I wipe down surfaces with bleach every other day and things that are touched often like door handles, remotes, light switches etc. I don’t wipe down groceries, but I do throw away the bags. I just make sure I wash my hands and use hand sanitizer when I’m not at the house and keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in the car. I wear masks, I usually wear two masks when around people.
This is a thread about COVID-19 on surfaces. Let's keep it on topic, and supplements have nothing to do with this subject.
Although we need to be safe, is there such a thing as being too safe? We need to be exposed to a certain amount of bacteria to be healthy and have an active immune system. For years, I've read that kids allowed to get dirty are healthier than those kept in "too clean" environments.
https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/hygiene-hypothesis-could-more-dirt-and-germs-boost-your-health
I do use a limited amount of hand sanitizer and wipe certain things down regularly, but don't scrub my food (other than normal precautions), etc.
I don't believe the Virus can live on a surface more than minutes if even minutes. The virus needs a host to feed from Some bacteria can live outside the body for a while. That's just my opinion. Can it be coughed in the air and you close to it, I am sure it can be transmitted. But sitting on a surface for a while , I can't believe it.
I wipe down my faucet handles after washing hands after coming in from being in public. Also, door knobs, light switches and other "fomites". I put things I eat that you can wash in a bucket of soapy water. As for Packages I quarantine the items after opening or wipe them down. Usually, I quarantine for 9 days unless I need it right away. Dr. Fauci from the CDC changed his mind about the mail. He thinks its possible to get it from the mail. So I wash my hands after. Coronavirus can linger in the air for 3 hours too.
Microbiologist Scientist
mkh9
I'm a sanitizing freak during cold and flu season and in general. I wipe down our door knobs, faucets, remotes, etc. on a regular basis. So, yea, I've been doing that since covid happened regularly. I'm certain that with 150 plus students rotating through every high school class room without cleaning in between, there is some yuck going on on those desks. I'm considering sending some lysol wipes in a baggie for my kids to use if they think of it. One will (my guy who doesn't like germs) and one won't (my guy who hates germs but can't be bothered with anything that requires thinking about it ahead of time).
It's a very stressful time sending kids back into the building for school. We have people telling us (that work there) that it may last a week and possibly two before we have enough sick people they go blended or remote. We'll see what happens. But I don't like to touch surfaces right now.
Some of the absolute worst colds and viruses I've had happened right after I used a cart somewhere. Groceries, I'm good about wiping down the cart and they have plenty of supplies to do it. Home Depot or someplace like that? In the past, I didn't do it and literally was sick two to three days later. Has happened more than once. Wipe down shopping carts --- always.
They said awhile ago that you probably don't need to be wiping down groceries. Fauci and other health experts aren't wiping their groceries - https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/how-fauci-5-other-health-specialists-deal-with-covid-19-risks-in-their-everyday-lives/2020/07/02/d4665ed6-b6fb-11ea-a510-55bf26485c93_story.html
It can live on surfaces, but it's largely airborne - https://abcnews.go.com/Health/science-shows-coronavirus-survive-plastic-metal-surfaces-matter/story?id=72422796
That said, I'm not a parent and can't begin to imagine the decision of sending my kid back to school right now. I don't think I'd worry about desks and such so much as parents sending their kids to school sick, but it must be agonizing.