or video chats but the constant ping when a new message drops in ( the sound button is stuck on high on his system and they way it works he has to hear it not see it as he is busy , he tried moving the system onto our computers but it is too slow to work ) this is going to feel like a long ride , not because I can't go out , but because everybody else is in.
If only , not allowed to use them , and only padded earphones for short periods or they set the Trigeminal Neuralgia and Tinnitus off . It becomes an incredibly frustrating game of what to choose and what action will give the shorter Pain Flare or Migraine.
I took revenge yesterday and did a bit of Gong Therapy , Dong, Dong, Ping, Ping, Ping, Dong, Ping, Doonng ! It was the Battle of the Bongs 😋😂😂😂
My Dysautonomia has unfortunately gone into overdrive in the last 48 hours and I obviously can't get my new drugs until letters arrive from the Hospital again.
Currently , doing Cardio by sitting with my feet up on the sofa , Heart Rate 129 and BP on the floor!!!
Actually, it occurs to me, when I'm multitasking on the computer and really need to hear arriving emails I use earphones - he'll hear but you won't???????
😂😂😂😂 School equipment , no earphones came with it and it's old so none of our will fit or our adaptors work.
I love you , you've just gone through the whole list of things that we did I bet you are tutting like we did too.
His colleague got so fed up of it , even though he still had volume control, he actually went out and bought himself a new laptop just before the non essential shop closure came in ( the package is so large you can't have anything but that downloaded on the computer for it to run properly!!). In his opinion it was an essential as if he has to do this for months he decided he would be more likely to beat himself to death with the laptop before the virus got him!😂😂😂😂
We still have some VERY VERY old laptops - and most of the stuff you acquire with them tends not to get thrown out in this household. Bet we have something - shame we are so far away.
I'm going to steam up the bathroom after lunch and play my contemplative music compilation to drown it out , with any luck it will start to bring it down. If not , I will have to resort to knocking myself out with a mallet , there's always a way 😋
The good news is that this will soon become just another part of the soundscape of your day.
I once lived in a flat in a high rise apartment building that abutted the garbage chute. Every time someone upstairs used it, the trash would make a racket as it passed my place, and I'd jump and practically hit the ceiling. After 2 weeks, I was only aware of it when we had a guest who had the same reaction.
That apartment was also down the street from the police station. Even the sirens faded into the background after a couple of weeks.
The one noise I never did get used to was the fog horns in the harbor, because they didn't sound all the time. They would keep me up all night.
Funny isn't it , you see I love a fog horn , I can cope with sirens even the rare one in the Country , Dysautonomia , or autonomic nerve dysfunction acts in a funnier way to sound than normal ' fight or flight' .
Often it's the pitch , suddeness or the irregularity of the noise that causes more response than what causes it.
Sirens come and fade , Fog Horns and even bins are low pitch . High pitch can be regular but always cause a response . Regular Snoring, even loud, would be fine , but Snoring like my OHs sleep apnea , up and down and total stops caused separate beds. Believe it or not I can cope with hours of screaming from children but not a minute from babies.
I actually use some very unusual sounds and music to control the Dysautonomia and to reduce Tinnitus. I think ear buzzing got worse recently because I can't touch my face at the moment and help reduce it by tapping under my ears. And the buzzing adds to the Dysautonomia in a vicious circle on my heart rate.
I loved the fog horns, too, especially when the fog was so thick we couldn't see the ground. But with dozens of ships in the harbor, it was like New Year's Eve with all of them blaring at one another. And some of the ships were so big, with such low horns, that my chest wold vibrate every time they went off.
I don't know how long will you be "stuck" with schooling from home, but it might be worth investing in blue-tooth USB dongle that you can use with wireless headset. I am sure that even old school PC have usb port.
Thanks , we'll look into it , perhaps we can work out which one and get it from Amazon , now all the non essential shops are shut it may be the quickest route online here.
That goes to show you shouldn't rely on your OH !!
The teacher who went said that they were shutting from the lockdown , only online , but the estimated delivery could have been upto 13 days, they registered him as a business so that he could buy it then , I think he went to PC World , perhaps it was a Welsh thing ???
Don't know - may be something that is now out of date but they are supposed to be open here. The screen bought online was delivered in a day or so, they were surprised.
Probably because if everyone is home working they need computer/office supplies and even replacements. My grandson managed to crack his screen on about Day 5 home from uni. All his books are in Aberdeen, he's in Edinburgh-ish. Without a computer he can't carry on with his studies. It so happens he got a new screen online and replaced it himself - but most people couldn't manage that.
Fingers crossed my daughter will now be able to get 80% of her estimated income upto £2500 while she on suspended contracts as a Self Employed person.
With London rents , despite her saving for a few off set months , and planning to come home while not working, she was going to run out of money very quickly.
We were preparing to have to dig in the coffers for £500 a month for her tiny bedroom or having to find a way to get her stuff back Home whilst isolating . Let's hope it is simpler than the HMRC queue she was in behind 85,000 others yesterday that finally just stopped.
I know , not Medical , but has probably been affecting a lot of our symptoms from the Stress this Employment thing.
And my daughter's builder - who is doing various tasks including her garden and had already built the shed/summer house and other things, which are paid for. But now can't start on the job, though it is all outside and involves no contact except he needs someone to carry the other end. Suppose he could do the rest. But she had already written off the already paid bit ...
I assume he will just crack on with it when he can return. If he's classed as a small business it seems far more complicated and they may not get money until June.
She is just scratching her head trying to work out how to get copies of paperwork as she had left that down in London. That will teach her not to listen to her Mother , " Take your paperwork" I said , " I won't need it yet " , she said 😕😲😞
Been sorting out my summerhouse today. Had an issue before when we had all that rain - been repaired, but still a bit damp so over the sunny day have been airing it so dries out!
Received some small plants this morning (bought on line) so had to find a space for them to "come on" in the S/H until they're okay to go outside.
A small task always is bigger than you think - so I don't need my walk today - or my shoulder exercises!🤦♀️😂🤣
I accidentally bought twice as much as I needed last year....good luck for once!! Have a look online. Places are busy but small garden centres might drop a bag off.
If you were closer you could have one...they are massive and I can feed up last year's so it's a shame there's a couple of hundred miles. I will see if anyone here is online wanting some...that doesn't help you but gardeners would help anywhere I think.
💙💙💙💙Apologies if this is a repeat of a thread much lower down. U.K. citizens are invited to stand on their doorsteps or balconies at 8 pm tonight to give a round of heartfelt applause to show support for our NHS workers. This will be accompanied by various landmarks being lit blue. I tried to post the link but my IPad is behaving oddly.
Slightly lighter note - see below. This lady Tricia set up Look Fabulous Forever a make up company for older women.
She is hosting her version of “Tea at the Ritz” from her front room for the next few weeks at 4pm.
Today’s covered getting exercise at home rather than make-up hints so thought some if you might be interested. She is going to cover wigs in a future video blog -
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It's been nearly 5 years so I guess as in most things in my life I'm very "average".
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I have PMR and may have had Covid 19 recently.
3rd Primary Dose - Covid 19 Vaccinations
