COVID-19 could affect more races this year.

[strad]

I have a UV wand that I use over purchases and packages and mail.

[Racer X]

Does anyone think that if they re open up Europe and we are a rise we might end up seeing an extension of the COVID thing to the point there they scrap the whole 2020 season? I mean it's slightly possible.

[izzy]

I have a UV wand that I use over purchases and packages and mail.

I suppose they help but i don't think it's safe to rely on them. It needs a minimum dose, like over a time and how close you hold it, and it's affected by humidity. So you can't know how well it's worked.

We leave stuff in the porch for a while, designate someone to unwrap everything, bin or recycle the wrapping making a huge effort not to touch their face as @LM10 says, and then instantly wash their hands

Both, would best probably! Then followed by a good sunbathe

[3jawchuck]

I have a UV wand that I use over purchases and packages and mail.

I suppose they help but i don't think it's safe to rely on them. It needs a minimum dose, like over a time and how close you hold it, and it's affected by humidity. So you can't know how well it's worked.

One source I came across suggested 30 minutes in direct UVC light (this was for face masks). Obviously packaging, keys, wallets and whatever else people are routinely attempting to disinfect will require less time. They will still probably require more time than just going over with a wand.

That being said, I'd be more concerned about the inability of a wand to isolate me from the UVC itself. Those wavelengths have the potential to --- you up way worse than this virus.

[Just_a_fan]

I'd be interested to see testing certification for the wands to see whether they actually do anything useful in domestic settings. A quick google brings up research that looked at disinfecting surfaces contaminated with bacteria. Presumably the UV will sterilise virus particles too.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7157946/
https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/ ... 334-12-120

Humidity and temperature were found to be factors affecting the results in the first piece, organic material in the second piece - organic material protects the bugs from the UV, of course. Time of exposure is also a factor. A quick wipe over a surface is unlikely to do anything unless the device is very powerful.

[izzy]

That being said, I'd be more concerned about the inability of a wand to isolate me from the UVC itself. Those wavelengths have the potential to --- you up way worse than this virus.

good point. There are worse things than covid-19 after all! Everyone is merrily selling them but have they been researched? I see the UVC installations do them high in the room to keep the rays away from people

[skoop]

French GP officially canceled

[izzy]

French GP officially canceled

yes government rules making it impossible apparently. But hopefully a more positive attitude in the UK:

The government plans to set up the first of a series of regular meetings involving senior medical directors of the major sports this week in a bid to return to action as soon as possible.

The move was described by a source close to the plans as a "quickening of the pace" and intended to help sport resume "within weeks", if progress was made.

The Chief Medical Officer's staff would also be involved in the weekly meetings, and the Prime Minister has been briefed on the plan.

The specifics of each sport would be examined by health experts to see what protocols would be needed to get each up and running as soon as possible, meaning some would return sooner than others.

Testing, social distancing, hygiene standards and strict limits on the numbers of people allowed in venues would all be debated.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/52423767

so there's still hope for Silverstone behind closed doors. And Austria

[Restomaniac]

[MtthsMlw]

[Big Tea]

I have a UV wand that I use over purchases and packages and mail.

I suppose they help but i don't think it's safe to rely on them. It needs a minimum dose, like over a time and how close you hold it, and it's affected by humidity. So you can't know how well it's worked.

One source I came across suggested 30 minutes in direct UVC light (this was for face masks). Obviously packaging, keys, wallets and whatever else people are routinely attempting to disinfect will require less time. They will still probably require more time than just going over with a wand.

That being said, I'd be more concerned about the inability of a wand to isolate me from the UVC itself. Those wavelengths have the potential to --- you up way worse than this virus.

Where it will not damage the item, I wipe it over with 20% bleach and let it stand for a while, then wipe it off with kitchen towel. Bleach is one of the few things (supposed) to defiantly the virus, but a soak in a tank and a wipe are not comparable. Next option is a wipe in IPA 99% but all packaging goes out, then good hand wash before putting into storage.

I know nothing is for sure, but I try.

[nick p]

Silverstone have been transparent the whole time and told the fans exactly what is going on Stuart Pringle has done a brilliant job with his communication at what will be the most stressful time of his career getting excited about being able to watch it on TV

[Just_a_fan]

I suppose they help but i don't think it's safe to rely on them. It needs a minimum dose, like over a time and how close you hold it, and it's affected by humidity. So you can't know how well it's worked.

One source I came across suggested 30 minutes in direct UVC light (this was for face masks). Obviously packaging, keys, wallets and whatever else people are routinely attempting to disinfect will require less time. They will still probably require more time than just going over with a wand.

That being said, I'd be more concerned about the inability of a wand to isolate me from the UVC itself. Those wavelengths have the potential to --- you up way worse than this virus.

Where it will not damage the item, I wipe it over with 20% bleach and let it stand for a while, then wipe it off with kitchen towel. Bleach is one of the few things (supposed) to defiantly the virus, but a soak in a tank and a wipe are not comparable. Next option is a wipe in IPA 99% but all packaging goes out, then good hand wash before putting into storage.

I know nothing is for sure, but I try.

Our neighbour, a feisty old lady, asked if I could get some chocolate biscuits for her when I recently asked her if she needed anything. A girl after my own heart as I love a choccy biccy too. Anyway, when I got home, I washed my hands and then used a disinfectant cleaner soaked in to some kitchen paper - the stuff that claims to kill 99.9% of everything. Wiped that all over the box and let it dry before placing it in a bag and taking it round to her. Not much else most of us can do really. And of course no good for food items. But we do what we can and hope it's enough.

[3jawchuck]

Where it will not damage the item, I wipe it over with 20% bleach and let it stand for a while, then wipe it off with kitchen towel. Bleach is one of the few things (supposed) to defiantly the virus, but a soak in a tank and a wipe are not comparable. Next option is a wipe in IPA 99% but all packaging goes out, then good hand wash before putting into storage.
I know nothing is for sure, but I try.

I think alcohol would be faster at deactivating the virus, although bleach will do the job, just not quite as quickly.
At least according to ¶8 here: https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/04 ... rink-them/ Forgive me for the arstechnica link.

[Just_a_fan]

We have a retail-available hypochlorous acid spray for use on minor cuts on our dogs - mostly my Spaniel that comes shooting with me and picks up cuts and knicks as a result. This works quickly to kill bacteria as well as flushing out any muck that's in a wound, not sure if it's effective against viruses in general or the COVID19 virus in particular.