How should we clean go equipment in light of COVID-19?

tchan001 · #1

Any thoughts or recommendations on ways to clean a physical set of go stones, go bowls and go board in light of COVID-19?
Or should we just shelve the set for use only in self-study and playing with close family members while switching to play mainly online?

sorin · #2

tchan001 wrote:

Any thoughts or recommendations on ways to clean a physical set of go stones, go bowls and go board in light of COVID-19?
Or should we just shelve the set for use only in self-study and playing with close family members while switching to play mainly online?

We should apply exactly the same measures we use to deal with flu.

Javaness2 · #3

Wash the stones in a little soapy water?

jlt · #4

I read somewhere that the virus doesn't survive more than 3 hours on contaminated objects. To be confirmed by reliable sources...

Edit: after searching a bit more on the web, I read elsewhere that the virus can survive up to 9 days on contaminated objects.

Bill Spight · #5

jlt wrote:

I read somewhere that the virus doesn't survive more than 3 hours on contaminated objects. To be confirmed by reliable sources...

I have never heard such a short time for any virus. And, AFAIK, the research has not been done for this virus. Touching go stones that someone else has just touched may not be as dangerous as shaking hands, but it might be, don't you think?

pookpooi · #6

If you're setting a go club, or your go board is in public that used by a lot of people in a short amout of time that it's impossible to wash them after each game, please use Disinfecting Towelettes (one of the brand is CaviWipes), and use with disposable glove. But right now if you're not in the risky area you shouldn't buy that because it's nearly outstock and there's some place that really need that more than you do (like hospital).

jlt · #7

If your opponent is infected with the virus, he may contaminate the stones he places on the board, and you will touch them anyway when you capture a group, or count points, or discuss the game, or put back the stones in the bowl. So if you are really worried about contamination, the best is to avoid go clubs, as well as using public transport, restaurants, cash money, door handles,...

The area where I live is not at risk so I am not taking any particular precautions, but will change my mind if more people around get infected.

bogiesan · #8

You start by separating hysteria from fact. Then you assess your risk by determining if you are in an area that has or is likely to develop a COVID problem. Then you make yourself aware of and use the reasonable precautions normally recommended to help prevent the spread of flu.

With the Seattle region in the spotlight I wonder what the good folks are doing at the Go Center?

negapesuo · #9

Apparently hard surfaces are one of the main ways virus can spread, which makes going to go clubs a relatively higher risk. I would avoid until this whole thing dies down.

Gomoto · **#10**

I will play go until I die. Or at least as long until some black stones die. And I will wash my hands from time to time.

Kirby · **#11**

@Gomoto

Is that your game? Any backstory? Who is the opponent?

Gomoto · **#12**

Fear or panic does not prevent infection or harm. I just prefer to enjoy life.

I am used to going astray:
every path leads to its destination.
Our joys, our sorrows
are all the toys of a will o’ the wisp!

Just last weekend I listened to this in a (small) concert.

I choose joy over sorrow any day.

We will stop visiting our club games when restaurants are closed, only then.

And we started a WhatsApp Group to organize our online play thereafter :-)

Good luck to all fellow go players and especially to the ones with increased risks.

Bill Spight · **#13**

Why worry about the boards and stones? Wear gloves.

jlt · **#14**

I don't need to worry about that anymore. My go club has closed, and tournaments that were scheduled in March or April have been cancelled or postponed.

SeattleGo · **#15**

bogiesan wrote:

... With the Seattle region in the spotlight I wonder what the good folks are doing at the Go Center?

We've closed for the time being. Which was a difficult decision to reach. Before we got there, we started washing stones (glass mostly; some plastic) with a solution of water, bleach, and a few drops of dish soap. I think Brian has a picture of the operation that I'll post.

What really told us it was time to throw in the towel was when we saw the rule about maintaining a distance of 6 feet (2 meters) or more. The other restrictions, we could meet; but if we have to stay 6 feet apart while playing, that changed the whole dynamic.

Kirby · **#16**

SeattleGo wrote:

What really told us it was time to throw in the towel was when we saw the rule about maintaining a distance of 6 feet (2 meters) or more. The other restrictions, we could meet; but if we have to stay 6 feet apart while playing, that changed the whole dynamic.

If only the go boards were bigger...

SeattleGo · **#17**

Kirby wrote:

If only the go boards were bigger...

I know, right? I toyed with the idea of installing a plexiglass "sneeze shield" over the boards, but ultimately discarded it as too ridiculous. (Would have made for a few good Instagram posts though.) And I thought about putting the magnetic demo board on the floor, and have the players stand 8 feet apart, and move back when the other player is placing a stone. Also ridiculous.

SeattleGo · **#18**

Bill Spight wrote:

jlt wrote:

I read somewhere that the virus doesn't survive more than 3 hours on contaminated objects. To be confirmed by reliable sources...

I have never heard such a short time for any virus. And, AFAIK, the research has not been done for this virus. Touching go stones that someone else has just touched may not be as dangerous as shaking hands, but it might be, don't you think?

Apparently, the type of surface matters a lot. It seems like most viruses (virii? oh well) in the "coronavirus" category go inactive after 2 or 3 hours on metal surfaces like copper xxxxxxxx* (unless a slime has built up). Wood surfaces also are relatively anti-viral; though I'm not sure if that's true of Go boards, which usually have a finish of some kind.

On the other hand, most coronaviruses apparently can survive on plastic for over a week. Glass, I haven't seen addressed.

And no, for this particular species of coronavirus, I don't think detailed testing has been done for different surfaces.

Apparently this virus is relatively easy to kill with ordinary disinfecting cleansers. A few sources have said even normal detergent disrupts its lipid capsule (not that I know what that means, precisely), but I haven't seen that confirmed by an official authority.

* Apparently this virus can live for three days on steel surfaces, so I felt obliged to cross out my earlier comment.

Tryss · **#19**

This is what the coronavirus looks like :

The envelope in red is composed of lipids (fat). Soap (or other products that remove fat) will rip it easily, destroying the virus. Alcool do the same, but with less efficacity.

sybob · **#20**

SeattleGo wrote:

And no, for this particular species of coronavirus, I don't think detailed testing has been done for different surfaces.

Apparently, the U.S. CDC just released an article about this specific virus lasting on different surfaces (wood, metal, carton).
Haven't read it myself though.

How should we clean go equipment in light of COVID-19?

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