I’m so glad to be home in my quiet community of Cap-Pelé, NB! It was an interesting trip back from Spain. And I've changed several habits to reduce my chances of catching the virus while in Spain and while passing through 4 airports on the way home…
Wash hands
The first one was to wash my hands more often, and to wash them longer. When I wrote my Jan 31st blog about use of masks during the current COVID-19 pandemic, I realized I wasn’t washing my hands for a full 20 seconds. But at least I had already developed the habit of washing them first thing when I walk through the door. When out doing errands, I knew I was touching a lot of dirty surfaces: door handles, railings, money… and many others. I didn’t want to spread what I’d picked up around my home.
Avoid touching your face
The next habit to change was to stop touching my face with my hands. It’s amazing how many times I would scratch my nose, rub my eyes or touch my mouth unconsciously. And it’s a hard habit to break. I mean, what’s a girl to do when her nose is itchy? My solution is to use my sleeve to soothe the itch (not the one I use to sneeze or cough into, of course…) or, if I have a sleeveless outfit on, I use my forearm or the back of my wrist. Although I haven’t seen any “official” recommendations about this, it seems to make sense.
I cringed when I saw an employee in Charles de Gaulle, Paris airport, rubbing her mouth and chin as she worked on her computer at the check-in counter. I wondered how she missed the message, and how long it would be until she was sick…or whether she was already…
As for face masks, unless you need to be close to potentially sick people, the main benefit of a mask is to prevent you from touching your face. Even a scarf will do this, but you can train yourself to keep your hands away from your face, saving face masks (a scarce commodity these days!) for those in close contact with the ill.
Clean your phone
And, we know that bacteria and viruses live longer on hard smooth surfaces, like our cellphones (up to 2 to 3 days, for some organisms). I hadn’t thought about that until I saw a “question and answer” series on BBC. Someone asked how to clean a cellphone without ruining it. Here’s their answer: Some manufacturers recommend avoiding alcohol and harsh cleaners as they can damage the screen over time. They recommended, instead, using soap and water on a microfiber cloth, wrung out well, to wash all surfaces including the sides, being careful around openings. They even did a test to show how well this simple washing drastically decreased counts of organisms on the surface (impressive!). They also suggested checking cleaning recommendations from the manufacturer of your specific phone.
Other items that are handled when out, like keys, wallets, purse handles, etc. are items to think about too. Either wash them along with your phone or wash your hands (yet again!) after touching them when at home. Remember that viruses can live on hard surfaces for up to 2 to 3 days.
Cover coughs and keep your distance
I’m sure you’ve already been told to cough or sneeze into a tissue (and throw it away) or into your sleeve with bent elbow. And we’ve all been told to practice “social distancing” when around other people… staying at least 2 arm lengths (2meters/6feet) away from others. Alternatives to handshaking, hugs and kisses are springing up: touching elbows or toes, hand over the heart, Namaste or (my favourite!) the “virtual hug” with “air kisses”.
Of course, we’re staying at home or in our yard for 2 weeks, avoiding all contact with others, after being in Spain and (worse yet!) passing through all those airports. The line-ups were the same as always—large rooms filled with people close together, as we shuffled in multiple lines for 2 hours to pass through customs or to board planes. My husband suggested we stay close to those wearing masks…we were unable to find any for ourselves for the trip, although we checked several stores and pharmacies. Although they’re not recommended for general use in people who are not sick, they seemed like a good idea since we knew there would be close contact with many other travellers. It was notable that the only hand wash station I saw was in the last airport, in Moncton, NB!
Leave shoes at the door
At home, I also have the habit of removing my shoes at the door. This was reinforced in Spain by the state of the sidewalks there – so many dogs and birds, leaving their “calling cards” (as my grandfather used to call them) behind. It pays to walk with your head down, even when the scenery is amazing. Sometimes I took my sandals into the shower when I got back and sprayed them with hot water then washed the tub…
We were only due to return in mid-April and were extremely lucky to have been able to change our tickets to earlier flights. Some of our relatives and friends are still in Spain, trying to get earlier flights (which we hear can take 30 hours and can cost $3000 per person for a 1-way fare). When walking to the grocery store in Spain, my sister-in-law told us they were stopped by police, asking where they were going. On the return walk, they were stopped again and told that only 1 person was to go grocery shopping next time. We are hoping that planes will still be flying on the dates when their original flights are scheduled.
So, in summary, here’s a checklist:
1. Wash hands often for at least 20 seconds
2. Avoid touching your face
3. Clean frequently touched surfaces with soap and water, including your phone
4. Cough or sneeze into your bent elbow
5. Keep a “social distance” of at least 2 arms length from others until the situation improves
6. Remove your shoes at the door
The situation is changing quickly and recommendations for behaviours to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect yourself and others are becoming more stringent every day. Pay attention to what is recommended in your area—and that may mean just staying at home—and follow it closely. Even if you are not at high risk, you could pass the virus on to someone who could die from it.
Some are comparing the current pandemic to the Spanish Flu of 1918 that spread unchecked throughout the world, killing an estimated 50 to 100 million people. Of course, they had no vaccines then, and communication was poor with the Great War in full swing. If you’re wondering why governments are taking such drastic actions right now, watch this 11-minute video about the horrors of 1918… the Spanish Influenza.
Meanwhile, I’m dousing my poor, dry (but so clean!) hands with moisturizer…they look like hands of a 90-year-old after so much cleaning with alcohol gel and wipes on my trip home! Missing the warm Spanish sun, but so happy (and lucky!) to be home…
Around the world, people are being encouraged to come together but stay physically apart. Help out your neighbours and those you love but do it from a safe distance! Stay well…
