This doesn't mean anyone can relax - in fact there are to be tighter rules here for an extended period - but it is the evidence for you in the UK and the USA that it is worth it, however hard it may feel at the time.
Viruses and tobacco plants have an affinity - and that may mean it is possible to hope for a vaccine sooner than by traditional methods, since production can be very fast, maybe even by the end of the year.
Another ongoing project using plants - again with the advantage of speed
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Thank you for sharing these positive articles. These days I’m trying to “sift the gems”, and limit incoming data, ignoring the political or sensational.
I live in the heart of tobacco country in southern Ontario, Canada, and it would be great to have our local farmers be part of a potential vaccine. It’s fascinating and hopeful to read of the process of development and how the world’s best minds and facilities are stepping up to help the world.
I’m ever grateful to live in our home and have the benefit of a fit, healthy hubby who serves as our supply runner. As well, our large private property will allow time outside and spring chores to keep us busy. It’s also bbq season meaning plenty of grilled meat and veg dinners. We’re saving $ not dining out, and trying to stay active daily.
I am reminded that in the background, behind the virus, life and death are marching on. My DIL is 30 weeks today with twins and high risk. My son can accompany her while she’s in labour, and stay 2 hours postpartum, then she’s on her own till she’s released. My uncle died two days ago, alone in hospital in Vancouver. The nurse arranged for my two cousins (his sons), to FaceTime from Australia and Phoenix, Arizona, USA the night prior to him passing. My ex father in law is fighting aggressive lung cancer, and my ex husband and his brother drove from Ontario to NB to support their mom and say goodbye to their dad before he enters hospital. I’ve sent my own personal letter via email to a gf out there, who printed it and enclosed a gift card for local take out for me and dropped it in their mailbox when she did her grocery run.
So if there’s a will, there’s a way, thanks to the kindness and caring of others. Great gratitude to the front line workers, cleaners, first responders, and loving friends, family and neighbours, who help out each and every day, in every way. That includes you fine folks on this forum. You help more than you’ll ever know.
Please stay safe and healthy, follow protocols, and remember you are not alone. We are here for each other.
You are in my thoughts , just so sorry you are going through the sort of personal tragic experiences that arise from the knock on effect of this Pandemic.
Keep Safe , keep positive and remember love that knows no limits can reach the hearts of everybody, everywhere , nothing can stop it reaching its goal xxx
Thank you for posting, a sad but positive post with happiness in there too. Hope your DIL stays well and those babies arrive safely. I've been classed as high risk here but like you am thankful for a garden. My son and girlfriend got engaged the day before lockdown here so I haven't seen them. There's going to be some celebrating when this is over. 😊😊😊 Stay safe and well.
Linda x
Not really good news...but I am fascinated by time lapse stuff. At least planning is happening now.
A purely selfish response I'm afraid, but to all those who questioned my career choice 50 years ago.....see Botany does rock, it's a real science, not just pretty flowers!
Thanks, very cathartic, I've had that thrown at me all my life.
All those people who over the centuries investigated the healing power of plants, and gave us aspirin, quinine, digitalin etc, were botanists even if they didn't know the term.
Yes, I've seen that fascinating woman on TV talking about her botanical evidence that nailed Ian Huntley, the Soham murderer. There's a good article about her here: theguardian.com/world/2005/...
I believe ...I may have seen her in a documentary on crime scene investigation which included the botanical analysis used in the Soham case. Body farms have been an excellent way of understanding the human body after violent death. Fascinating and someone I would like to me and pick the brains of!
I sneaked a 5 mins in my yard this morning. (kids been playing out all day in shared yard)... and saw that a tree I can see has sprouted leaves now. Lovely. Hoping if I get binoculars out I see a beech tree....my favourite.
However small anything is on this earth it always has a 'good' side somewhere and that includes everything including the 'weeds'.
One benefit to me is the island in front of the house, which has three conifers on it and two silver birches (the conifers are a bit special). The Parks Dept normally cuts the grass every month, virus comes along no cutting - result Daisies, dandelions the grass is longer and I am waiting to see what else pops us.
I have been arguing with the Parks dept for years asking them to only cut it down in Autumn after the seeds have fallen................would they, would they heck, it has to be 'smart' and not look neglected. The verges are having a lovely time as well. I am smiling. 😊
PS: Nephew on the mend and he has not passed it on to his partner.............yippee.
Just got my letter from GP telling me to ‘shield’ for 12 weeks. Sainsbury’s have also contacted me to say I am on their vulnerable list for online deliveries. Actually surprised that the system is working! So if you’re in N. Ireland and haven’t got your letter, it might be worth checking with your GP. Had been taking a few walks in the streets around my home, crossing the road when I saw someone coming - I will miss that -but I know others are worse off. I have a small garden and enjoy watching the birds at the bird feeders.
Because I registered with them years ago it was the only one I could order from...I do shop at a small Tesco 3 times a week. I will get most of my shopping from independents I have used during this from now on. I think there are a few items I need that they don't sell or are too expensive but I will get these monthly somewhere else.
I think Sainsburys have said they are looking into delivering to new vulnerable customers also. Might be worth checking their website occasionally. We in N I had no way of self registering ourselves as vulnerable as you do in England and when I phoned Sainsburys I couldn't manage to speak to anyone so I'm relieved now. You may know there are Facebook groups who are publicising shops, farmers, butchers etc who are offering deliveries. I joined Facebook due to present circumstances. Thinking of you and everyone isolated at home. Love & best wishes x
I have to update my order most days....otherwise they do really bad substitutions ....nothing on website apart from a plea for people not shielded to do the right thing.
Yes I found that with Tesco. You need to keep checking what they've run out of on your order. I can't get any delivery slots from them at all. Someone told me you need to check regularly as they release a few slots for the next couple of days only.
I hadn’t received a letter so I spoke to my GP who confirmed I am high risk so I should receive a letter. Using the high risk self-reporting link in these threads I have registered with HMG that I am high risk but as yet have received no communication. In any case, thread documents confirm my risk and I have been shielding since the term was applied to our conditions.
All that said, Sainsbury’s emailed me out of the blue to say I am on their list as vulnerable. So may be a letter from HMG is not absolutely necessary; GP has me as high risk and Sainsbury’s are delivering.
So, back to enjoying the sunshine, watching the birds and developing my new found skill of cleaning floors with a Shark steamer!!
Thinking of everyone and wishing all wellness and safety.
I've had one for a year and lacked the motivation!!! Looked last week - the little packet of detergent is missing (must be in the house somewhere!) and nowhere to buy a new supply ...
At least you have an excuse. I find housework boring too. You’re doing much more important work though, for which we are all very grateful. (Although you might be able to use water with a little dishwashing liquid 😉)
My wife and I carry out extremely thorough risk assessments before undertaking housework. They are so thorough that by the time a cleaning strategy is decided, tiredness overwhelms us, a lengthy period of rest is required and it is too late to begin cleaning. Ditto the next day etc.....!😂
It’s hard for me to be motivated to get spring cleaning done when no one is coming to visit and witness the results. OH and I have decided to do one room per week on rainy/cold days. Main floor is all done now except the kitchen (which will be a two-day job).
Now that the sun is shining and it’s warmer, we were distracted and started raking the backyard yesterday instead. Much “nicer” work in my opinion. As long as the weather remains like this, the kitchen cleaning will remain on the back burner.
One up side is that last spring I couldn’t do spring cleaning, or much housework for that matter. Ended up paying a woman with my tax return $. So I remind myself that just being able to get it done this year is good news and speaks to how much I’ve improved in the last year!
It is a concept of deep cleaning I think - I wouldn't really know never having done it! But my mother and co did it and all the neighbours seem to do it here. I have used it as an analogy for the starting higher doses of pred - with the more maintenance dose levels being like a daily dust ... (don't do that either).
I also received a letter from my GP telling me to shield. I was surprised because I thought from the ‘scorecard’ I saw on this forum that Pred of 10mg alone did not constitute high risk unless taken in conjunction with other meds. My only other meds are for BP and cholesterol both of which are well under control. Like you I have been walking and keeping distance, I was thinking of ringing my GP to challenge but I would appreciate advice
Sorry you have to join the club! Nice to hear from a fellow N I person. I love to have a walk every day too but am going to try and find an exercise on utube that isn't too off putting.
Over 5mg with a history of hypertension - having it well controlled doesn't mean you don't have it ...
I'm high risk - I don't get to go for full-shield, we'd starve if I did!! Everyone is under the same constraints here and we are to keep 2m from others and other than shopping aren't allowed more than a few hundred yards from home.
Sorry....no it's the hypertension too... It takes a short while but you adapt. My dog has adapted now after a miserable 10days while she realised the garden (big lengthways if narrow) was the limit of her domain. Your dog will get a walk and you will get a fuss when s/he returns.😊
It is the combination of being on steroids , having hypertension that requires BP medication , and possibly other health issues and your age that will have put you on the list.
The list provided on this forum only took into consideration you level of risk from a Rheumatology perspective not all of your potential risks from other Health issues etc: Cardiology , Neurology , Disability or Lung related.
Be happy , your GP is on the ball and has clearly done a full assessment of your Current Medical History to take this action.
Wow! New to me. It would be interesting to know what would be in your bank account now if you had religiously put the exact amount a packet of your 'favourites' into a separate bank account. I would then know someone who was "rich"!!!!!🤪🤪
Interesting - what about infection with TB? As far as I know both I and OH had our BCG as teenagers - in the UK you got the Heaf test and when you didn't react you got the BCG. But he was obviously exposed to TB when we lived in Germany and I assume therefore so was I. He has signs of TB on a CT done a few years ago. We always wonderd why the Heaf test we used as a model for inflammation went absolutely ballistic in both of us
I think this "study" is very preliminary and one needs to dig deeper and limit number of variables, like health services, hygiene, etc and dissect numbers from the same population ( like Iran) and see if people who had BCG had better response to corona then one who didn't have BCG.
the more I read, I find it less believable that it would make a difference in corona virus case. It is even questionable if it protects adults from TB, which is the main purpose for it. For example, in spite of BCG vaccination in Japan, there is an increase in TB cases in large cities here.
Lasts for 15 years - officially that is, But if the skin test is still positive it means you have antibodies and, therefore, resistance. The BCG doesn't stop you getting TB, it stops it getting to be serious infection.
There is still TB all over the place - it has always been rife in the US, when we lived in Germany it was a problem because of Turkish migrants. The incidence in the UK is falling - but still affects about 5,000 people per year.
Well, Michigan has official called off the school year! Teachers will hold as many classes as they can online. Hopefully all students have access to the internet. I've taught school in the past and it makes me wish even more that I could help my daughter with her three little girls but she doesn't want to expose me so thank goodness for Zoom meeting! boy we have to think out of the box now even more.
I’m in the mid US (Oklahoma). I have been self-isolating for several weeks now, venturing out only for necessary trips to pharmacy & grocery pickup services. There are delivery options to consider here, as well. The biggest problem has been availability of many products in stores here.
However, my question for you is this: how risky is it to fetch mail from your mailbox? Or, to retrieve other products that have been handled by others who might have the virus but are asymtomatic? Am I being paranoid?
Not necessarily - they are providing info for dealing with that since it is known that the virus can live for 4 days on cardboard and you can't tell who handled it in the time before it got to you. People may be wearing gloves - but without the right technique they are no different from their hands unless they are changed or sanitised between tasks and they give people a false sense of security - the same as with face masks which for anyone unused to wearing them leads to people fiddling with them.
So gloves to fetch it and/or wipe the surroundings with cleaner. Open the envelope, shake the contents to the floor/table without touching it and leave until all dealt with. Envelopes and junk mail can go in the bin outside Remove the gloves and dispose of them. Wash your hands for 20 secs with soap and hot water - and now you can pick up the letters and deal with them (I am assuming the post didn't deliver them the next day after writing ...)
I have just received 2 NHS letters. I suspect they come from a specialised automated centre where the only time it's touched is when paper is "loaded" and and the post office. I literally did what you just said. Opened, throw out envelopes etc. I am OCD practically to start so I glance and if it looks important I tear up and bin straightaway. Spray what's left and then wash hands etc.
By the way the rheumy sent the almost exact same flowchart.
I have been using vinyl gloves, that I keep in garage, to pick up mail. I have also been disposing of envelopes outside, and using disinfectant on gloves before I take them off. The junk mail is trashed without opening. When I go inside I wash hands and disinfect.
I expect to run out of disinfectant soon, but I have a Huge supply of Clorox bleach. I assume I can mix up a water/bleach solution to substitute?
I have just been using soapy water fir just about everything. I put my coat that I use for opening stuff in the washer afterwards if I have been a bit sloppy! I have disposable gloves but I would think washing them in warm soapy water like you would your hands would be ok?? ...I haven't heard of clorox in the UK, but if water and bleach mixes are normal for you that should work. No mixes though. 😷🤢
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