Emergency - need someone to come into my house

amother

Tue, Mar 31 2020, 12:16 pm

Please back up with cites if you have

1. Am I safe if the worker wears a mask and gloves?

2. How long can coronavirus stay in the air?

3 If my family is not wearing a mask, are they dangerous to me?

southernbubby

Tue, Mar 31 2020, 12:23 pm

I can't figure out how to do links on the phone but everything that I read last night suggests that masks do reduce risk.
You can open the windows to air out the house and use disinfectant wipes or sprays on areas touched by workers or infected people.
Obviously people need a space of 6 feet from other people.
Everything is a matter of attempting to reduce risk.
In the absence of masks, use bandanas and scarves. Instructions abound for DIY masks.

Amarante

Tue, Mar 31 2020, 1:24 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

If the virus lingers in the air,or sheds else on their body, or the mask isn't fit properly, how long until the air is safe to breath?

No one really can say with certainty but generally it is thought that anything in the air settles within 15 to 30 minutes at most. The real danger is if someone coughs/sneezes and or you are close enough to breathe in the air.

And of course, surfaces that an infected person might have touched or in the case of a repairman where he might have put his equipment etc. In Los Angeles, one is no longer allowed to use a recyclable bag in the grocery store because of the risk of contamination from the bag to every surface it touches including a bagger's hands.

As others have posted, have him wear a mask and make sure you clean every surface in the path he traveled in. If it wouldn't be totally inappropriate perhaps he would remove his shoes although sometimes this is not possible because they need shoes for safety reasons.

Obviously if he is coughing don't let him in. I feel for you because I look around and hope that nothing needs to be fixed between now and June 1 Very Happy

I breathe a sigh of relief when the toilets flush; the water goes down the drain and the lights go on.

imasinger

Tue, Mar 31 2020, 1:43 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Please back up with cites if you have

1. Am I safe if the worker wears a mask and gloves?

Masks are a good idea.
https://www.maskssavelives.org.....ruCjc

But you still might consider taking further precautions. For greatest care, wipe down with disinfectant the surfaces in the room worker would be in, so as to minimize the risk to him. Stay out of the room where he is working. Wait for airborne particles to settle. Wipe surfaces again with antiseptic. Think also about floors.

Quote:

2. How long can coronavirus stay in the air?

This expert says a few hours; others have said a shorter time.

https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/03/20.....aces/

Quote:

3 If my family is not wearing a mask, are they dangerous to me?

That depends. Do they have the virus? If so, what kind of precautions is everyone taking?

HonesttoGod

Tue, Mar 31 2020, 2:20 pm

My husband has to go to peoples houses for emergencies.
He only goes in if no one in the house has any symptoms, he doesn't allow anyone next to him whilst he works, he wears a mask and gloves (always has anyway) and take his temperature every single morning before going to work.

I would recommend to also clean the area where he was in after he leaves. Lysol, wipe down etc, open windows, and send up a prayer. If you need an emergency you need an emergency. Not much else you can do about it.

amother

Babyblue

Tue, Mar 31 2020, 6:36 pm

Amarante wrote:

If it wouldn't be totally inappropriate perhaps he would remove his shoes although sometimes this is not possible because they need shoes for safety reasons.
.

I keep a bag of disposable shoe covers at the entry door for workers - never dreamed they would be needed for something like this. Sad