Food & Grocery Hypermart

You are right about being realistic, I have overestimated many expats' intelligence, don't wear a mask in a crowded area is plan stupid, personally I always bring alcohol (as long as I have, not much left) and use it after I touch money, etc. You can't protect yourself 100% that doesn't mean you don't need to protect yourself at all. It's the same time fooking selfish, you can carry the infection and give it to others but seems some people don't care about others

 

So wear a mask AND carry out all the other precautions necessary to protect yourself and your family.

Because money (along with all surfaces, including handles) is a strong potential source of infection, it does not mean that negates using a mask (in fact, as we touch our faces many times per hour, it makes a mask even more essential). Btw, all these potential sources of infection have always been so for a variety of viruses, bacteria and fungi (even free peanuts in bars were tested and showed about 20 different types of faecal bacteria and urine samples) - that fact has been given prominence now only because the virus circulating is so dangerous, but many types of infections are caused by what we handle and how we then touch our mouths and eyes.

I could list many ways to avoid getting infected (and I am a virologist) but they have been stated so many times by myself and many others that if people haven't got it by now, they never will. I am guessing that many foreigners see it as a weakness to wear a mask and other PPE, but if they take the virus back home and infect their families I think their regret will be almost unmanageable.

 

about paper money and virus transmission heres an article i recently came across: https://www.bullionstar.com/blogs/jp-koning/banknotes-and-coronavirus/

it depends on the kind of material used, and is generally not as bad as one might think.

also theres a very easy workaround - pay with card.

 

Without even reading the article, as it depends on the material used I would not for one moment make any assumptions about the safety of cash.

Also, if using cards is "easy" how are people going to pay for minor items - a trip on a trike, a small purchase from a sari-sari? And do all people have access to bank cards? Will the purchaser be the one to insert the card or will it be handed over to the cashier? Can the card be sterilised with alcohol without destroying the signature?

 

oh well, just sign it again if you accidentally wiped the signature. not the end of the world
happened more than once to me that i signed a new card in the store because the cashier pointed out the missing signature.

the article goes into different studies that indeed examined different materials. spoiler: while there is more crap 'on' paper / linen money like the dollar or peso, it's easier for crap to transfer from plastic money (like HKD) to your hand since the crap does not stick well to the even surface.

i dont ride tricycles or buy stuff at sari sari stores and im aware, like the possession of bank cards, that makes me part of a minority compared to the general population. but in this forum, part of the majority i would say.

Anyway I still use cash, cc payments take too long most of the time and most of my shopping takes place at the market anyway. i just wash hands when i come home, old habit from long before this virus