I reached out to the change-ringers list about sanitizing ropes. The general agreement is that one can't sensibly do it, but an interesting fact I was given is that the virus can live less than three days on a fabric surface, which I guess would include linen or wool. So from service ringing to the next practice session, maybe the ropes will self-sanitize?
Everyone suggested
hand hygiene, someone else mentioned my idea of sticking to one rope per person. I have decided to severely cut back my T usage, so I won't be at practice, but would suggest that someone clean the tower doorknobs and the handrails at Old North after the 11 AM tour. (Dale - are they still running tours?) and that everybody do the full hand wash before heading up to the ringing room. I left a new roll of paper towels on the shelf above the toilet last week. Each person should dry with a fresh paper towel instead of everybody sharing the same cloth hand towel (or using one's clothing). I also put a new box of tissues in the ON ringing room, and would hope that people would sanitize after tissue use or inadvertent face-touching. And stop sticking fingers in the Cornhusker's bottle (I may be the only one who does that).
Laura Dickerson
PS as a contribution to the popular list of songs to sing while washing, it seems that from rounds to back rounds is about the right duration
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxcyXE0TIBQ
although my favorite currently is Gloria Gaynor singing I will survive while washing