{"id":113424,"date":"2020-03-24T13:06:46","date_gmt":"2020-03-24T17:06:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rbach.net\/?p=113424"},"modified":"2022-03-19T16:22:39","modified_gmt":"2022-03-19T20:22:39","slug":"covid-on-your-cell-phone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rbach.net\/index.php\/covid-on-your-cell-phone\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID On Your Cell Phone"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"COVID<\/a>Amid the chaos of the COVID-19 lock-down<\/strong> one of your only allies in the social distancing<\/strong>\u00a0campaign is your cell phone<\/strong>. Right? After all, everybody is attached to their mobile phone. In fact, research has shown that millennials check their phones 150 times a day<\/a> (PDF). Why do we check our cell phones so much<\/strong>?<\/p>\n

Researchers from the University of Illinois<\/a> found in a recent study that 37% of women and 30% of men<\/strong> walking down the street have a smartphone in their hand<\/strong>. The UofI researchers Laura Schaposnik and James Unwin paper The Phone Walkers: A study of human dependence on inactive mobile devices<\/em><\/a> propose four plausible reasons that pedestrians practice this behavior.<\/p>\n

Appeasement<\/strong> – The first proposal<\/a> is that we need immediate access to our phones now because so much of our social lives exist on the phone. In particular, research suggests<\/a> that people in romantic relationships expect to be texted back within five minutes<\/strong>. We keep our phones out to appease partners.<\/p>\n

\"anxiety<\/a>Anxiety<\/strong> – The researcher’s next hypothesis was that we might be psychologically dependent<\/a> on these phones to the point that we have anxiety if we\u2019re separated from them<\/strong>. The researchers write. \u201c… the simple manipulation of the object could lead to a corresponding decrease in tension or anxiety …<\/em>.”<\/p>\n

Safety<\/strong> – Personal safety is another distinct possibility. Research has found<\/a> that technology gives young people confidence when facing the potential dangers<\/strong> of crime in a public place. The UofI team says we \u201c..may hold their phones both for personal reassurance against perceived threats and as a visible warning sign to potential assailants.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\"peacock<\/a>The peacock effect<\/strong> – We might want to impress a possible partner<\/strong> with our fancy phones. The researchers compared the phenomenon to \u201cdisplays of affluence by wearing designer fashion clothes or jewelry … to enhance or affirm a person\u2019s social standing and to attract a suitable mate.<\/strong><\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

We are addicted to our cell phones<\/a> so what? I have covered the germiness<\/strong><\/a> of mobiles<\/a><\/strong> on the Bach Seat<\/em><\/a> before. But in the wake of recent events, I checked on current thinking and found that COVID-19 is probably on your mobile<\/strong>. German researchers reported<\/a> (PDF) in the Journal of Hospital Infection<\/em><\/a> that Coronaviruses can live on inanimate surfaces like metal, glass, or plastic, and remain infectious “from 2 hours up to 9 days.<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

\"Coronaviruses<\/a>Lead researcher G\u00fcnter Kampf, M.D., an associated professor at the University of Greifswald<\/a>, reported<\/a> that a good strategy for surface disinfection<\/strong> is with a solution that contains 0.1% sodium hypochlorite or 62 to 71% ethanol. Either of these “significantly reduces coronavirus infectivity on surfaces within 1 min exposure time.<\/em>”<\/p>\n

Charles Gerba, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology at The University of Arizona, told Mens Health<\/em><\/p>\n

\u2026What we found \u2026 in office buildings is that you touch a surface with a virus on it and then you place it on your cell phone.” (A door handle, for example.) \u2026 You then go home or to another location and you touch your phone again a touch a table moving it to another location\u2014great way to spread viruses around an office.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"great<\/a>Dr. Kampf warns,<\/em> “Check with the manufacturer. First, it should be effective against coronavirus \u2026 Second, not all disinfectants are compatible with the material of the smartphone surface.<\/em>”<\/p>\n

Professor Gerba recommends an alcohol wipe or a microfiber cloth. “I would do it every time I have been out in public<\/em><\/strong>,” he says.<\/p>\n

rb-<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

To safely clean your mobile:<\/em><\/p>\n