AIBU to be a bit surprised that nobody in my RL seems to be bothered about coronavirus?

[Dennisreynoldsduster]

Maybe it’s because I have an eight week old DS but I’m getting quite concerned about the virus and the impact it could potentially have.
I know there’s been a bit of hysteria on here and I’m not trying to I whip up more but I’m genuinely surprised that people in my day to day life do not even seem slightly concerned about it.
Most seem to be taking the attitude that it’s just another flu, which it categorically is not - and there’s a lot of questionable personal hygiene about!

AIBU to be surprised at this? Do people not read the news anymore?

[Cacaca]

What good is being concerned about it going to do? It’s hardly going to stop you catching it.

[user1473878824]

So you think only Mumsnet users read the papers apart from you? Yes it’s a very nasty and possibly deadly strain of flu. Unless you’ve been in contact with the people known to have it you’re fine. People have been quarantined as a precaution not because we’re all about to die. You can panic about it as much as you want but everyone else is just going to get on with life because there’s no reason to not.

[Jengnr]

Meh! Not arsed at all. I didn’t get swine flu or MRSA or mad cow disease either.

It’s not hugely likely I’ll get this

[Cwoo2020]

There's a lot of hysteria over it and the media isn't helping. I've also seen what could be described as racism towards Asian people over it. I personally am not worried. The common cold & flu kill more people and there's no panic when someone catches them.

[Toomanygerbils]

Out of a population of around 68 million 9 people in the uk have contracted it, all are still alive. More likely to die on a bus or car journey. Yes it could get worse but it’s been showing no signs of doing so

[ivykaty44]

Toomanygerbils Is correct

What would you like people in real life to do?

[snowqu33n]

There’s not much you can do individually but wash your hands a lot and avoid touching your face, as well as stay as healthy and strong as possible. You can avoid crowded places if you want.

If COVID 19 is similar to SARS then it may well die out as the weather gets warmer. Viruses prefer cool, dry conditions.
That is why flu is seasonal.

Previously infected people should have acquired immunity at least for a while, so that should slow it down in China.

It is worrying, but you might find that when you have a small baby you are more concerned about perceived threats than you would normally be.

There are a lot of people in my town who seem to think they can control their risk by stepping out of an elevator when people who look like Chinese tourists get into it.
Meanwhile, the friend they are about to have tea with could have a husband that, unbeknownst to her, visited a brothel with trafficked workers a couple of weeks ago.

It’s not as straightforward as hygiene, and we should be careful to be compassionate and not blame the victims of this virus. It’s a tragedy for many thousands of people, and for businesses reliant on foreign tourists.

[RedRedBluee]

I don’t see any point in the general public being hysterical about it, what will that achieve?
I work in a hospital and we are definitely being proactive about it and taking it seriously. We talk about it everyday, have regular meetings about it, get emails from the ceo keeping us updated.
Best things to protect yourself are just common sense; have good hand hygiene and stay away from crowded areas.

[Limpshade]

Why would you WANT people to worry?

I live in Singapore and when the government adopted an "orange" warning status (raised from green, then yellow), some people went bananas and virtually cleared out the supermarkets across the island. There was no bread, rice, pasta, flour, potatoes, tinned or canned food, or cleaning products to be found anywhere. It was a pain in the ass to be honest and I became more worried about not having enough food than the virus itself! A week on and everywhere has been restocked - all good. But trust me, you do not want people to start panicking!

[JonnyPocketRocket]

9 people have contracted coronavirus in the UK so far. Flu kills on average 17,000 people in England a year. If you're going to worry about catching a virus, coronavirus isn't the one to be worried about.

[Dennisreynoldsduster]

I’m not saying I want people to panic just think it’s smart to be aware of what’s going on and how it could be potentially significant.
Perhaps it is because I have a small baby, I do tend to worry a lot more now -
Plus I have to admit I have previously suffered with health anxiety so that’s probably why I worry more as well.

[Juliette20]

Exactly, I was coming to say that. I understand the anxiety when you have a young baby, but every other year there is something. It was swine flu and bird flu when my two were little, and SARS not long before I had my eldest.

[Toomanygerbils]

@Dennisreynoldsduster the chances are far higher that your child will meet their final demise by dancing on the table at the age of 98 😄. Honestly unless the current situation changes he’s more likely to die from a storm

[ivykaty44]

SARS is Coronavirus, this virus is Covid but is part of the Coronavirus jyst like SARS

Dennis, why do you think people in real life aren’t aware of this virus?

[Bezalelle]

My friends aren't panicking about it because they're not idiots.

[Squigean]

It's not really different on MN or real life is it.

On MN there's very few of the regular posters who are overtly concern. Can't tell you the percentage as I've no data to go by. But it'll be very low at a rough guess.

But if you did compare it to the percentage of people you know who are bothered (which is only you, by your reckoning) then this percentage will also be very low.

[Turtletotem]

My concern is, how do we know there aren't 1000s more people affected in the uk? Who are they testing? My 12 year old and nearly half of her class have been ill for weeks with the most terrible cough and fever, headaches etc. She has now been given antibiotics after 3 weeks of it. If she has it then I'm sure she will recover soon but why aren't they being tested for it?

[Squigean]

Also you seem to believe that if people are aware then they'll be 'bothered by' it.

The vast majority of people are aware, but they rationalise or have the mind set of only being concerned once it's an actual in their lives. On top of that plenty of people are probably observing preventative actions, just not vocalisng or stressing.

[Mustbetimeforachange]

800 people died of measles in the UK last year (I think I remember the number correcttly, if not, you get the idea), but still people don't vaccinate. Probably the same people who are stirring up panic about the new virus. I don't see anyone isolating people who haven't been vaccinated against measles etc.

[catlady3]

I thought since it is viral antibiotics won't help? Presumably they tested whether whatever your kid has will respond to antibiotics before prescribing them?

[AuntieMarys]

I have a horrendous cold, sore throat and cough. It hasn't occurred to me that it could be the coronavirus.

[Toomanygerbils]

@Turtletotem yep it’s an absolute cover up, let’s isolate individuals but let a whole group of school kids wander around on antibiotics sniffing and coughing. Great tactic! Your child is ill and has a cold/the flu but it’s nothing to do with this!

[Turtletotem]

Catlady, the Dr listened to her chest and took her temperature. It's the third time she's been seen. She's normally really well and has only has one other course of antibiotics in her life. Dr said well I can't hear anything but it's gone on too long now...

[Watermelontea]

I have a 3 month old baby and whilst I read the newspaper, I’m not ‘We’re all going to die!’ concerned,
I’m a mid level ‘wash your hands, and don’t touch or cough near my baby’ concerned.
Newspapers really are making it sound like the new Black Death, and whilst I think there is a possibility of some degree of a cover-up of seriousness by the Chinese government, those who have contracted it here are all still alive, quarantined, and being treated.

In all honesty, if anybody was going to bring it home to us, all it’d be my little germ factory of a toddler who picks up and shares everything. I can’t very well stop living life and refuse to let her go to nursery just in case someone gets it.

[Toomanygerbils]

@Turtletotem think positive then, when we all die of it your little one is Immune and will be the leader of the resistance!!!