Coronavirus and the tube

[Wholetmeoutlikethis]

Coming to London with baby DS (3 weeks) this weekend for a wedding. Have to take tube from hotel in central to church in N.London. AIBU to be a bit worried about Coronavirus. Partner says I’m being overly anxious. I probably am but want to check!

There's no known cases in the UK, so why do you think it's on the tube?

Why you you think this is an issue?

Sorry it’s probably quite knee-jerk!

I’d be a little concerned about flu or whooping cough with an unvaccinated baby in any busy public place. But I wouldn’t even think about this. I work in public health and take the tube regularly. I don’t live in London but I wouldn’t not take my children on the tube. There are no reported cases in the UK.

I had flu and WC jabs in pregnancy so he is covered, possibly??

I mean this kindly - I am a worrier too, so I do get it! - buy you're being silly.

probably!
I know there are no known cases, but surely a matter of time?

If it does reach the UK, plenty of measures are in place to contain the spread. It's less of a threat than the 'standard' flu variants already here. Also, the mortality rate is actually very low.

That’s fine for me, but surely newborn is more at risk?

I think the people who live and work in London every day are more at risk than you who is visiting for one day...

Take a taxi if you're that worried (and hope the previous fare didn't have the virus).

I get the tube to and from work every day, I'm not in the slightest bit concerned. Neither are the rest of the commuters I'm squeezed up against like sardines

Haha yes, I live and work in London and so do lots of other people with babies. Everyone seems pretty chill.

I live and work in London and did throughout the whole SARS, swine flu , every other outbreak.

Never got any of them.

So I’m being OTT. Correct?

I am a Londoner who commutes by tube everyday. I wouldn't worry about coronavirus - no cases are known in the UK. However, personally I did not (and still would not) take a very tiny, unvaccinated baby on the tube. I first took my baby on the tube when she was about 6 months (so she had had her first vaccines and her immune system was a tiny bit more robust) but worried about doing it until the MMR (and I personally wouldn't have flown with her before she had the MMR, since there's a much higher risk of infection with airborne illnesses on planes where the air is circulated).

However, it's obviously low risk. I knew lots of people who did go on the tube (and fly) with very young babies.

If it's going to make you anxious, I'd bring a travel seat and get an uber.

Get some hand sanitiser and use it after touching the filthy handles etc.

Give me strength...

I wouldnt personally (said as someone who commutes on the tube daily) because of his age, tiny immune system and the fact he wont have had any jabs yet, not because of the coronavirus, which so far has not been reported in the UK.

The air quality on the tube is appalling.

When I use it and then stick a white tissue up my nose, it comes out black with dirt.

That's what you have to worry about. But even then it won't kill him.

Take a taxi or bus.

Yes, OTT, but if that worried, get a taxi or bus.

I get the tube everyday and haven’t got it. If you are that anxious get a taxi

Is this your first child?

YABU for all the reasons PPs have said but definitely take a car seat and get an Uber to the wedding if you can afford it. By the time you've lugged baby and all the necessary paraphernalia into the boiling hot tube, you'll be an exhausted, sweaty, dishevelled mess by the time you get to the church.

Is there any chance of getting a lift to the wedding instead? I actually think that whilst the risk of Coronavirus is probably very low, the risk to a newborn of flu (moderate risk at the moment) or norovirus (also moderate) are probably risks I wouldn't want to take.