I actually quite like the fact that Asian people wear face masks when they are sick. This started after SARS.

It is really nasty having to stand next to a sick person on a subway, breathing in their germs. So if this catches on, I would love it.

After years of living in developing countries, I am an ardent hand washer and use hand sanitizer frequently. I definitely get sick less often than I used to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not just about touching surfaces. It's about people coughing and sneezing in your face or right near you. It happens ALL the time on Metro - doesn't anyone know to cover their cough or sneeze with their elbow!?!? It happens so fast there's nothing you can do about it, and then you're screwed.

A face mask isn't going to handle this. You need to keep them from sneezing in your eyes. Goggles are required.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not just about touching surfaces. It's about people coughing and sneezing in your face or right near you. It happens ALL the time on Metro - doesn't anyone know to cover their cough or sneeze with their elbow!?!? It happens so fast there's nothing you can do about it, and then you're screwed.

A face mask isn't going to handle this. You need to keep them from sneezing in your eyes. Goggles are required.

Precisely. And this is why I said I drive during flu season.

How about a flu shot instead?

I do both. You do know the flu shot is no guarantee on its own, and that there are multiple strains at any given time?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not just about touching surfaces. It's about people coughing and sneezing in your face or right near you. It happens ALL the time on Metro - doesn't anyone know to cover their cough or sneeze with their elbow!?!? It happens so fast there's nothing you can do about it, and then you're screwed.

A face mask isn't going to handle this. You need to keep them from sneezing in your eyes. Goggles are required.

Precisely. And this is why I said I drive during flu season.

How about a flu shot instead?

Anonymous wrote:

I can't believe that Cameron turned out to be the old guy in Spin City.

Anonymous wrote:Well, I always drive during flu season because that IS really likely to get passed around on the Metro, so I don't see why not. I also drove a lot when I was pregnant so I wouldn't get strep or anything else that can have adverse effects on the fetus. It worked, too - that was my healthiest winter ever!

If it puts your mind at ease, at least for the next few weeks, do it. And no, I am not making fun.

Yep, same here. The cost of parking sucks, but being sick when you're pregnant is miserable and sometimes scary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are driving instead of metro

Better not touch the gas pump or a parking meter. How you you be sure no one coughed on your car?

Park mobile app, apple pay, and I already pump gas wearing gloves, BC you know how nasty and toxic gasoline is, right?

The worst part of gasoline, though, is the fumes. VOC's, benzene. Try not to breathe it. When I was pregnant, I paid for the "full service". Now i just try to hold my breath.

I'd politely decline any invitations to social events at the Liberian embassy right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not just about touching surfaces. It's about people coughing and sneezing in your face or right near you. It happens ALL the time on Metro - doesn't anyone know to cover their cough or sneeze with their elbow!?!? It happens so fast there's nothing you can do about it, and then you're screwed.

A face mask isn't going to handle this. You need to keep them from sneezing in your eyes. Goggles are required.

Precisely. And this is why I said I drive during flu season.

Anonymous wrote:It's not just about touching surfaces. It's about people coughing and sneezing in your face or right near you. It happens ALL the time on Metro - doesn't anyone know to cover their cough or sneeze with their elbow!?!? It happens so fast there's nothing you can do about it, and then you're screwed.

A face mask isn't going to handle this. You need to keep them from sneezing in your eyes. Goggles are required.

Metro is nasty from a hygiene standpoint and it suffers breakdowns and delays more than half the time (the Red line does, at least). Do we really need Ebola as a reason to stop taking it and drive instead?

It's not just about touching surfaces. It's about people coughing and sneezing in your face or right near you. It happens ALL the time on Metro - doesn't anyone know to cover their cough or sneeze with their elbow!?!? It happens so fast there's nothing you can do about it, and then you're screwed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are driving instead of metro

Better not touch the gas pump or a parking meter. How you you be sure no one coughed on your car?

Park mobile app, apple pay, and I already pump gas wearing gloves, BC you know how nasty and toxic gasoline is, right?

Well, I always drive during flu season because that IS really likely to get passed around on the Metro, so I don't see why not. I also drove a lot when I was pregnant so I wouldn't get strep or anything else that can have adverse effects on the fetus. It worked, too - that was my healthiest winter ever!

If it puts your mind at ease, at least for the next few weeks, do it. And no, I am not making fun.