Covid is still wrecking havoc on my life...
March 24, 2023 3:53 PM Subscribe
I just found out my brother, who lives with his family in the upstairs suite of the house we share, tested positive for covid. I am scheduled for major surgery in 6 days and I cannot get covid. Simply cannot. Cancelling the surgery now because I got covid is unthinkable. I know my chances are low, and I know all the things I should do, but I'm coming here to askmefi in case I'm forgetting something!
Obviously, I am not going to be anywhere near them, indoors or out. I'm fully boostered, and I think the rest of the adult-sized people are, but the little kids are under 3 and not vax'd (and are also little germ magnets).
I'm primarily worried about the shared indoor air. I live on a different floor, with a closed door between us, but is that enough? Do I need to wear a mask in my house? Is there an air purifier i could get this afternoon that would help? In the last 3 years of covid, this is the most scared I've been of getting it since vaccinations were available. I'm not even scared of covid itself at this point, but of the surgery being cancelled because of it.
If you were in my shoes, what would you do? I realize I'm panicking a bit, and am more than a tad frustrated at the timing of things, but I do want to be as covid safe as possible for the next 6 days. More so than I've been in years.
Obviously, I am not going to be anywhere near them, indoors or out. I'm fully boostered, and I think the rest of the adult-sized people are, but the little kids are under 3 and not vax'd (and are also little germ magnets).
I'm primarily worried about the shared indoor air. I live on a different floor, with a closed door between us, but is that enough? Do I need to wear a mask in my house? Is there an air purifier i could get this afternoon that would help? In the last 3 years of covid, this is the most scared I've been of getting it since vaccinations were available. I'm not even scared of covid itself at this point, but of the surgery being cancelled because of it.
If you were in my shoes, what would you do? I realize I'm panicking a bit, and am more than a tad frustrated at the timing of things, but I do want to be as covid safe as possible for the next 6 days. More so than I've been in years.
100% would buy 2 HEPA filters, one for you, one to park next to brother. And duct tape that door.
posted by Dashy at 4:08 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Dashy at 4:08 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Ugh, I'm so sorry. I think the most important thing you can do is to keep your windows as open as possible. I would aim to stay in rooms with open windows, and away from any common areas or enclosed areas, like stairwells or entryways. Yes, get an air purifier also.
posted by Susan PG at 4:11 PM on March 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Susan PG at 4:11 PM on March 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
I would wear a mask until you get all your windows open and the air indoors exchanged several times. Keep them open. Gargle every so often with Crest Pro Health (supposedly kills virus in the throat - can’t hurt).
posted by xo at 4:17 PM on March 24, 2023
posted by xo at 4:17 PM on March 24, 2023
If possible to decamp to an airb&b with no shared air with anyone, that’s what I would do. Otherwise, yes to open windows, air purifiers, and mask (and if at all possible ask *him* to do all the same things.)
posted by Stacey at 4:18 PM on March 24, 2023 [7 favorites]
posted by Stacey at 4:18 PM on March 24, 2023 [7 favorites]
Wear an N95 mask (has the straps that go behind the head, not around the ears) full time at home, or anywhere indoors.
Spend as much time outdoors, 10ft away (and upwind) from others.
Go spend the next 6 days in a hotel, wearing an N95 mask whenever you're outside your room, skip maid service, and only eat outdoors or in your room.
Build yourself a corsi-rosenthal air filter box for whatever room you're in without a mask (bedroom if still at home, hotel room otherwise) and run it full time.
posted by jpeacock at 4:21 PM on March 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
Spend as much time outdoors, 10ft away (and upwind) from others.
Go spend the next 6 days in a hotel, wearing an N95 mask whenever you're outside your room, skip maid service, and only eat outdoors or in your room.
Build yourself a corsi-rosenthal air filter box for whatever room you're in without a mask (bedroom if still at home, hotel room otherwise) and run it full time.
posted by jpeacock at 4:21 PM on March 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
Having had my hip replaced in June 2021, I just came in to say to also keep in mind the questions the hospital may ask you before surgery: "Have you been out of the state?" "Have you been close to someone diagnosed with COVID?" "Have you had ... symptoms ...?" So, for instance, if you stay in a hotel or airbnb maybe (?) it's worth it to be sure it's in the same State.
Though on preview I realize you're in Canada, so I don't know if the bureaucracy is the same.
posted by forthright at 4:25 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Though on preview I realize you're in Canada, so I don't know if the bureaucracy is the same.
posted by forthright at 4:25 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Your brother lives in another suite? With doors closed? Can you clarify - My understanding is that you do not expect to ever be in the same room as these people, or on the same floor. Is that right? So, basically, you have a neighbour with covid?
I'm not an expert but this seems very low risk. I don't think people generally get covid from people who live on another floor, with whom they are never in the same room.
Have you been going out in the world in general? It seems likely that the regular stuff you do would carry at least as much risk as this situation.
One thing to think about: If you go to a hotel, say - there will be lots of people on the same floor as you. One of them might have covid. Or someone in the elevator.
Just one datapoint: If I were a person in your situation, I would not be worried, and I would not take any precautions other than maintaining the distance that I think you are already maintaining.
posted by ManInSuit at 4:25 PM on March 24, 2023 [19 favorites]
I'm not an expert but this seems very low risk. I don't think people generally get covid from people who live on another floor, with whom they are never in the same room.
Have you been going out in the world in general? It seems likely that the regular stuff you do would carry at least as much risk as this situation.
One thing to think about: If you go to a hotel, say - there will be lots of people on the same floor as you. One of them might have covid. Or someone in the elevator.
Just one datapoint: If I were a person in your situation, I would not be worried, and I would not take any precautions other than maintaining the distance that I think you are already maintaining.
posted by ManInSuit at 4:25 PM on March 24, 2023 [19 favorites]
>Do I need to wear a mask in my house?
It's better if he wears a mask all the time. They don't protect the wearer from catching covid much, rather they keep the germs in and prevent the wearer from spreading covid. Mostly. But yeah, if everyone could wear a mask for the next week, that'd help. You can spread covid before you have symptoms, hence why everyone had to wear masks (they still should really but that's a whole other thing).
posted by gible at 4:43 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
It's better if he wears a mask all the time. They don't protect the wearer from catching covid much, rather they keep the germs in and prevent the wearer from spreading covid. Mostly. But yeah, if everyone could wear a mask for the next week, that'd help. You can spread covid before you have symptoms, hence why everyone had to wear masks (they still should really but that's a whole other thing).
posted by gible at 4:43 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Isolate in your room or out of the house until your surgery. One HEPA air purifier in your room and one in brother's room, keep both doors closed, you mask at all times when not in your room and ask brother to do the same. Separate bathrooms if possible, and lots of handwashing regardless. So sorry you have to deal with this now.
You also should think about your post-surgery plan, if you are coming home pretty quickly, in the event that covid spreads through the household.
posted by happy_cat at 4:45 PM on March 24, 2023
You also should think about your post-surgery plan, if you are coming home pretty quickly, in the event that covid spreads through the household.
posted by happy_cat at 4:45 PM on March 24, 2023
I'd say to get an airbnb or stay with a friend if you possibly can. It sounds like you all share common spaces? At the very least, I'd say to wear a mask in the house, especially in common areas, but generally to stay in your room with the window open or a filter, and avoid everyone.
Last summer, I tried hard to make it so my kid (older teen, fully vaxxed and boosted and generally healthy) living in the same house as me wouldn't get covid. I tested positive on a Tuesday and both my kids tested negative. My younger kid went to his dad's (and never tested positive) but my older one stayed with me. It was summer and we had windows open; he generally stayed in his room with the door closed and window open, and I spent as much time outside as possible or in my room with the window open. He tested positive on the following Sunday.
I suppose one of our pets could have caught it and passed it between us, but I'd be especially wary of the little kids if I were you. It seems super risky because of your surgery. Yikes, this sounds super stressful.
Also think about recovery and where you might stay then. Will you need any help?
posted by bluedaisy at 4:47 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Last summer, I tried hard to make it so my kid (older teen, fully vaxxed and boosted and generally healthy) living in the same house as me wouldn't get covid. I tested positive on a Tuesday and both my kids tested negative. My younger kid went to his dad's (and never tested positive) but my older one stayed with me. It was summer and we had windows open; he generally stayed in his room with the door closed and window open, and I spent as much time outside as possible or in my room with the window open. He tested positive on the following Sunday.
I suppose one of our pets could have caught it and passed it between us, but I'd be especially wary of the little kids if I were you. It seems super risky because of your surgery. Yikes, this sounds super stressful.
Also think about recovery and where you might stay then. Will you need any help?
posted by bluedaisy at 4:47 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
If you don’t share an HVAC system and the units have separate entrances I wouldn’t give this a second thought. It would be like me worrying that my neighbor in the rowhouse next to me is going to give me COVID.
If you have to pass through a shared entryway, I would wear an N95 and see about ventilating it or getting an air purifier.
posted by rhymedirective at 5:06 PM on March 24, 2023 [4 favorites]
If you have to pass through a shared entryway, I would wear an N95 and see about ventilating it or getting an air purifier.
posted by rhymedirective at 5:06 PM on March 24, 2023 [4 favorites]
I would go the “Airbnb with no shared HVAC with anyone” route. If you go to a hotel, I would THINK chances are just as great that you’ll be sharing circulated air with someone with covid - it would just be someone you don’t know, who presumably doesn’t know they have it. I could be wrong about that, maybe some hotels don’t share HVAC between rooms? But this would be my concern, so I’d just get the hell away from everybody for 6 days.
posted by invincible summer at 5:46 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by invincible summer at 5:46 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Assuming that you share HVAC, I'd open windows as feasible, and get an air purifier and run it in whatever room you are in. If you or your brother mask, that will help as well.
This and this are both in stock at at least one Home Depot in Vancouver. The second one is for small rooms, if you have a big open space, this is the big brother.
I'd make a single purchase of a few hundred bucks ahead of the much more expensive hotel / Airbnb option; it's good to have around in wildfire season as well.
posted by Superilla at 7:55 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
This and this are both in stock at at least one Home Depot in Vancouver. The second one is for small rooms, if you have a big open space, this is the big brother.
I'd make a single purchase of a few hundred bucks ahead of the much more expensive hotel / Airbnb option; it's good to have around in wildfire season as well.
posted by Superilla at 7:55 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Good advice above. Keep in mind that you will likely soon be living not just in the same house as one person with Covid, but more likely an entirely family with covid - which may increase the viral load in the air. If the air is being circulated into your space as well, that definitely puts you at risk. Covid is airborne - think of it as being a bit like cigarette smoke.
Covid in BC is on the rise at the moment, it's back to the levels it was mid January. Consider masking with really good quality masks in the hospital as well, if you can.
posted by stray at 8:03 PM on March 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
Covid in BC is on the rise at the moment, it's back to the levels it was mid January. Consider masking with really good quality masks in the hospital as well, if you can.
posted by stray at 8:03 PM on March 24, 2023 [2 favorites]
Both of you should be wearing masks! Everyone in the house should be wearing masks (who can) and especially in common areas. I have slept in N95 masks, it’s fine. Windows open where he is staying and a fan pointed TOWARDS his door to create air movement going out those windows.
If the parts of the house can be sealed off from each other - as in you don’t share common area and have separate entrances - take a sheet of plastic and seal off parts of the house. We’ve done this successfully.
If you have shared HVAC, you need to turn it off. You can’t block the vents without causing a fire hazard in many cases. (This advice applies depending on your situation, which I don’t know.) if you have access to the hvac, swap out the filter for a MERV13 rated one.
Ideally, you get to go stay somewhere else.
But otherwise you need masks at all times, strong outside ventilation, and clean air. Good luck and stay safe!
posted by Bottlecap at 8:25 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
If the parts of the house can be sealed off from each other - as in you don’t share common area and have separate entrances - take a sheet of plastic and seal off parts of the house. We’ve done this successfully.
If you have shared HVAC, you need to turn it off. You can’t block the vents without causing a fire hazard in many cases. (This advice applies depending on your situation, which I don’t know.) if you have access to the hvac, swap out the filter for a MERV13 rated one.
Ideally, you get to go stay somewhere else.
But otherwise you need masks at all times, strong outside ventilation, and clean air. Good luck and stay safe!
posted by Bottlecap at 8:25 PM on March 24, 2023 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks all. Just to clarify the living situation, we all live in the same house, but I live in the basement, and they live on the main two floors. My space is fully contained so we don't have to share common spaces, but generally spend a lot of time doing so when everyone’s heathy. Its less isolated than neighbours, but more isolated than having all the shared spaces. The second he started feeling sick a couple days ago I’ve been avoiding their floors indoors, but just today he tested positive.
With a gaggle of pets to take care of I cant just take off to a hotel (and im not letting them downstairs to feed them for me, thats for sure!) but the thought is appealing. N95 masks and Hepa filters arrive tomorrow, and I’m avoiding being home as much as possible until then. And am going to freeze and open all the windows as well!
posted by cgg at 10:00 PM on March 24, 2023 [3 favorites]
With a gaggle of pets to take care of I cant just take off to a hotel (and im not letting them downstairs to feed them for me, thats for sure!) but the thought is appealing. N95 masks and Hepa filters arrive tomorrow, and I’m avoiding being home as much as possible until then. And am going to freeze and open all the windows as well!
posted by cgg at 10:00 PM on March 24, 2023 [3 favorites]
My brother lives on the same floor as myself and my wife and he's had Covid twice without giving it to us. He wore a mask (not even an N95, though that will greatly improve your chances of not getting it) and kept to himself both times and we were fine. If he is willing to mask and you are also your chances of getting it are very small. With your note about the air circulation, it sounds to me like you're doing everything you can. I hope your surgery goes well!
posted by the liquid oxygen at 12:51 PM on March 25, 2023
posted by the liquid oxygen at 12:51 PM on March 25, 2023
I realize you posted a couple days ago, but since no one mentioned it- keep humidity between 40-60% in your spaces, but especially yours. Might not help, but won't hurt:
COVID-19 cases and deaths tended to increase when a region’s average estimated indoor humidity was lower than 40% or higher than 60%, regardless of the time of year.
Nearly all regions had fewer COVID infections and deaths when average indoor humidity hovered in the “sweet spot” between 40% and 60%, the study authors said
posted by oneirodynia at 12:07 PM on March 27, 2023
COVID-19 cases and deaths tended to increase when a region’s average estimated indoor humidity was lower than 40% or higher than 60%, regardless of the time of year.
Nearly all regions had fewer COVID infections and deaths when average indoor humidity hovered in the “sweet spot” between 40% and 60%, the study authors said
posted by oneirodynia at 12:07 PM on March 27, 2023
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