AIBU about Coronavirus and my colleague?

[Honsandrebels]

A colleague is due back in the office today from 10 days in Beijing. AIBU to be nervous that they may be infected with Coronavirus? My DD almost died from pneumonia as a baby and has damage to one lung, so am terrified about her contracting something like this. I think I am being U as realistically she could come into contact with it anywhere. But this is a person I know who has been in China the whole length of the outbreak. Ideally I would want to work from home until the colleague is 14 days clear, to protect my DD. Even writing this I am pretty sure I am being U. But opinions appreciated.

[Booboostwo]

My son's school sent out an email today saying that any children returning from China need either a Medical Certificate saying they are free from Coronavirus or they have to stay home for 14 days.

I think this is very sensible and should be adopted at workplaces also.

How are doctors supposed to know whether asymptomatic individuals are incubating the virus?

[Toddlerteaplease]

I'd be far more concerned about the bugs floating around in this country, these out healthy children in hospital every year. The chances of catching a big from
Someone who's been in the same (enormous) country are minuscule. It's scaremongering.

[LilQueenie]

Sky news online has stated that those travelling from China are being told to self isolate. In my opinion they should have done that before now.

[PurpleDaisies]

Told by who? I can’t see that as advice from the WHO.

[cz123]

Have you had your flu vaccine ? Absolutely amazes me people are so afraid of a virus thousands of miles away, but don't bother to get a flu vaccine despite the fact that people die of flu every year.

[lljkk]

.. and flu is also contagious before any symptoms show.

[AmelieTaylor]

If she worked for me she’d be TOLD in No uncertain terms to work from home for a fortnight.

I’d expect her to as much work as is possible, but wouldn’t be that bothered if it was fuck all.

You have several vulnerable people that they know if, god how many others.

Two weeks working from home is no big deal & she’ll cope.

[cz123]

@lljkk those suffering make their way to the GP surgery or A and E passing their germs along to anyone in their path. Some people are at work and start to feel ill, some people stay at work until they are too ill to continue.

[LilQueenie]

PurpleDaisies like I said it was on sky news. The health secretary said it. It can take a while for it to be put up elsewhere. its on breaking news.

[GreenTulips]

Absolutely amazes me people are so afraid of a virus thousands of miles away, but don't bother to get a flu vaccine

Flu doesn’t shut cities down.
Flu doesn’t require two big hospitals to be built.
Flu doesn’t get 2000 doctors flying in to help.

[LilQueenie]

the coronavirus is a new strain we know nothing much about only that like the flu there is no cure but is harder hitting. I'm not afraid of either tbh but would prefer not to get it.

[Cohle]

I understand your worry but it's just not reasonable to expect your colleague to be quarantined for a fortnight, especially when she hasn't been to the infected region.

The risk doesn't currently seem substantially higher than the flu at the moment. I'd try and put the risk in perspective.

[mumwon]

@GreenTulips in the past flu epidemics did shut down schools etc in the west & killed many people to underestimate the danger of possibility of such an epidemic again is short sighted - as I have previously said what worries me more is measles polio & diphtheria, & typhoid because of the antivaxers

[OnlyHereforAIBU]

Please go and look at a map of China and get a grip ✌🏼

[AmelieTaylor]

@OnlyHereForAIBU

Well I guess your name shells out your attitude. Maybe stick to parking threads.

The OP has a very vulnerable daughter and there are pregnant women in her office as well as a vulnerable man & probably others we don’t know about are vulnerable, or have vulnerable family members.

They don’t know how many of the (5Million) people who left Wu Han might already have it. They ‘think’ it’s able to be transmitted in the incubation period...those people will be everywhere, very likely many of them in Beijing. She has now also flown, the air con on the flight spreads bugs... it’s really not a stretch to worry about being cooped up in an office with this woman. All for the sake of her working from home for a fortnight.

Many places arohnd the work have put restrictions in force re travelling from the affected areas. At the moment our Govt have only requested that people who have been in the worst affected areas self quarantine, but I bet it won’t be long before they include Beijing in that.

The Chinese Govt aren’t exactly well known for their openness, so you can multiply their figures by an awful lot!

Why risk anything when all she needs to do is work from
Home for a fortnight- she’s not being asked to sacrifice her newborn FFS.

[RoseAndRose]

"Our uni has asked the lecturers just back from Wuhan to stay at home for 2 weeks"

That's in line with what Matt Hancock is calling on people to do.

But only those returning for Wuhan. Not other parts of China

[Honsandrebels]

Update, my work have required him to remain at home for 2 weeks! V surprised. I hadn’t talked to them re concerns but others may have. Thanks all for the input.

[HuggedTrees]

That’s really sensible of them and glad others have stepped in so you don’t have to raise it

[theswordthatdangles]

I'm glad that work have been proactive. I've just seen on the news that people who had travelled to affected areas should consider self quarantining. At least no on has to broach it now.

[FenellaMaxwell]

@StudentMummy19 it’s not spreading in the US though? The 5 cases they have are all people who contracted it in China - nobody has caught it from them.

We are looking at a virus where the death rate is about 2.5%. That’s less than half as many as ordinary seasonal flu.

[CrunchyCarrot]

Just popping this constantly updating map of coronavirus cases here. Total deaths now at 107. I feel it will eventually spread around the globe.

gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

[Lovekitty]

Your employer should take it seriously. Boarding schools are not accepting visitors from China or Hong Kong and students won't be allowed to go home at half term, or if they do they won't be allowed back in school for 14 days.

[Bodear]

This thread is nuts.

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Glad they've made the decision.

It's all well and good saying "only 2000 people" but That's (1) a figure we are trusting from the Chinese Govt (2) 2000 of those tested how many remain untested? (3) at odds with the response from the Chinese Govt 're doctors and extra hospitals

[Bodear]

This thread is nuts because people seem to be panicking and ignoring the facts/ science/ official advice just because it’s new. I don’t understand it.