Forum Topic

Coronavirus / face masks

Just for interest, I went to Wandsworth Homebase this morning for paint.  A lady there was looking for some kind of face mask as she is flying next week.  They guy in the shop said a large number of Chinese people came in the day before and bought £500 worth of all the masks they stock for general DIY.  She was a bit concerned and the shop guy told her other places she could try, but said if they bought that many then there may not be much available in all the shops.

Bunny Payne ● 2481d40 Comments

Wow!!  That is quite something.  It made me wonder if those masks for general DIY would be effective in the case of coronavirus - or any other virus for that matter.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2481d

At the very crowded National Gallery Gauguin exhibition this afternoon two Chinese people were wearing masks, no one else seemed bothered.

Michael Ixer ● 2481d

The general advice is that face masks are neither effective nor necessary, except for health care workers exposed to people with the virus: see the CDC's advice at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

Richard Carter ● 2480d

Thank you for the information Richard.  It is very helpful indeed.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2480d

I've heard the same, however I have ordered a couple on Amazon!!  Possibly these people were returning to China for their New Year?

Bunny Payne ● 2480d

I went to Surgery for a blood test today, one of the receptionist's was wearing a mask.

Barbara Stevens ● 2479d

The Lone Ranger wire a mask but he kept well

Andy Pike ● 2479d

Andy, how do know? I'll have what ever your drinking.

Barbara Stevens ● 2479d

So we are supposed to self-quarantine ourselves.  How is that going to work with all those who have only a day's food in the fridge (not storecupboard)?  Time to buy in some baked beans and soup!

Philippa Bond ● 2478d

For evidence-based advice on what to do go to Public Health England website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-publicAlso excellent is the USACenters for Disease Control website https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/summary.html

Ruth Pates ● 2478d

Interesting that those Brits being brought back from China will now all be in quarantine organised by the Govt.  I understand that the Home Office isn't allowing foreign spouses into the UK.

Philippa Bond ● 2478d

BBC news says it was Chinese authorities, not the Home Office, who were only allowing British passport holders on the flight.

Michael Ixer ● 2477d

Yes, Michael I'm wrong and you are right they are saying that it is the Chinese authorities.  They are also saying today that it is the Chinese authorities who have not allowed the plane to leave yet.There are still families being split by this.  I can't say that I'd want to be in China but I can't say I'd really want to fly either at the moment.  :(    I wish everyone the best of luck.

Philippa Bond ● 2477d

In response to Ivonne's original comment and as we've all heard so much more, I understand that face masks give the wearer a bit of confidence but are not really any good.You need a military grade mask which includes the eyes to do any good.  Let's hope it's not that bad!!  But I think it probably isn't.

Bunny Payne ● 2477d

A few reports in the press today backing up Bunny's previous observations - mass buying of masks resulting in many outlets (even Amazon apparently!) being totally sold out.  I'm sure some will be chancing their arm by reselling on ebay at some point at £50 a pop!

John Geoffries ● 2477d

I was in Putney Pharmacy on URR on Monday and an older chap was buying masks; the pharmacist was commenting that they had previously sold out but now had replacements just in.  I wondered if he was travelling but it seemed it was just for London.  Madness.  Hospital staff tell me they are only useful if you are someone who touches your face a lot - it helps prevent you transmitting it by touch.  It doesn’t stop the airborne particles though.

Heather Christie ● 2475d

Back to publicising the need to wash AND dry your hands properly.  We had to do this at work some years ago when there was an outbreak of another cold virus type disease.  Coughing into the crook of your elbow rather than into your hand and then touching something or someone with that hand must be a better idea than putting your hand over your mouth when you cough which was what I remember we were taught as children.You can recognise someone who has been taught to wash their hands properly as they are in the health service.  It's more than just sticking your hands under the tap.  Handgel isn't the answer against everything btw - it definitely doesn't work against Norovirus which is also around.

Philippa Bond ● 2475d

Philippa, I have a picture in my mind of all the office workers and children in school with green snot hanging from the crook of their elbow. Surely if you have a cold wouldn't it be better to have some tissues that can be thrown away after use. If you sneeze your not meant to try and stop it as it can burst something in your throat. Most places now have antibacterial gel handy. I'm sure all the office staff and bosses have large enough dry cleaning bills. With out wiping it on the back of your cuff.

Barbara Stevens ● 2475d

No, your cuff is for removing excess food :)

Simon Knight ● 2475d

Ha Ha.

Barbara Stevens ● 2475d

"Coughing into the crook of your elbow rather than into your hand and then touching something or someone with that hand must be a better idea than putting your hand over your mouth when you cough which was what I remember we were taught as children."If you use loo paper (NOT wipes) instead of tissues you can flush them straight down the loo.

Philippa Bond ● 2475d

Barbara, the point was coughing, not sneezing, into the crook of your elbow!!  Sneeze into a tissue and get rid of it in a suitable place.  After a long month of bronchitis during January, I have learned to cough into my elbow, much better.  Always wash hands when arriving home, think about bus handles/poles, shopping trolleys, tubes, the gym, so many places and at least turn your face away or put your scarf over your mouth if someone near you coughs or sneezes.PS:  guess who's one of the silly b's who ordered some face masks from Amazon, got an email saying they are not being delivered until mid/late Feb!!

Bunny Payne ● 2475d

"PS:  guess who's one of the silly b's who ordered some face masks from Amazon, got an email saying they are not being delivered until mid/late Feb!!"When they arrive, you'd better disinfect them, as they are doubtless made in China.--------------------------Great fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em,And little fleas have lesser fleas, and so ad infinitum.And the great fleas themselves, in turn, have greater fleas to go on;While these again have greater still, and greater still, and so on. (Augustus De Morgan)

David Ainsworth ● 2475d

Haha I didn't think of that lol :(

Bunny Payne ● 2475d

Philippa what if your not near a loo. It's not only coughing, there are germs everywhere. Everything you touch, going up an escalator or opening a door. Going into a public loo, it goes on and on, etc, etc.

Barbara Stevens ● 2474d

Bunny if I have a coughing fit I usually then start sneezing. So stand well back.

Barbara Stevens ● 2474d

This article was in the Daily Express today. but also said sneezing. But I would still prefer a tissue up my sleeve ready and waiting. But on coughing or sneezing on the crook of my arm, rather dangerous if holding a new born baby or holding a young child the child might be dropped just so you can cough or would catch the germs embedded in your coat or jumper.

Barbara Stevens ● 2474d

My son, with a streaming cold, had used half a box of tissues one morning before even getting out the door for the walk to school.  Having been a child of an earlier and less wasteful era, I tried to put a clean hanky in his pocket so he could keep his nose dry through the day.  He - aged four - objected in very strong terms, explaining all the reasons why it was unhygienic to carry germs in his pocket all day.  At his school there is always a box of tissues and a bin on hand in the classroom and they are clearly taught how to prevent the spread of germs.  I was impressed - even if it did cost me an extra box of tissues!

Heather Christie ● 2474d

Heather, your son could teach grown ups a thing or two. Don't keep snot in the crook of your arm all day get a tissue and throw it away. Little children can't control all the mucus in their nose and some haven't been taught or can't blow their nose. So tissue is best.

Barbara Stevens ● 2474d

No Barbara  I don't think that holding a baby while you are coughing and sneezing at all is a good idea especially when climbing up and down stairs but you may have no choice.  The suggestion is that you could do that instead of into your hand as you would then touch banisters and surfaces with that hand.Loo roll does not have to live in the bathroom, does not in fact have to come in a roll and is designed to be flushed - just not too much at a time.  You can take some off and stuff it up wherever you like.  If you are suffering badly it is a good idea to find a bin or container to put beside you.I certainly don't suggest that you practise the wiping of the nose from the fingers all the way up the twisted length of the arm as we did at school when playing Snout in a Midsummer's Night Dream right now!

Philippa Bond ● 2474d

Who knows  when they are going to sneeze or cough, you can buy small packets of tissue to keep in your handbag or pocket. I actually said not coughing into your arm as you suggested as the germs would hold in your clothing.

Barbara Stevens ● 2474d

Those who spotted the patenting of the coronavirus by the Pirbright Institute in Woking, were quickly dismissed as "antivaxers" and conspiracy theorists, with the NYT and BBC issuing denial statements as well as the Institute itself.In July 2015, the Pirbright Institute applied for a patent for a live attenuated coronavirus comprising a variant replicase gene encoding polyproteins comprising a mutation of one or more amino acids. The European Patent Office issued patent no. EP3172319B1 in November 2019 with an expiration date of 23.7.2035.The Zika virus was patented by the Rockafella Foundation in 1947, currently available to buy online from ATCC, with Ebola available from The Natural Antigen Company, based in Kidlington, Oxford.

Chantal Blake-Milton ● 2473d

It wasn't my suggestion it came from some official PHE/NHS website which said coughing and sneezing.  I was commenting that I thought it was better than coughing into the hand as we had been taught as kids to "put your hand in front of your mouth when you cough". You don't need to buy specially packeted in plastic tissues.  That's just another marketing gimmick.  Anyway sneezing and coughing tend are involuntary actions and you don't get time to hunt for something in a bag.  Paper table napkins are often more available!

Philippa Bond ● 2473d

Tissue comes in cardboard box. Napkins come in plastic.

Barbara Stevens ● 2473d

Not when you are in a cafe or restaurant - who often give you more than you need.

Philippa Bond ● 2473d

This does not feel right at all.

Philippa Bond ● 2473d

I have several small handbag sized packets of tissues inplastic

Ruth Pates ● 2473d

Much has been made of the fact that this new NovoCoronavirus emanated from bats and pigs in China.In 2011, Hollywood produced a film called "Contagion" where a new virus emanates from Macau, caused by a bat biting a pig.

Chantal Blake-Milton ● 2472d

They exist but just aren't necessary.  It is more important to get rid of whatever you've used which if paper and loo roll you can flush.  Our 3 year old knows that it is only loo roll that can be flushed and that he mustn't flush  wipes or tissues.  It is harder to make sure that he stays in the bathroom long enough so that hands get washed with soap and properly for long enough.  Pre primary have lots of painted hand prints decorating the cubicles which are a good reminder!  I had enough problems getting carers to dry hands on the hand towel and not the tea-towel. People should remember that handgel doesn't work against norovirus (the winter flu bug) which is circulating at the moment so isn't an easy alternative.  More handwashing and drying with soap and water!

Philippa Bond ● 2472d

I think I'd prefer to carry some sort of wipes in case of any on the go eating or accidents.

Philippa Bond ● 2472d