Are We Not Allowed To Touch Paper Anymore?

[Barsel]

At a hospital appointment recently, I offered my appointment letter to a receptionist who refused to take it, and so I had to say my name and address, who my appointment was with, time etc out loud so obviously other people in the queue could hear me.
Yet when I went to sit in the waiting area, none of the seats had signs to say 'Don't sit here' so people were just sitting next to each other even if they weren't together. No distance rules there.
Anybody else have experience of this?

[Redhelen72]

It may be a security thing - as several hospital appointments I has prior to Covid I had to verbally provide my information

[Peter Pedant]

yeah foo ignore
based on fomites ( paper ) spread covid - they/it didnt, but the idea got up and ran in the ( very ) early days - Feb 2020
peddle by Fauci no less who got very little else wrong to be honest

( covid is a fastidious temp sensitive RNA virus so that is unlikely - but as you know scientists say that you should never doubt things on theoretical grounds.)

Honestly ignore ....
( esp as the skool leaver says with a mona lisa smile, "I know what I want to do, and I was to be sure / safe/ correct/ etc etc)

[margarettom]

When I have been to hospitals in the past, I have always just shown the appointment letter with my name etc on it and then the receptionist finds me on her list. I have always kept the appointment letter. I’m talking pre-Covid here.
They probably just don’t want a bin full of people’s appointment letters.

[Peter Pedant]

dont upset yourself - honestly it aint worf it

[Peter Pedant]

// They probably just don’t want a bin full of people’s appointment letters.//

hospitals have got bins for chrissakes

[Hopkirk]

Yes, for covid hygiene reasons it's understandable that the receptionist doesn't want to take the letter. However she could read it if you placed it in front of her, you would have thought.

[Barsel]

Margaret, they have a shredder at the side of them and always ask,' Do you want your letter back?' If I say no, they put it in the shredder.
PP I'm not upset about it, but just wondering if the hospital, by doing this, are telling me it isn't safe to take paper off other people.

[Hopkirk]

You might have sneezed into your hands before getting the letter out.

[Barsel]

They could wear disposable gloves.

[andres]

I suppose they are being extra cautious.Apparently some strains of the virus only last a few minutes on paper but others can last up to 5 days. Patients could possibly have the virus or even be carriers. The receptionist is probably dealing with hundreds of appt. letters every day.

[Ellipsis]

> I had to say my name and address, who my appointment was with, time etc

Address? That's a bit over the top.

"I've got an appointment to see Dr. Smith at 11AM"
"Ms. Barsel?"
"That's me."

[Barsel]

Ellipsis that would work, I'll try that if I need to go again.

[Barsel]

If they ask for my address, I'll tell them it hasn't changed. Sorted.

[Giggsie]

Yes I had this offered across my letter to receptionist as I usually did she said wait! don’t cross the line on the floor and just read out your letter to me starting with your name. I also was taken aback by it but I suppose makes sense.

[webbo3]

I take and give letters to patients in my hospital, I also give them a pen if they need it.

[webbo3]

I'm also sat behind a large Perspex screen with a small slot for patients to put their letter thru but its far easier for them to hold it up.

[Peter Pedant]

// Apparently some strains of the virus only last a few minutes on paper but others can last up to 5 days.//

ish

incredibly the original paper said it was carried by cold wet objects, and not by people.
The scientist who established there was human transmission RAN to the sort of head office with the news as he realised all the advice was wrong ( non operative etc) and had to be adjusted

[Peter Pedant]

France - en France - pas de passeport - defence d'entrer

no passport no noo-noo. god knows what they do with the patients who need admitting on a/c of covid - - - oo-la-la

[douglas9401]

The sky continues to fall and the determinedly obstructive are still customer facing.

[Stickybottle]

I wish I could decypher what pp says on these forums