Not protected

Its a yes an no.

Yes. In theory.

However totally anecdotally I have watched others when shopping and the masked and gloved people are not good at distancing. Whereas the non masked/gloved are more cautious about distancing and handling things they dont buy etc.

I dont think its a conscious decision to do it I think its to do with perception of safety

So mask AND diligent distancing/hand washing etc = safer

Mask with less distancing = less safe than no mask & distancing.

Distancing and handwashing are still the best tools.
Think florence nightingale.
Some times the basics trump high tech

Every country in the world is trying to buy up PPE and that’s why it’s sometimes difficult to get enough. The type of PPE in ICU is different to that used in slightly less risky settings, but top line PPE is available and being bought and delivered every day. I neither believe nor disbelieve the government or the health care settings as I think both are being truthful, but the situation re PPE changes daily in all the various settings due to the unprecedented demand because of Coronavirus.

We are constantly told that the wearing of masks does little to protect ourselves but will protect others if we cough or sneeze. I’m not sure about that, I wonder if we’re being told that to prevent a rush on mask buying which might then leave the NHS and other settings without enough masks. I just don’t know, but I think I’d feel better wearing a mask if I had to go out.

And there still isn't much discussion about the way the virus is in faeces even after a person has recovered.

Again *notanan2 *is making good sense, some excellent points raised in your posts. Thank you.

I think that the advise with regard to masks is beginning to be changed.

Our trouble is that there are not sufficient for those that need them to do their job. So buying them in large numbers by the public will cause even greater difficulties.

I heard something about that Labaik, is it definitely true? I wasn’t sure about it when I heard it.

And there still isn't much discussion about the way the virus is in faeces even after a person has recovered.

I have seen some scientific writing about this.
My hope is that since many pathogens remain in the water system. And Covid while novel isnt that unique in many ways, or treatment systems will protect us.

Not so much in other countries ? we really are lucky with our water/waste systems.

Cat poo might be a bigger problem.

Except for a screen for protection i admire all the shop assistances.
They must serve 100`s of people a day and as of yet i haven`t heard of one having this virus and pray i don`t bless them.
Thy are our angels of food etc.

I've just been speaking to a friend who said she'd heard of the virus being detected in river water in some country; possibly Holland? And isn't sewage still pumped out into the sea in some parts of the country? Interestingly, the same friend's father was admitted to hospital with breathing problems earlier in the year and he was put in a separate room, he and my friend had to wear masks and when the doctor arrived he was wearing total protection gear; as my friend said 'he hasn't got Ebola has he'...which makes you think that the NHS were very aware of the risk posed by the virus several months ago.

Yes; I worry greatly for people working in shops.

Sky reporting

"No one is misusing PPE - the problem is we don't have it."

BMA’s
@CNagpaul
responds to the health secretary's comment that health workers should not overuse protective equipment and treat it like the “precious resource that it is”.

labaik Virus in faeces - yes I have read about this and also Dr John Campbell thinks that there is a risk regarding this, as it is found in the faeces even after the patient shown no more symptoms.

Spread will of course occur through insufficient hand washing or no hand washing after using the lavatory.

Scientists are beginning to investigate this in more depth as it could well prove to be a greater risk than initially thought.

I said ages ago that infections are in all secretions ergo this virus should be presumed to be the same but that was treated with scepticism.

Report this morning.

“Britain missed three chances to join an EU scheme to bulk-buy masks, gowns and gloves and has been absent from key talks about future purchases”

Ideological lunacy.

Link to Wwmk2's story.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/13/uk-missed-three-chances-to-join-eu-scheme-to-bulk-buy-ppe

Yes, Callistemon, I agree. It's common sense isn't it, that ANYTHING that comes out of a person with C19 will be infectious.

I was told this when a baby DC had measles (before she was old enough to have the vaccine) as the paediatric doctor told me to be careful of all her secretions especially when changing her nappies and that it would be the same for all viruses.
Obviously many years before this arrived with such vengeance.

Don't you have to be careful when a baby/child has had the vaccine as well? I'm just trying to think of a situation when I was told not to let my husband change the babies nappy for a while. Why him and not me? [wish my memory was better...].

notanan2 the research from China is that even after two clear nasal and throat swab tests 24 hours apart the faeces continue for 17 days to contain live virus. It lives in the gut longer than the airways.
Also, some people who appear to be negative (not just recovering) have been found to have the virus in their faeces. I assume these are asymptomatic people but can't remember as it's a couple of weeks since I read it.
You can find lots about this on Google Scholar as most coronavirus related papers have been released from behind the usual paywall.