I feel really bad for all the teachers and all those in the service industries

[Ferrets are Cool]

who must constantly be exposed to the risk of ALL viruses including this latest deadly one.
It's not like they can wear gloves and masks at all times. I can't even imagine how vulnerable they must feel.

[htuttle]

1. Constantly exposed to viruses, and can't afford to take a sick day

What could possibly go wrong?

[pdxflyboy]

2. Our 18 y/o son

is a supermarket cashier here in Portland, OR. Covid 19 is here in Portland. We are worried that if he is exposed, he won’t know it for days.

[cwydro]

10. I know this won't help to allay your fears.

But he’s probably in one of the safer cohorts regarding this virus.

[nolabear]

19. Our son drives Uber in Seattle.

He’s healthy but still, it’s scary and he could unknowingly spread it. He’s sanitizing everything but I don’t know how he can avoid it, realistically. And though we’re healthy we’re in our 60s and I hate like hell the thought I might not want to help him if he’s not feeling well. But then, it’s life. There will always be a challenge.

[frazzled]

3. Yeah, I think about it every day

My spouse is a teacher (a professor) and must be in contact every day with students (whom he loves). A good percentage of them are foreign, too, mostly from Asia, and many returned from traveling home over the month-long semester break. He's not so young anymore, either. So I warn him every day about the hand-washing stuff. But you've got to go on as usual, and it's probably just irrational worry.

My grandniece lives in Japan, and her (high) school is now closed for a for a full month. My nephew thinks it's ridiculous. She thinks it's great (until she sees the pile of homework they giver her to do while school is closed.)

[tblue37]

20. I retired last May from teaching college. I am kind of glad now, though I do miss

teaching.

[Ms. Toad]

22. Your school likely screened for such travel before the semester start.

Ours did - they identified all such students mid-early January. I'm not sure what protective steps were taken since none of them were within our unit. I do have a student from China (distant from Wuhan). He didn't travel home - his family is relatively safe, but scared.

[snowybirdie]

4. After retiring

I decided to substitute teach a day or so a week. Hardest job ever! Plus that winter, I came down with the worst flu I've ever had. I really feel for wonderful people who toil in our classrooms daily. Be safe and stay well.

[kimbutgar]

8. I am also a substitute

Got the sickest ever in mid January. In bed for three days. I got better and hope my immune system stays intact. But being around kids means germs galore.

[Ferrets are Cool]

13. +1

[Ms. Toad]

5. Thank you - but I'm OK.

Teacher here - post-secondary, but sometimes those folks are worse because the reality that their life after JD depends on getting good grades drives quite a few of them to attend even when they are sick.

I've been practicing disease prevention hygeine for years. I get maybe one mild cold every other winter, and I may have had the flu once in the 10 years since I starteed aggressively practicing disease prevention hygeine (I don't get the flu shot, so that's all either disease prevention hygeine or a significant reservoir of similar antibodies from a life of exposure.

I do plan to ask the administration to insist that the cleaning crew (1) more regularly check for missing towels and soap and (2) disinfect surfaces daily (as thoroughy discussed in another thread - our new building installed free fecal showers in the guise of toilets - and they are not being cleaned regularly).

I supply both towels and soap when I notice they are missing (I keep a supply of cheap soap - which comes out about every other week & the cleaning crew accidentally left a box of towels out, so I stowed it away and restock when they forget.)

[teach1st]

6. Thanks so much

I was aware of the dangers when I signed up. I've derived so much joy from teaching for over thirty years, that the risk is worth it to me. It's just what I do.

I teach second grade (7-8 years old). We've got the hand-sanitizer routine down, and we're working on coughing and sneezing properly. Teaching the "don't touch your face" thing is like herding cats.

[Ferrets are Cool]

14. +1

[CaptYossarian]

7. Where do you get a bulletproof beekeeper outfit?

American exceptionalism.

[Reader Rabbit]

9. Considering my 7th graders this year...

...and the lack of administrative support on discipline issues, I'd almost welcome a COVID-19 diagnosis. Since this is my 25th year, and I've got about 3-4 months worth of sick days.

[Flaleftist]

11. My job puts me at risk.

I'm young and healthy so I'm not worried about it killing me, but the chance that I could pick it up without knowing and spread it to other people. The last time was sick was about 10 years ago when H1N1 was going around and that only lasted a couple days.

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Pinkeye, hand foot and mouth, colds and flu. Lice. Some years it's

norovirus and strep. It’s always something.

[Ferrets are Cool]

15. And, a special thank you to all the teachers out there

you are among our unsung HERO's.

[Greybnk48]

16. I remember when I was a surgical tech and AIDS broke out.

We were terrified (I sure was) that we would poke ourselves with a needle or splash blood in our eyes. Within 6 months we all were given protective glasses and they were mandatory.

It also freaked me out that the hospital gave orders that OR staff were not to be told if someone had AIDS. I was in my 30's with two toddlers and a teenager (80's) and was so afraid I almost quit because at that time AIDS was a death sentence.

I feel completely differently now, of course, but we were in the dark then.

[Sherman A1]

17. Worked Retail Grocery for over 4 decades

And made sure I had a flu shot every year after they became available. The first years were at my own expense and eventually the union health plan figured out that it was cheaper to pay for vaccines than the cost of the care to recover. You never knew when a customer or coworker would sneeze or cough on you.

[Mosby]

18. I used to never get sick

But my current job puts me around kids so I have been getting a couple colds per year.

Just got over one about two weeks ago, it was weird because it went right into my lungs, I didn't have it in my sinuses or throat.

[cwydro]

21. Think about flight attendants.

Constant contact and stuck in a germy tube all day. Ick.

[abqtommy]

23. It should be pretty safe for teachers once we go to home schooling with CCTV/internet

platforms. We'll still need real teachers in front of the cameras...