Meraviglioso

So the Coronavirus has hit Italy, the largest outbreak outside of Asia. It seems to be contained to Northern regions, a good 4 hours away from me, but still concerning as this has been a big time of travel with Carnival celebrations, etc.
Stores are wiped out, even here where I live and there is especially no medical care items like alcohol based hand gels (alcohol is the only thing that kills the virus) or wipes.
10 cities are on lockdown, total quarantine of everyone.
I am a little concerned because there is a town here in tuscany (my region) that has a large population of Chinese nationals. Right now, ONLY Italians have brought in/spread the virus. However, according to reports there are at least a little over 1000 Chinese nationals due to return to this town soon. The live here as residents but went back to China to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
I am not worried for myself, or my kids. As of yet this virus has not been an issue for children. Healthy adults suffer as if they had the flu and recover though are incredibly contagious.
If you can believe it, despite our horrific relationship, I am deeply worried about my children's father. Some of you may recall he came down with GBS about 14-15 years ago and after months on life support, completely paralysed, wheelchair, etc, has a very weak immune system. He is susceptible to anything that goes around and when he gets sick he gets VERY sick. So my thing is to keep myself, and the kids healthy to make sure no germs are brought into contact with him.
I've instructed the kids to wash their hands thoroughly upon returning from school. My mom has ordered medical grade hand wipes they can use, I will give them, and him, those when they arrive.
Today i mopped my floors with water mixed with medical grade alcohol. It's not for drinking, but sure smelled like vodka and was a bit of a challenge to get through.
Staying strong though, especially to stay healthy!

August252015

We are dealing with it here too.

I don't know if it's one of the suggestions or not but if it smelled like vodka to me, even here at 4 yr sober, I wouldn't clean with that stuff. we were at a very small outdoor wedding on Sat and the woman next to me reeked of vodka- I had to move to the other side of my husband.

Be careful.

Anna

I hope your boys' father stays healthy through this outbreak. I'm not sure what medical grade alcohol is (rubbing alcohol?), but I use bleach wipes and bleach for getting rid of germs.

Meraviglioso

Well, unfortunately to keep my children's father safe it is necessary, but yeah, it stunk.
We had 16cases on Friday which jumped to nearly 200 on Sunday so it is moving fast and far. Scary stuff.

Meraviglioso

All of those are completely sold out, as is all liquid bleach. There are various disinfectants but from what I have read from the CDC and other health sites only solutions with at least 60% alcohol can kill a virus. Most disinfectants are anti-bacterial, this is not a bacteria but a virus.

I really wouldn't be too worried if not for my children's father. He is a seriously fragile person due to his illness and needs to be protected by head immunity. for example he cannot get vaccines for this reason and counts on others being healthy around him or avoiding him. The problem with this virus is the long incubation period. One can be asymptotic for a long time before falling ill.

August252015

My point, my friend, is that your sobriety needs to be more important than any virus, or his situation.

harriet11

Hydrogen Peroxide is supposed to kill Coronavirus but you might want to google it first, just to make sure and to see what strength is best.

Anna

Dettol may also be an option and is usually easily available.

Wastinglife

Coronavirus has hit Toronto too. Wash your hands every few hours

daisy1

I know what you mean, as a nurse I had to use the alcohol hand gel all the time and it used to make me feel a bit upset each time because of the smell. My kids dad is also vulnerable as he had masses of chemo and radiotherapy which left him with heart and lung damage - it's important for him to gel his hands and wipe door handles etc. Can he wear a mask?

Meraviglioso

Um, I agree with you on nearly everything you say August, but I'm not exaggerating here when I say this is a BIG risk for DEATH for him. I have brought buckets and bottles to him for hi to defecate and urinate in when down with the common cold.
When my infant son came down with a cold specialists came to the house to teach me what to do to protect his father. We had to leave the house and disinfect everything for his protection. For a cold. A flu is even worse, I have never seen someone so sick in my life, this virus... should it really be as they say it is would almost certainly put him in the ICU for weeks- if he were lucky.
I'm taking precautions to protect him by herd immunity as is the rest of his family. His life does come before me being tempted by some cleaning fluids.

August252015

I get it Mera, I really do. I am just concerned for you as I have been along with your journey. And I'd kindly say that your life has to come first. I'm not saying you are wrong for all that you are doing regarding him.

Meraviglioso

Despite how much I dislike this person, he is my children's father and I will protect and defend him.
It is obviously his reposnsibility now to protect himself as well but as there are no longer any masks or hand gels available here in Italy I have ordered them from overseas and will give them to my children and him. I called his maid today and asked that she clean his house with alcohol. I called and spoke to him too... I said "I know we have a difficult relationship but I will do anything I can to protect you during this time" He assured me he was taking precautions. But the thing is, this virus passes so easily, anyone connected to him must take the same precautions.

Hi disease is called Guillain Barree Syndrome and can range from mild to severe. He unfortunately got the absolute worst of it. Was on a breathing machine, dialysis, total life support for four months before he could finally life his head. After several months he was able to sit up. After nearly a year he moved to a wheelchair. He was in the wheelchair for I don't know how long but due to his financial status hired a physical therapist to come to his home 6 days a week, 8 hours a day to work with him. After a year he was walking with a walker. He then moved to walking with a cane. He now walks unassisted but cannot run, cannot pick up the children, has trouble with fine motor skills and deals with severe pain day in and day out.
I sometimes want to say I hate this man for the emotional abuse he put me through, but when it comes to his illness I have a soft spot and would defend him to the ends of the earth. I was there, i saw his fight. I saw his tears the time we went to a hotel in St. Tropez and I carried in the luggage... always the gentleman (narcissist, charming) he said "I have never had a woman carry in her own luggage into a hotel much less my luggage" We sat in the room for a good hour with him sobbing before we could leave.
the weakness is real.

MantaLady

At rehab some of the people got to stay at another house across the road that had it’s own kitchen. In the kitchen was some pure alcohol for medical use. One resident in a moment of madness drank it. The temptation is real and dangerous. If you’d have asked her if she would have drank rubbing alcohol a month beforehand she would have laughed at the idea as it’s ridiculous right? Alcoholism means we do the most ridiculous things...

Your husband, his carers and family I am sure are doing everything they can and being careful. I say this with huge love and respect for you Mera but maybe it’s better if you don’t interfere and get involved. It’s not your job, your job is making sure you put your sobriety first, which includes not adding unnecessary stress to your life so close to a relapse.

Much love and hugs xx

Della1968

Anna

I hope that your boys father takes care of himself during this quarantine time. And, I hope that you focus on yourself during the early days of your recovery. This is an important time for you to develop a recovery plan that will ensure you stay sober for yourself and your boys.

cantsleep123

I really don't understand why people are freaking out about this virus more so than the good ol flu. Is it thought to be more spreadable? I didn't think so. Stats from Johns Hopkins:

COVID-19: Approximately 2,250 deaths reported worldwide; 0 deaths in the U.S., as of Feb. 21, 2020.

Flu: 291,000 to 646,000 deaths worldwide; 12,000 to 61,000 deaths in the U.S. per year.

SoberLeigh

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your children’s father, Mera. I completely understand your concerns. I am one of those person’s for whom a bad cold or bronchial infection is always, at its least, a ten week illness. The flu is potentially deadly.

cantsleep, yes, the flu has killed far more people than the Coronavirus. The concern with COVID-19 is that the death RATE has been, at least in Wuhan, higher than the death rate for the flu. The death rate for COVID-19 has been around 2.6 percent while the death rate for the flu is about 0.1 percent. China’s medical capacities are inferior to those in places like the USA, Canada and Europe so it remains to be seen how deadly COVID-19 turns out to be in those places.

I hope that you and your family stay safe and healthy., Mera (and everyone).

Meraviglioso

Thank you Leigh, the point is the percentage of people who die from this virus is higher. Not the actual number. of course more people have dies from the normal flu, there are MORE cases of the normal flu. The fact remains that this strain is more deadly, even if less prevalent.

Stayingsassy

I use hand sanitizer at work many times a day, I remember years ago i realized it smelled just like vodka and it would trigger me a little.

It doesn’t now, though.