When it really happens: SHTF...

[Gil Boyd]

Yes I heard a health professional say just that, wearing of masks isn't essential, and yet they are absolutely covered in A&E and ICU units. Bit misleading for the average Joe in the street.
Surely, it is passed in the main by droplets, so masks should be advised??

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[22SqnRAE]

Yes I heard a health professional say just that, wearing of masks isn't essential, and yet they are absolutely covered in A&E and ICU units. Bit misleading for the average Joe in the street.
Surely, it is passed in the main by droplets, so masks should be advised??

Gil, I tend to believe what the docs are saying and am not doubting their logic here. Taking a rather circumspect approach is sensible for them, because of their constant, or repeated exposure to the risk for longer duration than most would in normal environmental settings.

As for anyone who is 'nipping out for some groceries' then provided they apply the recommended safe distancing, hygiene measures and don't expose themselves in uncontrolled environments with high risk individuals, they are most likely (statistically speaking) to be fine. There's no guarantees, here. Remember, this isn't an instantaneously infectious disease that will manage to pass between people in close proximity. It needs to be persistent contact and then transferred to enter the body's soft interior tissue especially the alimentary canal or eyes.

When we are finally told about the truth of the infected victims and the terminal cases here in Oz, we actually find that their behaviour, locations, environments and actions have lead to a simple conclusion of: "Well, that was going to end in tears..."

For those repeatedly or frequently exposed for longer periods to infected people, yes, they need added protection. For people with existing weakening illnesses or conditions, aged or infirm, they too need additional protective measures. But for generally fit and healthy types, that adhere to the warnings, procedures, decontamination processes, I'd wager they have a high chance of getting by just fine.

I think to be alert and defensive to a reasonable degree makes sense. To be afraid, excessively worried and highly limited in everyday life as a result, doesn't make sense.

For those of us who endured NBCD (or whatever the acronym is nowadays) training - or worse, became an instructor ( I shudder remembering that...) we were taught to operate under the conditions and not be afraid, but to trust our equipment and procedures. I think some of that recolelciton now might be helpful. I'm not saying there's no risk, that's foolish. I'm suggesting that it's really not all that bad as it may seem, and the statistics are showing this won't end life as we know it.

[Flying10uk]

As for anyone who is 'nipping out for some groceries' then provided they apply the recommended safe distancing, hygiene measures and don't expose themselves in uncontrolled environments with high risk individuals, they are most likely (statistically speaking) to be fine.

Unfortunately, not everyone sticks to the recommended social distancing guidelines in the 2 local supermarkets that I have visited.

In one of the shops that I visit it is not possible to keep to the recommended 2m distancing, because the isles are too narrow, less than 2m wide, and it is not possible to pass others in the same isle unless one of those wishing to pass their fellow shopper were to climb on top of the shelves which stretch the length of the isle and are around 2m in height. Of-course if this were to be done the shop would need to provide safety harnesses for customers to use so that one does not find one's self in contravention of safe working heights rules and regulations. Provision of ladders at each end of the shelves may also be helpful otherwise there maybe a tendency for customers to attempt "mountaineering" on the sides of the shelves which may result in some "perishable" goods being "soiled" by customers trying to get a "foothold" in the side of the shelves.