Will you comply?

PasturesNew

greenbee said:

 

I've had some people say I shouldn't got out for a walk or a run, but as you say, as long as you're not at risk of coming into contact with others it's fine. The guidance says don't use public transport, it doesn't say never leave the house! Obviously there's a difference depending on whether you're in a very busy urban area or a quiet rural one. 

This is the thing, they have to issue generic advice; advice probably based a lot on London.  Many others do live at the edge of the countryside, or at the coast, or distant from others.  There's a world of difference between stepping out of your own front door and then 50 yards onto open heathland as far as the eye can see -v- waltzing through a communal staircase of flats, opening/closing fire doors and the final communal entrance door, before wandering round the corner to a park that's 100' square. 

hollydays

PasturesNew said:

greenbee said:

 

I've had some people say I shouldn't got out for a walk or a run, but as you say, as long as you're not at risk of coming into contact with others it's fine. The guidance says don't use public transport, it doesn't say never leave the house! Obviously there's a difference depending on whether you're in a very busy urban area or a quiet rural one. 

This is the thing, they have to issue generic advice; advice probably based a lot on London.  Many others do live at the edge of the countryside, or at the coast, or distant from others.  There's a world of difference between stepping out of your own front door and then 50 yards onto open heathland as far as the eye can see -v- waltzing through a communal staircase of flats, opening/closing fire doors and the final communal entrance door, before wandering round the corner to a park that's 100' square. 

Thank you, you expressed what I couldn't put into words🙂 Out walking with a couple of friends today, we discussed walking, and how it helps keep you strong, and helps with your mental health and stress.Being stressed can affect your immune system , so it's very important to me to get my countryside walks in. Walking just makes you feel great.

smeeth

babs_103 said:

I've been reading this thread in the hope that someone else was in the same boat as me, but I have to ask a question -  I am the only carer for my DH who (Obviously) lives with me, we are fairly stocked up on food and household stuff but his tables run out next week so I have to go out to get them.  My question is what happens if I am ill? I have looked online but can find no answers he has COPD Angina and mobility problems.  I only go out if it's necessary but am so scared of bringing the infection home on my clothes say that I am getting paranoid about it.  The last thing I want to do is to give him any infection, it's very worrying.

We are in similar situations Babs, I would recommend a call to your GP dispensary to see if they would be able to deliver in the short-term, we have ours delivered monthly, alternatively there are pharmacies (online and highstreet) that could do this. As a last resort, could a neighbour collect for you? That way it's one person you're interacting with at the front door and you can wash your hands straight after.

Rosa_Damascena

smeeth said:

babs_103 said:

I've been reading this thread in the hope that someone else was in the same boat as me, but I have to ask a question -  I am the only carer for my DH who (Obviously) lives with me, we are fairly stocked up on food and household stuff but his tables run out next week so I have to go out to get them.  My question is what happens if I am ill? I have looked online but can find no answers he has COPD Angina and mobility problems.  I only go out if it's necessary but am so scared of bringing the infection home on my clothes say that I am getting paranoid about it.  The last thing I want to do is to give him any infection, it's very worrying.

We are in similar situations Babs, I would recommend a call to your GP dispensary to see if they would be able to deliver in the short-term, we have ours delivered monthly, alternatively there are pharmacies (online and highstreet) that could do this. As a last resort, could a neighbour collect for you? That way it's one person you're interacting with at the front door and you can wash your hands straight after.

Please be aware that pharmacies are stretched to breaking point atm. So please try a trusted neighbour first.

Pyxis

greenbee said:

Pollycat said:

Organza_Lace said:

Well i had decided i was going to self isolate from everyone other than going food shopping at 8am tomorrow and family.

Then i got asked out for lunch.  I'll self isolate when i get back.

I'm not sure if this is tongue-in-cheek or not...but on the assumption it's a serious comment (in the absence of any smileys)...

Why would you decide to self-isolate then accept a lunch invitation?

What if a couple of friends invite themselves round tomorrow with a bottle of wine and a chick flick?

Do you put your self-isolation back again?

I can understand people like MrsLW and other people who may be in the more at-risk group self isolating but not really for people who are fit and healthy.

I think this is probably more 'social distancing' than self-isolating. Self-isolation is only needed for people who are unwell. Anyone else should social distance to the extent they feel appropriate. For the elderly/at risk that means avoiding crowded spaces, large groups and public transport at busy times, and socialising in a way that you feel safe (so excluding friends you know are carrying on as normal from close contact), keeping a safe distance away from people so you don't inhale germs, not eating from shared plates (or as a US friend said, buying from salad bars that are open for anyone to cough over!), and asking friends to wash their hands when they arrive/doing the same if you go to them.
Isolation means avoiding all contact with people - no supermarkets, no signing for deliveries, no going out to lunch, no having friends over. After 2 weeks of too many people, this week has been great However, I'm delighted the govt says it only needs to be a week as I think I'd quite like to get out for a bit before they change their minds and ask us all to stay home. 

Good points.

It seems to me, therefore, that there are three categories.....

For people who are well and not showing symptoms, but who may be in a vulnerable group or in close contact with someone vulnerable:
1) Social distancing .........minimising outings to places where there are other people, shops, etc. and not getting too close to others. This is to safeguard themselves or close vulnerable co-habitees from infection by others.

2) Social isolation..........where someone in a vulnerable group stays at home and keeps any contact with other people to an absolute bare minimum, with good hygiene after any essential contact eg deliveries. This is to safeguard themselves against being infected by others.

For people with symptoms:
3) Self-isolation. This is for someone who starts displaying symptoms, and so is to safeguard others from being infected.


By the way, the official guidelines for self-isolation (ie when showing symptoms) say that you should not leave the home, although you can use your own garden if you keep 2 metres away from anyone else.

pineapple

Good summary pyxis. There is a lot of confusion about terminology. People say one thing when they mean another. I'm in an at risk group and hovering between (1) and (2) at the moment.

Pyxis

pineapple said:

Good summary pyxis. There is a lot of confusion about terminology. People say one thing when they mean another. I'm in an at risk group and hovering between (1) and (2) at the moment.

I did the social distancing thing for nearly three weeks, but for nearly two weeks now I have been social-isolating.
i have an important hospital appointment next week which is worrying me, (that is, going to the hospital and mixing with people, not the procedure).

It has also occurred to me that in this situation it would be easy to develop OCD and agoraphobia, but as long as one is aware of that, it should be ok.

To be honest, forums like this are an excellent way to maintain contact with the human race in general! They do provide a level contact that the TV and radios cannot, as you can indulge in general chitchat, and most importantly, have a good laugh! 🙂

Nargleblast

I work in a busy intensive care unit, and we are extremely busy but nothing to do with the virus, just the normal patients we get. The hospital has several patients with symptoms but no confirmed diagnosis as yet. A ward used for winter pressures has been opened up to take these patients. There are meetings and update sessions through the day, our managers have been going round compiling a list of staff who have childcare responsibilities in case the virus hits our unit. Plans are being put in place, we have supplies of masks, gloves, face protection and gowns. Hand gel is in limited supply but there's soap and water aplenty. Nobody is panicking, we know that whatever happens we can deal with it. We don't do headless chicken.
From a social point of view, my choir is carrying on as normal, we have had an email emphasising the guidelines we need to follow. People who know they have been in contact with someone with the virus, or people who have been abroad in the last 14  days or who have symptoms should stay away, and I am sure they will, they're a sensible lot. My son is home from London for the weekend but he has been careful whilst down there. He has been doing hand washing, social distancing etc.
I go to the gym twice a week, and we wipe down equipment after using it. I walk the dog in the park and keep a distance from other people. If I had to self isolate then obviously I would give choir and gym a miss but I would still take the dog out, I would just be choosy about where and when I took her. Food wise I always have a decent stock of stuff, enough probably for a couple of weeks easily. I get milk, orange juice and eggs delivered.
I think if you are confined to barracks then there's no reason why you shouldn't go out into your own garden during the day, it's not as if you would be coughing on your neighbour over the fence or throwing a garden party.
I expect this virus will run its course over the next few weeks or months, and when it's done maybe more people will have developed a prepping mindset.

Pyxis

On a slightly lighter note, whenever I see the title of this thread, I think of Seven-of-Nine! 

Rosa_Damascena

Nargleblast said:

I work in a busy intensive care unit, and we are extremely busy but nothing to do with the virus, just the normal patients we get. The hospital has several patients with symptoms but no confirmed diagnosis as yet. A ward used for winter pressures has been opened up to take these patients. There are meetings and update sessions through the day, our managers have been going round compiling a list of staff who have childcare responsibilities in case the virus hits our unit. Plans are being put in place, we have supplies of masks, gloves, face protection and gowns. Hand gel is in limited supply but there's soap and water aplenty. Nobody is panicking, we know that whatever happens we can deal with it. We don't do headless chicken.

This is very reassuring. The panic we are seeing in primary care is very much stoked by misinformation in social media, and it makes it much harder for people genuinely at risk to access the care they need as well as keeping the over-stressed system on the road. I want to spend my time keeping the chronically sick well, not dealing with the kind of hysteria that keeps Zuckerburg et al in clover.

The 2 simple messages the government gave out is what people need to stick to: handwashing and social isolation.