My wife’s friend and her son are flying out tomorrow for a 10 day school-sponsored trip to France/UK. We were sure it would be cancelled but it has not been.
@TatinG UV rays do kill bacteria and viruses. There’s a sizable market for products that sanitize things like toothbrushes and phones using UV rays.
But I am far less concerned about sanitizing surfaces than I am about sanitizing myself. If I touch a nasty surface (and I will, because it’s unavoidable), as long as I wash my hands before eating or touching my face, I am unlikely to get sick from whatever was on the nasty surface.
It’s way more efficient to sanitize yourself than to try to do so for the things you have to touch in public.
Attending a large function at the local U. Sanitizer is everywhere, hand washing signs are all over the place, and no handshakes rule was strictly followed. Food was plated by caterers, and wine was poured by the winery. Everyone looked healthy and perky. 
(At the same time, it is probably the last one of such events for the next couple of weeks… a law student is being tested for the blasted virus).
So i was traveling this week to Houston. Wife tells me to buy some hand sanitizer at the airport since our local stores are out. Houston airport, all sanitizers sold out. Get to LAX, all sold out. As I’m exiting baggage claim area I see a small store to buy a bottle of water. On the counter is an empty fish bowl with a few generic small 2oz hand sanitizers for $4.99 each. I buy 4 bottles. I think I have completely lost my mind!
Yes, membraned viruses do poorly on hot, dry surfaces. Short wave UV at proximal distances can do it quickly (optimally a few feet or less … closer is better), but can always put some rubbing alcohol in a small spray bottle if you wanted to quickly clean a surface that’s not being baked.
I would definitely go to the play and the basketball game (I have one Saturday) and the tennis tournament. Just take the normal precautions.
I am sure this is somewhere in this thread, but what medications is one supposed to buy if anticipating staying home when sick? What mediations are used to treat this virus?
Sorry - not very science-y, medication savvy here. We rarely get sick. What types of OTC medications should one add to one’s shopping list of hand sanitizers, disinfectants, soup, etc.? What should we have on hand?
^^The good news is you can get just about anything delivered to you or pick up via a drive through line at the grocery store or drugstore.
On the surface you may need a fever reducing medicine, hydration, some type of cough relief? Clearly more than that and prescription but most any virus you’ll want these three things.
Same stuff for flu/cold - symptoms are fever, headache, cough - so stuff that helps with that.
So, Tylenol and cough syrup? Throat lozenges?
I have a question about gloves. Would the vinyl gloves used for hair coloring be effective in blocking the virus? I read recommendations for nitrile gloves but haven’t seen any commentary on vinyl ones.
Re: elbow bumping, it seems to me that it’s not such a good idea, since many of us cough into our elbows.
@Hoggirl - I would stock up on some zinc throat lozenges. Here is what James Robb, MD and former UC San Diego professor of pathology had to say in an email to friends and family:
He sent the original email to friends and family and someone posted it on their Facebook page and well, it took off from there. I’ve received it three times now and I think someone posted it on one of the threads here in the Parent Cafe. Here is a link to the article on Snopes which has the email and some additional information about Dr. Robb and some additional comments.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/zinc-lozenges-coronavirus/
FWIW, I’ve used zinc lozenges in the past and do think it shortens the duration of respiratory viruses. My PhD chemist dad has recommended them for years.
I haven’t been all over town looking for them, but my 2 grocery store go-tos, are out.
The sticky thread says that the coronavirus can’t grow on the throat and nasophaynx if coated with the zinc. That’s quite promising, though how often would one need to be consuming these lozenges?
Zinc supplements in pill/tablet form are an option, which are typically a higher dose (50 mg) than the lozenges.
Of course if your throat is sore, you might still want some type of lozenge/cough drop.
I am taking a lozenge when going into crowed places like a medical seminar I am going to soon. Then depending I am taking one when I get home or not… I have had a minor sore throat on and off for 2 weeks and had minor flu symptoms like 1.5 weeks ago. It can’t hurt but not sure how much it helps.
We have a cruise booked with my parents at the end of April.
Just heard this morning that Carnival apparently is coming out with a deal for us to either get a full refund for future cruise credit to use within the next year or a $200 on board credit for this cruise. Booked this almost 2 years ago, so I’m kind of bummed, but it is what it is.
I’m not so worried about me and my husband, but my parents are 75 and 79…mom has had several major health issues in the past and so has dad. Honestly not worth the risk for them. For us…we’d have to fly. Lots of things to think about this weekend…
Oh, and I got the last 3 bottles of antibacterial soap at our local grocery store yesterday. Grrrrrrr…
Thanks @SyrAlum and @doschicos
I am headed to the store today. We honestly just don’t keep this type of medication on hand now that we are empty nesters. Fortunately, we don’t usually get sick, but obviously I want to be prepared.
Went to Costco twice this week (unrelated to Coronavirus). First time there were no samples at all and yesterday they were only handing out veggie sticks. Usually there are at least 5 stations. I was bummed as I was there at lunchtime both times & was starving. Costco was twice as busy yesterday as it was on Tuesday but someone mentioned Costco just sent out their yearly reward checks.
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/03/05/first-ncaa-games-canceled-due-coronavirus
NOOOOOO…!!!
Who thinks this will blow over by the time March Madness starts March 17? ??.
OK… Don’t answer that!
So was as at an Augmented Reality lectures this week and it was on corporate training. They said if this was more available now then using virtual desktops, watching this game above (but being like there) etc would just go on as usual. Like remoting but cooler.
So no Purell at a Supermarket in the Western burbs of Chicago. Got a Lysol disenfectant spray but had few left. At 2 stores Lysol wipes /Clorox wipes were mostly gone…