Whether you are cloistered at home or you have to go out despite everything, whether you live alone with your dog or in a large family, the current epidemic plunges us into an unknown universe, with its lot of questions . There are the big questions and the small ones. Can I drink from the same glass as my child? Can I go running in nature? We asked experts to take stock with us.
Click on one of the questions to get the answer.
1. Do I have to give up the cleaning lady?
2. Can I kiss my girlfriend?
3. Is it a good time to cheat on my spouse?
4. Can a teen bring groceries to his grandparents?
5. Can I still make love with my husband?
6. How do I celebrate my daughter’s birthday?
7. What do I risk if I play a game of soccer?
8. Am I safe above 1500 meters above sea level?
9. How many pounds will I gain in two months of confinement?
10. Can I go running in the wild?
11. How to teach your Skype parents remotely?
12. Can I drink from the same glass as my son?
13. Can I go see my newborn baby sister?
14. Can my spouse attend my delivery?
15. How many friends can I invite to my house?
16. If there are seven of us with family, how can we make breakfast?
17. Can I take a bath with my baby? And kiss her?
18. Can I go on an Easter holiday to Appenzell?
19. Can I get the virus in a hotel room?
20. How many times a day should I clean my phone?
21. Can I go to a funeral?
22. Can I maintain my marriage?
23. Are the hand solutions bad for my dog, if I pet him later?
24. If there are more of us petting the cat, can we spread the virus?
25. How do I explain the coronavirus to my children?
26. Can children see their friends?
27. If I pick up a food that has fallen on the ground and eat it, is there a risk?
28. Can the virus spread on banknotes and coins?
1. Do I have to give up the cleaning lady?
Questions like this, we all ask ourselves. Whether it is a question of whether we can continue to entrust our children to someone or whether we can let the cleaning lady come to our house. To answer this, doctors recommend using common sense and weighing up interests. On the one hand, there are your needs. Typically, many of us can do without a cleaning lady, but some parents have to babysit because they work. On the other hand, the objective of the current measures must be taken into account.
The restrictions that we know of, therefore, are aimed at sparing the most vulnerable and reducing the spread of the epidemic in the community by keeping contact to a minimum. If your nanny belongs to risk groups (over 65 or people already sick), give it up! “It must be understood that a young person can also be at risk, for example if he has severe asthma or if he is immunocompromised”, recalls the Neuchâtel cantonal doctor, Claude-François Robert. When thinking about it, also keep in mind that if your cleaning lady will stay away while she cleans (it is essential), she will probably have to take public transport to get to your house.
“If you have contacts with outside people, the absolute rule is that you must be able to trust them”, continues Claude-François Robert. Indeed, these people must tell you if they have been in contact with the sick, if they themselves feel sick or even just mad. A point of clarification: it is not yet known with certainty whether an infected person who does not yet have symptoms can transmit the disease and, if so, how long before the onset of symptoms it can be contagious. In any case, asymptomatic people do not represent the main sources of contamination.
2. Can I kiss my girlfriend?
No! Anne Iten, assistant doctor in the HUG infection prevention and control service, replied in the negative. Physical connections, kisses, hugs and handshakes are to be avoided. And, a fortiori, the languorous kisses. “The basic principle is that the fewer interactions there are, the less the virus will circulate and the more we will be able to reverse the curve of the number of cases in ten days,” adds Pierre-François Robert.
It’s still a lot worse like that … Tttssss … And my kisses then!?! ???????????????
.#Parigot #I already fed up #confined #Paris #Not even hurt #kiss #French Kiss #Conardevirus pic.twitter.com/zEyXcey1GL– JPH Twittes (@jphtwittes) March 17, 2020
3. Is it a good time to cheat on my spouse?
You are totally out of nails! It is advisable to stay at home as much as possible and keep your distance from others. Also note that if the condom helps prevent sexually transmitted diseases, it does not provide protection in this case. “And during ad hoc meetings, you have no way of knowing whether your partner is carrying the virus or not,” adds Lakshmi Waber, president of the Swiss Sexology Society.
4. Can a teen bring groceries to his grandparents?
These grandparents are among the risk groups. Special care must therefore be taken and contact avoided. The Federal Council has repeatedly said that the elderly must not keep their grandchildren. “Bringing them the groceries is very good,” adds Anne Iten. But whoever does it must first make sure he is not sick. The best thing would be to ring the doorbell, drop the packages and leave. It’s best not to enter the apartment and keep your distance. ” A smile from the door, and two meters away, is still possible.
5. Can I still make love with my husband?
“There are two important elements: above all, respecting current safety instructions, and pursuing pleasant sexual activities as a couple, probably differently from usual if you want to avoid the risk of contamination,” answers psychiatrist Lakshmi Waber. There is no evidence that Covid-19 is a sexually transmitted disease, but making love as usual, within a distance of two meters, is not possible. And if one partner is infected, the other is at risk. ” To get it right, you would even have to make a separate room. Because sharing a bed very wisely already leads to overcrowding. “We see that there are tensions between the recommendations, the desire for an ideal sexuality and what is possible in the current context,” continues Lakshmi Waber.
According to the sexologist, these questions must be discussed in the couple, taking into account their particular situation (the risks of each and the contacts that we have with the outside, in particular). For example, spouses have decided to live temporarily in different places because one is at risk and the other has contact with the outside world. “These are difficult decisions, admits Claude-François Robert. But we must not forget that if our current efforts have a cost, they will also have a benefit. ”
Remember three more things. If a person is sick, they should isolate themselves alone for at least ten days, and up to 48 hours after the symptoms disappear. And those who have been in contact with it but do not have symptoms should quarantine themselves for ten days. Finally, if a spouse is at risk, it is of course necessary to be extra vigilant.
If habitual sexual activity is no longer possible, Lakshmi Waber advises to use your imagination, discovering yourself differently and varying your erotic practices. “We are talking about indirect sex. One can for example use remote-controlled sex toys, reading or erotic messages. People who live remotely can also use video or internet chat, but then you have to be sure you can trust the other person and make sure you’re using a secure server. “
6. How do I celebrate my daughter’s birthday?
“If there are three or four wise friends who understand the need to respect certain rules, that should be fine,” said Claude-François Robert. Either way, the birthday in confinement is a challenge. Marie-France Roux, from the Animation Creation department, gives some ideas to make this day special, while avoiding make-up or tattoos, which require getting closer.
You can first put a message under your child’s pillow to start the day off right. Another possibility is treasure hunting in the apartment, as is making a crown, princess tiara or hero helmet. La Valaisanne also proposes to adapt the game of fishing to compliments.
Usually, everyone writes a nice thing about the person or puts it in their ear. “This time, you could ask your family members but also the parents of your friends to make a short video, then make a film of these messages. This memory will remain. ” Last suggestion, children love to sing and dance. “You can do it in the living room, staying far enough away. With a few mood lights, it’s going to be perfect. ” And even without a birthday, these activities may keep your little ones occupied in the coming days…
7. What do I risk if I play a game of soccer?
Remember that all public and private events, including sporting events and associative activities, are prohibited. The Federal Council clarified this rule on Friday by prohibiting gatherings of more than five people. And when there are not many, you have to respect a distance of at least 2 meters. According to the federal ordinance, a fine of 100 francs is provided for offenders. “We must stop joking,” hammered Friday the Minister of Health, Alain Berset, referring to the groups that are found in different places.
Children can therefore play together in small groups (up to five), but football training (like all the others) is suspended. And for good reason. “During a game, there are many of us, we have contacts, we breathe and we spit,” notes Claude-François Robert. And we’re still together in the locker room. ” In short, if you want to play sports, you must choose the activities that are practiced alone.
8. Am I safe above 1500 meters above sea level?
No. Humans carry the virus and facilitate its spread when they have contact. No matter the altitude. As a reminder, and still according to current knowledge, the virus is mainly transmitted in the event of close and prolonged contact (less than 2 meters and at least 15 minutes), if a person coughs or sneezes and the droplets containing SARS-CoV- 2 reach your face or if you touch a surface on which these droplets are located then put your hand to your face. So, whether in the plain or in the mountains, the recommendations remain valid (keep your distance, avoid going out, cough and sneeze in a handkerchief, wash your hands regularly).
9. How many pounds will I gain in two months of confinement?
“You may also lose pounds,” exclaims Laurence Margot, food consultant at the Swiss Green Fork Federation. No longer going to a restaurant and skipping aperitifs will be beneficial for some. As for health personnel, they too will experience a situation different from the rest of the population. That said, for many of us, stress and the nibbles that go with it are bad for the line. And the sedentary lifestyle too. Great athletes would be particularly inspired to reduce their portions. And to avoid snacks at all costs, Laurence Margot advises to structure her days even while being at home and to remain attentive to what you swallow by favoring the bottom of the food pyramid (water, fruits and vegetables and floury ).
According to the dietician, the current isolation can also be an opportunity to rethink your diet and cook, for example with your children. Or, for those who have a garden, to plant their own salads. “People have thrown themselves on canned dumplings that have no taste or dietetic interest,” she says. It may remind them of childhood. ” On the reserve side, it is better to favor the foods that we like … Since they are likely to remain on our hands. By the way, Laurence Margot specifies that frozen or canned vegetables have a nutritional quality practically equal to fresh vegetables sold in supermarkets. With a preference for the former because the preserves contain salt and added sugars.
10. Can I go running in the wild?
“Personally, I dream about it,” sighs Claude-François Robert. For the doctor, the exercises in nature make it possible to take care of both his physique and his psychic, while absolutely keeping his distance from others.
11. How to teach your Skype parents remotely?
Stéphane Koch, digital strategy expert, advises sending them one of the many videos circulating on the internet. By ensuring two things: that it is recent and that the indications provided correspond well to their computer. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for, film yourself, put your masterpiece on YouTube and send the link.
12. Can I drink from the same glass as my son?
“This is typically what should be avoided and which can easily be avoided, even in the family sphere,” answers Noémie Wagner, assistant doctor in the pediatric infectious diseases department at HUG. You shouldn’t share the same glass or the same cutlery. ”
13. Can I go see my newborn baby sister?
Hospitals have set rules for such visits. At HUG and Jura Hospital, only the father can go to maternity. Other family members, including the baby’s siblings, are prohibited. At the CHUV and the Valais Hospital, no visit is allowed, not even the father after childbirth. Once your sister has returned home, Noémie Wagner especially recommends that grandparents and vulnerable people avoid such meetings. Besides, the whole family doesn’t need to see the apple of your eye right away.
14. Can my spouse attend my delivery?
All the hospitals for which we have been able to collect information, in the cantons of Vaud, Geneva and Valais, guarantee this access. Unfortunately, we were unable to obtain the information in the other cantons.
15. How many friends can I invite to my house?
Private meals, and in small groups, are not prohibited. On its website, the OFSP nevertheless asks everyone to minimize their social contacts and calls, in the name of individual responsibility, to avoid all social activities which are not absolutely necessary. What is the limit number? As a reminder, gatherings of more than five people are prohibited in public space. Answering our question, Anne Iten believes that we should limit ourselves to one or two people, to be sure that we have enough space between people. Or better, prefer Skype or the phone. “In the current situation, you really have to take all possible measures to keep distance.”
16. If there are seven of us with family, how can we make breakfast?
“Respecting the two meters distance is probably impossible in the family unit, especially since the situation will last several weeks, reassures Noémie Wagner. The current measures are mainly aimed at avoiding contact outside the close family. And it is these limitations that will make the difference if they are properly applied. ” The advice is to keep as much distance as possible and to take precautions, for example by avoiding passing the spoon you have just licked, by isolating a possible patient and by being particularly vigilant if there is a person at risk . Asked Friday about the ban on gatherings of more than five people, Alain Berset noted that we were not, for example, going to ask, in the case of a large family, that three children stay in one place and the two others elsewhere.
17. Can I take a bath with my baby? And kiss her?
Is the virus likely to be transmitted with water? This answer is not known. On the other hand, a bathtub is a cramped place, and this promiscuity can allow such a transmission. And then, when you share a bath, there is physical contact … However, you cannot avoid contact with a small child, who needs to be kissed or hugged. Noémie Wagner invites each parent to ask themselves which actions are important and which are not. And to give up the latter. “It is a matter of appreciation. The bath could fall into the second category. On the other hand, you will likely have other close contact with your child if he is still small. “
18. Can I go on an Easter holiday to Appenzell?
Easter is April 12 and the closings announced by the Federal Council will last until at least April 19. The Easter holidays promise to be compromised and travel is not indicated. “Currently, we do not know how long the health crisis will last and it is best to wait before making travel plans,” concluded Anne Iten.
At a press conference, the Federal Office of Public Health raised the possibility that the peak of the epidemic could be reached in mid-May. But this information must be taken with tweezers. The OFSP clarified that this is only one possibility and that the Confederation is working on different scenarios. “Giving dates would not be credible,” adds Antoine Flahault, director of the Institute of Global Health at the University of Geneva. For both experts and the Confederation, the answer to this question will also depend on the impact of the measures (social distance and personal hygiene) that are put in place, as well as their respect by the population.
Reaching the peak of the epidemic will not mean that everything will be behind us and that life can resume its normal course. “The peak is the worst moment, not the end,” says Antoine Flahault. According to the OFSP, the social distancing measures will probably still be valid thereafter, in order to keep the transmissions at the lowest possible level.
19. Can I get the virus in a hotel room?
The virus does not stay suspended in the air. On the other hand, the droplets which contain it (and which the patients expel when they cough or sneeze) may be on certain surfaces if they have not been cleaned. For how long? This question is not resolved, even if we generally speak of a few hours. Which brings us to one of the most important tips: you have to wash your hands regularly and do it properly! And then, even at home, why not do a little cleaning? The usual cleaning products are effective against the virus.
20. How many times a day should I clean my phone?
Phones, it is a fact, are nests for bacteria. “The hands-free kit should be used as much as possible,” recommends Stéphane Koch. The digital strategy expert also advises to disinfect his laptop once a day. Others even advocate washing every time you wash your hands.
“I’ve seen ads appear on the internet with new techniques for washing them. However, I can’t tell you if they work, ”says Stéphane Koch. So we will stick to the good old methods. Stéphane Koch advocates the use of a disinfectant wipe. Some laptops can also be washed with soap and water. “But you have to be careful not to place the connectors under the tap flow. With speed, the watertightness of the device is not guaranteed. ” And then, a piece of advice: check that your model belongs to this category before spraying it …
21. Can I go to a funeral?
The federal ordinance does not prohibit funerals, but only authorizes “burials in the restricted family circle”. Without really specifying the maximum number of people. It is therefore up to the Cantons to clarify and the Commons to apply.
For example, in Geneva, the Council of State had already banned on Monday any gathering of more than five people, but “funerals are one of the exceptions to the rule,” explained Anne Humbert-Droz, head of the Service des undertakers, cemeteries and crematorium in the City of Geneva. That said, “the Administrative Council estimated that a ceremony in strict family privacy should not bring together more than 20 people. And this only applies to large ceremonial halls, where the rules of social distance can be respected ”. This instruction was still in force on Friday evening, a few hours after the new measures announced by the Federal Council.
In addition, specifies Anne Humbert-Droz, the interviews with the funeral advisers are from now on by telephone and some of the chapels were closed (in particular the smallest, where one is too tight) because it is necessary to be able to apply the measures and protect the health of the personnel present. Another example: in the Municipality of Lausanne, Pierre-Antoine Hildbrand, on whom the Office for Funeral Services depends, noted on Thursday that “the decree of the Vaud State Council on Wednesday prohibits gatherings of more than ten people (note: at inside and out). We therefore apply this rule to the Funeral Center of Montoie and have forwarded the instructions to the undertakers ”. Yesterday, the responder from the Lausanne Funeral Services Office always advanced the maximum number of ten people, stating that this includes all those present: the celebrant, the funeral staff, etc.
“It is sometimes difficult for families,” admits Pierre-Antoine Hildbrand. “Those who would like to meet in greater numbers, we encourage them to proceed with the burial (or cremation) first and then organize a funeral tribute later, when these measures have been lifted.”
22. Can I maintain my marriage?
Romeo and Juliet are planning to get married this fall. They reserved a castle, chose the caterer and even found a lay celebrant to help them create a beautiful ceremony. The catch is that they intended to launch formalities this week at the Civil Registry Service for the signing of the marriage contract, which must take place before the festivities. But patatras! The Service is closed until further notice!
Their friends Pierre and Paul are more likely, they who had already completed the process and set the date for their civil partnership. But there is a downside. In front of the registrar, there can only be four: the couple and the two witnesses.
Marie and Joseph, for their part, are dismayed by consulting the Vaud State website: “As of Tuesday, March 17, 2020, all formalities in matters of civil status are canceled. No new appointment will be made until further notice. ” Even the call center is no longer responding. A hot line has been set up, but “exclusively for absolute emergencies”, for example … “in the event of the imminent death of one of the persons concerned”!
23. Are the hand solutions bad for my dog, if I pet him later?
“No, these products are rather bad for the skin of those who have to use a lot of them,” replies Sabine Nicod, president of the Vaudois Society of Veterinarians. Animals are protected by their hair and alcohol evaporates quickly. Afterwards, it is better to avoid spraying Medor’s eyes with such a product …
According to the OFSP, animals that live under the same roof as an infected person may eventually be infected, but they do not get sick. If you are isolated due to coronavirus, however, you should avoid contact with your dog or cat as much as possible. A healthy person should take care of it. And if Medor has to go out, keep him on a leash, avoid contact with other people or other animals, and take a short walk.
24. If there are more of us petting the cat, can we spread the virus?
If we consider Mistigri as “a surface”, his hair could harbor droplets containing virus, as is the case with a door handle… But let’s keep it simple, by applying a basic rule: we must wash hands after touching a pet.
25. How do I explain the coronavirus to my children?
According to psychologist Philip Jaffé, this mission should not be left to the parents alone. “The Norwegian Prime Minister organized a press conference for children. It’s a way to remember that they belong to our society. The Federal Council insists that we must show solidarity, and this message must also be passed on to the youngest. ”
The psychologist suggests that parents of children under the age of 4 should approach the subject on a playful and more fictional basis. Parents are great at explaining sexuality with bee stories … “It is just as simple to create fictions around the behaviors that we have to put in place. We need to put parental anxiety aside and be inspired by the film “La Vita è Bella”. ” We can also tell these little ones that there is currently a disease that we cannot see. And that in order to stay healthy, the whole family needs to pay attention to hygiene issues.
“In the end, children under the age of 4 do not ask themselves that much on the substance of things, they are curious and take pleasure in listening to the explanations,” continues Philip Jaffé. How are they going to understand that we suddenly have to stop touching others when they are usually told to shake hands or kiss friends? Will they unlearn these courtesies? “In fact, the little ones are mainly imitators who model their behavior and their thoughts on those of their reference figures, that is to say their parents, without asking too many questions. So the adult can say that he continues to love everyone and that we are going to do it differently. “
The slightly older children will certainly ask questions, if they have not already done so. Take the time to answer them and do so while staying fairly factual. By age, for example, you can explain that we are all fighting this disease, from classmates, teachers, neighbors, family, doctors, to the rest of the population. “Children know microbes. So you can tell them that this virus is a family of germs that will make people sick, especially the elderly. ” Inevitably, the fact that the routine changes appeals to the little ones. “It must be said that for a while, we will see fewer people and we will do less physical activity, maybe even only indoors. But that it will also be an opportunity to spend more time together. “
The Valaisan also recommends ensuring that children, like adults, can maintain social ties beyond the family circle. “There is a lot of talk about video contact with the grandparents. It would be nice to do it with classmates too. ” Children over the age of 14 are very likely not to need their parents to maintain such relationships! “For once, parents should encourage these moments of virtual sharing. But to prevent them from happening 24 hours a day, they can offer to plan schedules dedicated to this activity. ”
26. Can children see their friends?
Yes, but crowds should be avoided, whether in parks or elsewhere. Groupings of more than five are not allowed. It is also recommended that children respect hygiene rules as well as possible and keep their distance. Daniel Koch, head of the communicable diseases division at the Federal Office of Public Health, insisted this week that the rules also apply to parents. In front of the press, this Tuesday, he noted that these adults gather around the playgrounds to discuss and then bring the races to their own parents.
27. If I pick up a food that has fallen on the ground and eat it, is there a risk?
Asked about the subject a few weeks ago, the assistant cantonal doctor Éric Masserey replied that there was no danger with regard to the coronavirus. However, such behavior is not recommended if you want to avoid gastroenteritis. Can coronavirus be spread through food? Selon l’OFSP, aucun cas de ce type n’est connu à l’heure actuelle. Il ajoute que, si vous ne souhaitez prendre aucun risque, il faut laver et chauffer correctement les aliments.
28. Le virus peut-il se propager sur les billets et les pièces de monnaie?
Dans un tweet diffusé il y a un mois, l’Organisation mondiale de la santé répond que, si l’hygiène des mains est bonne, le risque d’être infecté en touchant des objets, y compris de l’argent, des billets de banque ou des cartes de crédit, est très faible.
Créé: 22.03.2020, 09h30
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