Doctors and Nurses, can you share your coming home from work decontamination routine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, the decontamination stuff is good, but don’t lose sight of the fact that the biggest risk is probably catching it at work and spreading it at home before symptoms. Most people are infected from breathing rather than contaminated objects.

This. Don't overstress about the objects. That is not generally how this is spread.

[Anonymous]

Do all of the above but also you need to wash your hands a lot and wipe down things a lot in your house. You might get the virus and then can spread it once you get home even if you change your clothes, etc.

My dh is an essential worker and I have underlying conditions. We are sleeping in separate bedrooms and using separate bathrooms and each have separate areas of the house that we use as common space. We have to share the kitchen. I wish he would wear a mask in the kitchen but he wont. So I wear a mask when I have to use the kitchen, but then I also wait to go into the kitchen when he has not been there for at least fifteen minutes. Sometimes we sit in the backyard together but I usually wear a mask when we do that, and sometimes he does. Or we take a walk while wearing masks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do all of the above but also you need to wash your hands a lot and wipe down things a lot in your house. You might get the virus and then can spread it once you get home even if you change your clothes, etc.

My dh is an essential worker and I have underlying conditions. We are sleeping in separate bedrooms and using separate bathrooms and each have separate areas of the house that we use as common space. We have to share the kitchen. I wish he would wear a mask in the kitchen but he wont. So I wear a mask when I have to use the kitchen, but then I also wait to go into the kitchen when he has not been there for at least fifteen minutes. Sometimes we sit in the backyard together but I usually wear a mask when we do that, and sometimes he does. Or we take a walk while wearing masks.

Wow...how long are you doing this for?? Definitely will feel lonely if it was me, especially in bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, the decontamination stuff is good, but don’t lose sight of the fact that the biggest risk is probably catching it at work and spreading it at home before symptoms. Most people are infected from breathing rather than contaminated objects.

This exactly.

[Anonymous]

I do everything the others do (work in icu). I still managed to get covid and contract it to the rest of the family- by the time I isolated, it was too late. Luckily everyone is fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, the decontamination stuff is good, but don’t lose sight of the fact that the biggest risk is probably catching it at work and spreading it at home before symptoms. Most people are infected from breathing rather than contaminated objects.

This exactly.

Stuff I've been seeing suggests 90% of transmission is through breathing, maybe 10% of surface object (smear) transmission.

So biggest thing at home would be to frequently air out rooms with good outside air ventilation, particularly if you are eating a meal together and talking which seems to be one frequent way this virus is spread.

[Anonymous]

DH leaves dirty scrubs at work - they get cleaned there; he wears clean scrubs home. before leaving work he uses bleach wipes on his rubber clogs, keys, and phone. he leaves his clogs in the garage, comes home and takes a shower in the basement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, the decontamination stuff is good, but don’t lose sight of the fact that the biggest risk is probably catching it at work and spreading it at home before symptoms. Most people are infected from breathing rather than contaminated objects.

This. Don't overstress about the objects. That is not generally how this is spread.

ICU nurse here. Yes, this.

Your problem as it relates to your mother is the virus entering your nose at work and replicating in your body while you’re asymptomatic.

It’s not about your car keys or pants.

In your situation I’d wear excellent-fitting masks at home. Indefinitely.

Alternatively I’d make other living arrangements for my mom or myself. Sounds dramatic probably to many people reading this but that’s exactly what several of my ICU coworkers did back in February. They stopped sharing a roof with their 60-80+ year old parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, the decontamination stuff is good, but don’t lose sight of the fact that the biggest risk is probably catching it at work and spreading it at home before symptoms. Most people are infected from breathing rather than contaminated objects.

This. Don't overstress about the objects. That is not generally how this is spread.

ICU nurse here. Yes, this.

Your problem as it relates to your mother is the virus entering your nose at work and replicating in your body while you’re asymptomatic.

It’s not about your car keys or pants.

In your situation I’d wear excellent-fitting masks at home. Indefinitely.

Alternatively I’d make other living arrangements for my mom or myself. Sounds dramatic probably to many people reading this but that’s exactly what several of my ICU coworkers did back in February. They stopped sharing a roof with their 60-80+ year old parents

My husband works in icu. I agree with this.
I will say he tried wearing a mask around the house and gave up. But we don't have high risk people living with us. He is very careful to.wear one if he goes out at all, even on a walk in our not crowded neighborhood where.it is very easy.to socially distance on opposite sides of the street.

Fwiw we are sleeping separately and not kissing, he doesn't prepae food other than his own, he leaves his hospital shoes outside, he uses a separate bathroom, takes a shower immediately after getting home etc. He has good hygiene generally, sanitizes his phone, etc

To us, we know everything can reduce risk but we also know there is an element of 'security theatre,' on the other hand, we decided given the duration this is likely to go on for and the young age of our kids, it was not feasible for him to move to the basement etc like some of his colleagues.

[Anonymous]

My husband is living in the basement. It has nothing to do with clothes and touching stuff. If you get the virus and are asymptomatic or presymptomatic, you will probably kill your mother.

My husband has seen things that is haunting him, probably forever. He refuses to expose us and is pretty shook about the pediatric inflammatory issues. I doubt we will sleep together for awhile. Tonight, we had dinner out on the deck and he was together, but a few feet away from us. I cook all of the food and clean up.

Most of his colleagues are completely separated from loved ones as well. The fact that they are starting to reopen everything will leave more people and health care members vulnerable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at this thread on the topic of scrub wear

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/880714.page

We have few drs and nurses that DO NOT change out of work clothes when at home. Even sit in their children’s bed without changing...

Ooooh that’s me! I’m the bed sitter! I feel so famous...

It’s truly sad to know someone like you would expose your child to potential Covid19. The reason we still have over 900-1000 positives per day are because of people like you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, the decontamination stuff is good, but don’t lose sight of the fact that the biggest risk is probably catching it at work and spreading it at home before symptoms. Most people are infected from breathing rather than contaminated objects.

This. Don't overstress about the objects. That is not generally how this is spread.

ICU nurse here. Yes, this.

Your problem as it relates to your mother is the virus entering your nose at work and replicating in your body while you’re asymptomatic.

It’s not about your car keys or pants.

In your situation I’d wear excellent-fitting masks at home. Indefinitely.

Alternatively I’d make other living arrangements for my mom or myself. Sounds dramatic probably to many people reading this but that’s exactly what several of my ICU coworkers did back in February. They stopped sharing a roof with their 60-80+ year old parents

My husband works in icu. I agree with this.
I will say he tried wearing a mask around the house and gave up. But we don't have high risk people living with us. He is very careful to.wear one if he goes out at all, even on a walk in our not crowded neighborhood where.it is very easy.to socially distance on opposite sides of the street.

Fwiw we are sleeping separately and not kissing, he doesn't prepae food other than his own, he leaves his hospital shoes outside, he uses a separate bathroom, takes a shower immediately after getting home etc. He has good hygiene generally, sanitizes his phone, etc

To us, we know everything can reduce risk but we also know there is an element of 'security theatre,' on the other hand, we decided given the duration this is likely to go on for and the young age of our kids, it was not feasible for him to move to the basement etc like some of his colleagues.

Agree, we are doing the same thing with my DH who is an ER doc. I think it is important for him to continue to interact with the kids since this could go on for a couple of years. We are taking precautions, but not totally isolating him from the family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at this thread on the topic of scrub wear

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/880714.page

We have few drs and nurses that DO NOT change out of work clothes when at home. Even sit in their children’s bed without changing...

Ooooh that’s me! I’m the bed sitter! I feel so famous...

NP here. Yeah, for being an idiot. Smh