LOL! - Graywings123 - Love it! DH called me today. He had to go to Sam's Club to pick up some stuff for the office. He said he couldn't believe all the people there with face masks on. He said one guy had some kind of whole mask thing that covered his whole face. I laughed and said "but was there any TP left?" He said he didn't look, it didn't occur to him. I guess they were already stocked up on that - I hope. I've been in and out of different stores in the last few days and I've not noticed anything being scarce. We already have a lot of staples squirreled away because that's just the way we are, also we try to stay prepared for hurricanes.

I've seen one person with a face mask and that was at the airport in Phoenix last week when we flew home to SoCal. No masks at the airport here or on either flight going and coming. Must say I was a little surprised to only see one mask.

I ran over to HEB earlier. There was a customer wearing gloves,but no face mask. I needed a bottle of Woolite so I went down the cleaning aisle. The bleach has been hit, but not wiped out. Clorox wipes were gone and only six of some other type left. I didn't look in the non-perishable food aisles.

Went to Trader Joe's at 12:30 today and the place was extra busy. Clerk said the weekend had been crazy, like before a major holiday. And she reported hearing from customers that Costco was slammed all weekend.

I posted this on another thread but can't find it (hopefully not a duplicate here) that you can make your own hand sanitizer with rubbing alcohol and aloe gel. If you can't get rubbing alcohol in a suitable strength, it says you can sub high-proof vodka. I'd rather stock up on that, so if it isn't needed for sanitizing, I can use it in other ways.

Vodka would likely be a better purchase than rubbing alcohol, it has more uses.

I believe old fashioned hand washing (with soap and water) is more effective than using hand sanitizers but maybe not. Perhaps the doc who visits this forum periodically can weigh in ?

I went shopping today to buy the usual amount of groceries, nothing extra. The store had the usual amount of shoppers and I didn't notice anyone buying in large quantities .....except the guy ahead of me had a large amount of beer so that might mean something!! :)

I like the idea of having hand sanitizers in the car, so when you are out and about you can clean your hands before you can get home to wash them. I don't usually worry about it but if this gets too out of hand, I may get in the habit for a while.

I always have sanitizer and handi wipes in my car. After I pump gas I like to wipe my hands. Also in the house I have a stash.

Graywings, lol, as I was in Costco last week, I actually was disappointed in there only being a few free samples being handed out. I did try a couple of them, even after buying some disinfectant wipes for my bathroom and stocking up on food and toilet paper. I did only get one package of toilet paper, though, didn't buy enough for the end of the world.

I haven't waited in line for gas since the 70s gas crisis.

Our news tonight said to stock up on TP, bleach, etc. There isn't even a case in our state. Great I wasn't planning to go out till later this week, but Lowes has a light fixture on sale. It ends tomorrow. So while I am out I might as well hit walmart for the baby formula I need for my granddaughter. I hope I don't have to deal with all the doomsday people.

Elmer's idea of a "authoritative source " is any or all sources that supports his argument.

The CDC is telling us use hand sanitizer if seeing someone immune compromised or in hospital or nursing home - and in instances when soap and water isn't available. Hand sanitizer kills germs.

Use soap and water when at home, doing anything in your kitchen, bathroom, and of course when dirt is visible. Soap and water washing removes germs.

Oly, I just made my own hand sanitizer with 91% isopropyl alcohol and pure aloe gel. The aloe gel is just a vehicle for the alcohol.

If one doesn't have access to either hand washing or sanitizer (not sure if TSA will confiscate the wee bottles), will Wet Ones hand wipes do in a pinch?

I don't know about Wet Ones....they are saying that only sanitizers with alcohol will kill the virus, so if Wet Ones don't have alcohol, it probably won't do any good.

Soap and water don't kill the virus either, they remove it. I wonder if Wet Ones at least wipe it off?

function, the insult was unnecessary.

There was nothing immodest about my saying

"I believe old fashioned hand washing (with soap and water) is more effective than using hand sanitizers but maybe not. Perhaps the doc who visits this forum periodically can weigh in ?"

In fact, the opposite. You must have missed it or read it wrong. I'd read that hand sanitizers are not completely effective against all viruses or bacteria. What have you read about this recently?

"Soap and water don't kill the virus either, they remove it."

Exactly. Off the hands and down the drain. People don't typically rinse with water after using a hand sanitizer, it's not how they're used.

Funny story: I was working with a group of kindergartners on an art project. Finger painting. When they were done it was time to wash up. One little one says "oh, that's okay, I have my Purell". Yep, it was as messy an ineffective as you can imagine. Eventually she grabbed a paper towel. Cute kid.

Well, I’m sending the little hand sanitizer bottles with DH and DS on the plane to NYC, and just in case TSA tosses them, I’m sending along several packs of hand wipes. It’s better than nothing!

The hand wipes can be used to wipe down their seat, the tray, the seatbelt connections, the light switches, the bathroom taps etc.

About flying with hand sanitizer.... remember the TSA rule about liquids only in 4 oz or less containers in quart ziplock bag for any carry-on.

I went grocery shopping today and there weren't any shortages of anything in particular except for ......peanut butter. There wasn't any peanut butter! There was lots of rice, pasta, canned goods, TP, cold medications, pain relievers, etc but no......peanut butter and it wasn't even on sale.

I haven't finished reading all the posts, so I'm probably repeating something already said, but I think many people are stocking up because when/if the virus hits their community they don't want to be out shopping in supermarkets or pharmacies and risk getting infected. The standard advice is to keep two weeks' worth of food and supplies on hand, although I think that might be a little optimistic in the case of an outbreak.

As for gas, my son and I filled up all our gas cans yesterday as we do periodically to have it on hand for snow blowing, followed by lawn mowing, and in case we need to use the generators. Maybe some people are thinking about the generator angle now.

No hand sanitizer left in our community. I had a bunch of bottles I bought years ago and thought I could use them. But I learned the alcohol can evaporate and render them ineffective even in sealed bottles.

I wonder if you can just add fresh alcohol to the bottles? 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol, easy to find in the store Or in your home.

Interesting thought, Bpath. I'll see if I can find any info on that.

I went to the link Chocolatesnap posted. I never heard of Real Clear Science, but I hope their 5 Reasons are accurate. They sound reasonable. I read elsewhere that China is reporting significantly fewer cases now. How does that work? I wonder if we can expect the same thing in other countries.

On our local news last night the health reporter said when you wipe down surfaces you need to make sure they stay wet for 4 minutes to thoroughly kill germs. I know I never do that! But going to try from now on.

I can't find hand sanitzer anywhere so I came across a homemade recipe:

Combine in a bowl:
⅔-cup rubbing alcohol (99% isopropyl alcohol)
⅓-cup aloe vera gel.
Stir. Decant into a clean soap or pump bottle.

According to the CDC, as of Feb. 22, there have been 18,000 deaths from influenza in the U.S. alone.

According the Worldometer, as of today, there have been 3,130 deaths from coronavirus worldwide.

As Taylor Swift says, you need to calm down. :-)

Annie, that’s the recipe I used. It is not very gel-like! It might even work in a spray bottle.

I found that recipe too. The one I saw said 91% isopropyl alcohol will get the result to the same strength as store-bought hand sanitizers, but for extra germ-killing use 99% alcohol. In my experience, 99% is expensive and/or hard to find. I would buy some if I knew which grade was best for this purpose. So far I've found technical and reagent grades.

I'm sure it is out there, but all I've seen is 91% alcohol.

you need to calm down.

Once again, many question the validity of comparing something that is new, and something where the exact mortality has yet to be determined, with the flu. It is a false comfort.

The 91% isopropyl alcohol is easy to find, as is pure aloe, at Target.

I was trying to find alcohol wipes like you use for wound care, but I don’t even see a space on the shelf for them. Maybe we never bought them, but got them from the doctor/hospital.

^^^I buy them all the time at the pharmacy -- they are tiny though -- people who inject at home need these wipes. Sometimes it takes a couple to do the job. Ask the pharmacist.

My husband told me this joke yesterday:

What goes with Corona Virus?

Lyme disease.

(Sorry if it offends)

Last night I checked, just because I was curious.

My local Walmart was out of rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer and Campbell's chicken noodle soup. But they had toilet paper. I didn't check anything else.

I like to have freeze dried meals on hand for when I go backpacking. Luckily I already have them because they're a bit hard to find right now. I have no idea why people would think they need a bunch of expensive freeze dried food for just sitting around the house.

I keep 91% isopropyl around. I had assumed 91% was better at disinfecting than 70% but after reading this, I'm not so sure it is. Maybe 91% is borderline too high a percentage? No matter, I mostly use it for things other than disinfecting. (priming my gas stoves, toughening feet, etc.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Why Is 70% the Most Effective Concentration of Isopropyl Alcohol for Disinfection?

Isopropyl
alcohol, particularly in solutions between 60% and 90% alcohol with 10 –
40% purified water, is rapidly antimicrobial against bacteria, fungi,
and viruses. Once alcohol concentrations drop below 50%, usefulness for
disinfection drops sharply. Notably, higher concentrations of alcohol
don’t generate more desirable bactericidal, virucidal, or fungicidal
properties.

The presence of water is a crucial factor in
destroying or inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microorganisms with
isopropyl alcohol. Water acts as a catalyst and plays a key role in
denaturing the proteins of vegetative cell membranes. 70% IPA solutions
penetrate the cell wall more completely which permeates the entire
cell, coagulates all proteins, and therefore the microorganism dies.
Extra water content slows evaporation, therefore increasing surface
contact time and enhancing effectiveness. Isopropyl alcohol
concentrations over 91% coagulate proteins instantly. Consequently, a
protective layer is created which protects other proteins from further
coagulation.

Solutions > 91%
IPA may kill some bacteria, but require longer contact times for
disinfection, and enable spores to lie in a dormant state without being
killed. A 50% isopropyl alcohol solution kills Staphylococcus Aureus in less than 10 seconds (pg. 238),
yet a 90% solution with a contact time of over two hours is
ineffective. Some disinfectants will kill spores with exposures times
that exceed 3-12 hours, which are classified as chemical sterilants. So why do higher alcohol solutions yield fewer results for bactericidal and antimicrobial outcomes?
-----------------------------------------------------------------

The above was taken from:
https://blog.gotopac.com/2017/05/15/why-is-70-isopropyl-alcohol-ipa-a-better-disinfectant-than-99-isopropanol-and-what-is-ipa-used-for/

I didn't look hard, probably there are contradictions to the above.

If you wash your hands in a public restroom, always turn the faucet off with a dry paper towel. I can always spot another nurse because they never turn the faucet off with their hands either. Love the automatic faucets you don't ever have to touch. If you touch the faucet, you are just putting all those germs people have deposited before you. I hate it when they don't have paper towels or the trash is too far from the door. I like opening the door with a paper towel and throwing it out as I leave with my foot on the door to hold it open as I toss the towel. Otherwise I have to use my coat, shirt to open it. God knows what is on those bathroom door handles, as too many women I see don't wash their hands after using public bathrooms.

Urine isn't sterile but it's usually not that yucky on its own but worse things can get on hands in a bathroom. Not just from the normal use of the facilities but also from things like using TP to blow one's nose.

I do just as you do, kaths, and use my ever present back pocket hanky for faucets and door handles in bathrooms without paper towels.

Once again, many question the validity of comparing something that is new, and something where the exact mortality has yet to be determined, with the flu. It is a false comfort.

I'll chose false comfort over false fear, and not let the manufactured hysteria take over me until more facts are known.

Kath, wear latex gloves when entering then dispose of after leaving. :)

I'll be "concerned" when my state's dept of health says to be concerned -- which isn't yet. But it never hurts to have a plan, so some of these comments have helped me think ahead.

Kath, if I don't see a garbage can near the door, I toss my used towel on the floor and hope they'll get the message. Almost all places know by now to leave a receptacle near the door.

sjerin, I'm one of the ones who will pick up such towels and put them in the garbage. (Carefully, with another towel to prevent my fingers from touching the one on the ground.)

I am very strange I've concluded. That is okay. I put some soap and water on a paper towel and wash and rinse off the tap handle. Then I use the other part of it to open the door. If there is no receptacle I always have a spare plastic bag and I toss it in there to be disposed of when I find a garbage receptacle.

It's inconsiderate to the users who follow you to leave your trash on the floor. Almost like a mini-hissy fit. When there's not a bin by the door, and if I can't do a three-point shot to an open receptacle, I carry it out with me and put it into the next bin I find.

If you think the facility is lacking, tell someone who can do something about it rather than making a mess.

.....well, I live in NYC. I was wondering when we’d hear it. A man who lives in westchester (north) traveled to the city. Was in grand central station. Was on the trains...

I’ve been a bit paranoid of germs for a while now. First six months of last year one cold/cough after another did it

Public bathrooms? I try my best to not step foot in them, but if I must, I try not to breathe too deeply, I don’t touch anything without a paper towel.

In nyc it will spread like wildfire

Arnold Classic postponed

Athletes only. No spectators.

All athletes from China, Italy, South Korea, Japan and Iran banned from coming to USA to attend.

Arnold promises to be back later this year.

Restaurants that have geared up for the crowds of 260,000 spectators are now offering discounted meals. A plus? Maybe not.

After you've used the paper towel on the handle to open the door of the public washroom and find no garbage container nearby into which to dispose of it, yeonassky, you say that you carry a plastic bag to put the towel into till you find a garbage container.

If it's a usual kind that you've washed after having used for another purpose, then you're not using one more new piece of plastic to turn into junk.

But if you use a new one, if you get milk in bags, would you consider washing an empty one into which to put the possibly contaminated paper towel, in order to avoid turning one more piece of fresh plastic into junk after just one use?

At age beyond 80, I have no grandkids to help clean up the mess that we 7 billion inhabitants, which about 400 years ago were only about 1 billion, are making of the world.

And plastic has been around for, what, about 60 years, more or less?

ole joyful

I hear you joyfulguy. It would be easier just to roll the paper towel into a ball and stick in your pocket until you come across another waste container.

sjerin I find it extremely insulting that you would drop your used paper towel on the floor if there's no trash can nearby. I work with maintenance and cleaning people in my job and it's amazing how people will trash bathrooms. If someone drops a towel on the floor, no one higher up is going to hear about it. No one is going to say hmmm guess we need a trash can here. There are trash cans as close to the doors as they can be but in older buildings, that's not always possible.

Please re-think your strategy of trying to teach someone a lesson. The people who are picking up after YOU don't need to be taught anything.

I was just going to say the same thing as share oh.

I worked in a sports arena for money during my college days. It was a pretty neat job, I got to see all kinds of fun stuff for free. The down side was I did post-event clean up and holy cow some people are pigs. Sorry, there is no other way to describe what some people will do or leave behind in a public bathroom.

If you've never cleaned a public bathroom, count your lucky stars. Please don't be mean to people who are generally working very hard for not very much money.