Hope this report is false!

FAB · Post by **FAB** » 21 Mar 2020, 23:52

Virus could be active for up to 7 days on cardboard and plastic... I hope not.,

https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/19/post-car ... -12422678/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Williaal2 · Post by **Williaal2** » 22 Mar 2020, 00:03

FAB wrote:Virus could be active for up to 7 days on cardboard and plastic... I hope not.,

https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/19/post-car ... -12422678/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Same is true of food deliveries in plastic and card packaging. And all of the food you see in supermarkets, the plastic wrapped rice, pasta, etc.

It's easy to panic.

MacKG · Post by **MacKG** » 22 Mar 2020, 00:11

https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMc2004973" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's only kinda false.

Pumpernickel · Post by **Pumpernickel** » 22 Mar 2020, 01:02

MacKG wrote:https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMc2004973

It's only kinda false.

I copied that page earlier on, thinking of taking it into the DO and asking management to cite their source of the virus not remaining contagious on letters and parcels...

Potential 24 hours on cardboard (may include paper but paper wasn't specifically tested), 72 hours on plastic (type of plastic not specified), 48 hours stainless (yorks). These figures will vary subject to conditions, but we don't know how much they vary by under the kind of conditions in places like the DO or SOs.

UK at present is trending the same figures as Italy, just 14 days behind. It's important to note though that Italy had some regions under restrictions much earlier (on the relative timescale, London should have been on lockdown 7th March to match), and full country lockdown was about to start this time 2 weeks ago. In the UK it's a mere suggestion.

Thus far our DO has had 2 meetings (that I am aware of) with staff over what's happening and I have been present at neither given they took place before my start time.

Why are these meetings not fully inclusive? (if multiple meetings are necessary to ensure everyone knows what's going on then they are necessary)

The information I got about signatures being replaced with CV19 then XP1 I obtained here, and clarified with other posties at our DO. Other than that the only instructions I recieved (one on one) was to make parcels (tracked and oversize) priority and mail can be left.

Whats going to happen when people in SOs and DOs go down either suspected or confirmed? Cardboard boxes, plastic wrapped parcels, stainless yorks, PDAs, vans, frames clad in plastic?

ssdd · Post by **ssdd** » 22 Mar 2020, 01:33

I ASSUME I'm transferring the virus everwhere I go with mail/parcels. I look at it as though it's LIVE.
I'm lucky, I have a packet of anti-bacterial wipes I obtained at my own expense(are these even effective against this virus I don't know) to use to wipe down surfaces within the van periodically. I also have a small bottle of hand sanitiser, again obtained myself, that I use after every loop(this is due to run out within the next week).

The main thing I'm aware of is to not touch my face with my hands. If I have to scratch, I try and do this with the back of my forearm. On delivery, gates and doors I try to open with the back of my hand/wrist, thus trying to eliminate the spread via hands.

When it gets to the recipient it's up to them. No problem handling mail if you wash your hands afterwards...

Post by **SpacePhoenix** » 22 Mar 2020, 01:42

Is it really any different from the risks that people in the food distribution chain face?

Pumpernickel · Post by **Pumpernickel** » 22 Mar 2020, 02:06

SpacePhoenix wrote:Is it really any different from the risks that people in the food distribution chain face?

I'd suggest it's a bit different.

The food distribution chain has hygine requirements for those handling food, thus they have facilities to wash regularly. There are requirements for storage and transit too. The only people in that supply chain that don't necessarily have much personal provision is those in transport (drivers) who generally won't be handling even the packaged food. I have no doubt that supermarket drivers that deliver to customers also have some possibility for provision of disinfectant wipes or gel from their employer. We shouldn't just assume the various distribution chains of goods are doing nothing extra under the circumstances.

Our posties on delivery however have virtually no provision once we leave the DO (in fact, we have less than usual), and we aren't subject to anything like the same requirements for storage or transit. I'm less concerned about risk to me than I am of other posties and the people we deliver to, though I do understand others personal concerns (either for themselves or their close family) due to their different circumstances.

Post by **rambo1** » 22 Mar 2020, 08:44

What it boils down to is just not touching your face before hand washing or hand sanitizing. This is the only way you are going to catch it unless someone coughs or sneezes on you,who is infected.
It's easier said than done.
If everyone gets into this habit then when this virus subsides, then the population will be much healthier with less colds and flu than before too. That's a positive out of all this.

1560loopsayear · Post by **1560loopsayear** » 22 Mar 2020, 11:29

Next week will be UK's week of reckoning...If were said to be matching Italy's rate of infections/deaths...then instead of 20-40 dying every day it will be hundreds and multiple hundreds...that will be a grim statistic which will force the UK to lockdown.

Post by **Pathfinder** » 22 Mar 2020, 11:33

1560loopsayear wrote:Next week will be UK's week of reckoning...If were said to be matching Italy's rate of infections/deaths...then instead of 20-40 dying every day it will be hundreds and multiple hundreds...that will be a grim statistic which will force the UK to lockdown.

It's a disgrace because we know its going to happen, and still they won't act.