Coronavirus

Look after yourself, it must be very worrying. we have a friend who has a sister live in the area also.
Sending you good wishes and hugs, take care
 
Being extra careful at the moment I had to look at ways of making wearing a mask more comfortable. At the moment I am using the disposable surgical style pleated masks but because of the shape of my nose they tend to rise upwards almost getting in my eyes and my spectacles still steam up.

A Facebook ad for Emirates airlines showed a way of wearing a mask which I found has solved the problems although it can make the elastic feel tight after about 45 minutes.

Before you put the mask on, twist the elastic half a turn which creates a crossover. The piece attached to the bottom of the mask will now be on top and vice versa. Looped over the ear, with the crossover against your cheek, this pulls the side edges of the mask closer together so altering it's shape slightly. It stopped the migration upwards and I didn't have steamed up specs either!

I had read about putting a strip of micro-pore tape on the top edge of the mask to help with steaming up and obviously that would have helped keep it in the right place, but I'm allergic to the tape!
 
I'm asthmatic too, but I haven't found a problem with wearing a mask. I make my own, double layer with a filter pocket, although I don't usually use a filter. Mind, I wouldn't want to wear one for hours too often, although when I last took mum to hospital about a month or so ago, I had to wear one for the entire night, until she was finally admitted, and I left the hospital. I found after the first half hour or so, I didn't even notice the mask.
 
I too have spent some time reading back over this thread. Gosh, when you look back, it makes you feel how naive we were in the beginning! At least, I was! I really thought that things would only last a few weeks.

Yesterday, my brother posted an article about some scientists who have managed to bring back to life some very ancient microbes. My brother's comment was "F*** away from the microbes, lads! This is not the year!"
 
Second that LadyA. As knowledge grows the true awareness of how dangerous COVID is also becomes more apparent. The many side effects are alarming. I guess we are all frightened of addressing our own mortality but for those of us with no genetic children it becomes doubly regrettable.
I’m sure it was not a Jurassic Park moment but I read somewhere that scientists thought they could take DNA from frozen mammoths from the Siberian tundra, insert it into the egg cells of elephants and then use an elephant as a surrogate mother.
Certainly seeds have been recovered from a pharaohs tomb, germinated and grown.
I fully understand your brothers view regarding whimsical scientific research but for me such things are the bread and butter of daily life that actually elevate my spirits with a “well, fancy that” moment.
 
I think it was Russian scientists Hen-Gen that were trying to get DNA from a mammoth. I know I read it somewhere.

I was alarmed when I read that some scientist were trying to make the Spanish Flu virus viable from cells found in the Arctic, I should leave that alone for a while boys

Lovely clip today of Brian Blessed, telling Covid 19 to "bugger off" in the booming voice we love so well. That's telling it where to go.

We gave it a few months Lady A.

We did all become a little isolated community on the forum, all dealing with it in different ways, some still working, self isolating, being creative. One thing that shone through was nature providing us with uplifting moments. not too mention Marigolds scary moment
 
This is worth reading. (Copied from a friend’s post shared on Facebook.)


From Johns Hopkins Hospital
This virus is not a living organism. It is a protein molecule (RNA or DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular (eyes), nasal (nose) or buccal mucosa (mouth), changes their genetic code (mutates) and converts into aggressor and multiplier cells.
* Since the virus is not a living organism, but is a protein molecule, it cannot be killed. It has to decay on its own. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it lies.
* The virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat and that is the reason why soap or detergent is the best weapon. The foam CUTS THE FAT (that is why you have to scrub for 20 seconds or more, to create lots of foam).
By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down.
* HEAT melts fat; this is why it is necessary to use water above 77 degrees for hand washing, laundry and cleaning surfaces. In addition, hot water makes more foam, making it more effective.
* Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% DISSOLVES ALL FAT, especially the external lipid layer of the virus.
* Any solution with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaking it down from the inside.
* Oxygenated water increases the effectiveness of soap, alcohol and chlorine, because peroxide dissolves the virus protein. However, because you have to use it in its pure form, it can damage your skin.
* NO BACTERICIDE OR ANTIBIOTIC WILL WORK because the virus is not a living organism like bacteria; antibodies cannot kill what is not alive.
* The virus molecules remain very stable at colder temperatures, including air conditioning in houses and cars. They also need moisture and darkness to stay stable. Therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade the virus faster.
* UV LIGHT on any object that may contain the virus breaks down the protein. Be careful, it also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin.
* The virus CANNOT go through healthy skin.
* Vinegar is NOT useful because it does not break down the protective layer of fat.
* NO SPIRITS, NOR VODKA, serve. The strongest vodka is only 40% alcohol, and you need a minimum of 65%.
* LISTERINE is 65% alcohol.
* The more confined the space, the higher the concentration of the virus there can be. The more open or naturally ventilated, the less.
* You have to wash your hands before and after touching any commonly used surfaces such as : mucosa (mouth area) , food, locks, knobs, switches, remotes, cell phones, watches, computers, desks etc. and don’t forget when you use the bathroom.
* You have to MOISTURIZE YOUR HANDS due to frequent washing. Dry hands have cracks and the molecules can hide in the micro cracks The thicker the moisturizer, the better.
* Also keep your NAILS SHORT so that the virus does not hide there.
PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS
 
Sorry to tell you, but these days not many variants of Listerine contain 65% alcohol...
 
My poor niece in Melbourne is just broken hearted at what's happening there. It's so demoralising for them, to be back in such strict lockdown again, and a curfew now too. And still, there are those who just won't be told, who think the whole thing is a hoax. Can't understand that. I mean, to seriously believe that every single Government, in every country in the world, plus the WHO and individual hospitals in every country in the world, not to mention the thousands of nurses and doctors around the world, are all in on some massive conspiracy to fool everyone and that every single Government in the world have agreed to just wreck their economies. For what?? And yet, I know people who are very firm in this belief.
 
Yesterday I heard somebody in NW who is subject to a local lockdown say the very same thing (about it being a hoax and being made out to be much worse than it is). It really brought it home to me, what on earth can we do about this tiny, but stubborn, misguided minority? My brother is in Victoria, but no longer in Melbourne and the tight restrictions haven't reached him yet, although they have reached the place of work for both him and his wife, so they are shut, obviously, and they work from home. I read that the authorities have been much stricter there, with house to house visits to check whereabouts, and you are not allowed out to exercise if you test positive. I am not sure if that is the case in UK?
 
They're obviously people who haven't been personally affected or their families.
And in Australia so soon after floods and wildfires with another overheated summer on the way.
No the government in the UK is useless really. Test and trace is only contacting 50% of identified contacts even in urban areas under partial lockdown because of infection spikes. People are told to isolate but there's no follow up to check they're complying. In areas in lockdown people are told not to meet their friends or family in their homes but can still go to the pub and mingle with strangers and eat a half-price meal to boost the economy. People are told to isolate for 2 weeks on returning from flights to Spain which still has a lower infection rate than the UK but there's little or no check on whether they do this.
It seriously makes me wonder if the human race deserves to survive when so many are not only selfish but plain stupid.

And I suppose that when a vaccine becomes available it will be less effective because of all the conspiracy theories persuading people not to have it, thus reducing herd immunity.
 
Holiday advice.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/ng-interactive/2020/aug/08/stephen-collins-on-holidays-in-the-uk-cartoon

And a book for the beach;

https://www.theguardian.com/books/picture/2020/aug/08/tom-gauld-reimagines-classics-set-in-the-coronavirus-cartoon
 
"Local lockdowns" are starting to be used here too now. Three counties went back into lockdown last night. No going in or going out, unless for "essential reasons" like work. Thing is though, two of the counties are in the commuter belt to Dublin. So, people will still be leaving those areas to travel to Dublin. The majority of the huge spike in cases in those counties are related to factories, most noticeably, meat processing plants. And, even more worryingly, a huge % of the cases were asymptomatic, so it spread very easily. Even though our area has almost the lowest level of cases in the country, dau says she's bringing her boys to town on Monday, because the 3 year old needs new shoes and a haircut again! She brought him for new shoes and a haircut just before the lockdown in March! Growing like a weed!
 

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