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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask you if you are worried about the new Coronavirus?

999 replies

IvyBush123 · 04/02/2020 06:41

I am not sure if there is reason to worry about the new Coronavirus. I am not a medical expert but to be honest feel a bit scared because we know so little and some experts seem worried. How do you think?

OP posts:
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woodchuck99 · 04/02/2020 11:32

Another 21 million people under lockdown in China today as the quarantine area widens and 1.2 trillian yuan dumped into the economy to keep thing afloat but it's just a cold

In some ways I am pleased they seem to be doing so much so the infection rate in China. However, the fact they are implementing these measures suggests we have a lot to be concerned about. Those who think there is a lot of scaremongering going on need to reality check.

woodchuck99 · 04/02/2020 11:32

so to slow

forrandomposts · 04/02/2020 11:32

Why is it stupid forrandom? Our local Chinese restaurant was shut for Chinese New Year as the family who run it went to China to be with relatives. The incubation period can be 14 days. It is sensible to me.

Because there is a massive difference between those two scenarios. In one, people are taking sensible precautions to not infect others in case they have been exposed. The other is making a judgment that people in a restaurant will be a)chinese b)been to china recently c)been exposed d)carrying the disease. If you're going to avoid places based on those assumptions then you can't go outside. Chinese people don't only hang out in chinese restaurants you know... Hmm

woodchuck99 · 04/02/2020 11:34

No, but I'm not elderly, have underlying health problems or immune compromised

Clearly you don't care much about the ones who do. Even if you don't it's not just those with underlying health problems who have died you know.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 04/02/2020 11:41

I half expected you to refer to its outer layer that is made up of a lipid layer and thus makes it susceptible to desiccation. This means that transmission is mostly by close contact.

Yes, hence my reply about the 'shape' of it is a factor on those things. I didnt realise you wanted scientific breakdown of the process. I put it simply. It also seems like you know already, so why ask?

But epidemiologists care about infection or transmission rates (how many people catch it) and death rates (how many people die). Those are observable measures and that's reality.

You're right, but you asked me specifically about morphology - so I explained.

woodchuck99 · 04/02/2020 11:43

The other is making a judgment that people in a restaurant will be a)chinese b)been to china recently c)been exposed d)carrying the disease.

No, it is not making the judgement that they all are Chinese or that they all visited China recently. It is making the judgement that they are more likely to be Chinese and that they are more likely to have visited China recently given the New Year's celebrations and therefore are more likely to have been infected.

If you're going to avoid places based on those assumptions then you can't go outside.

Unless you live somewhere with a very high number of Chinese people are fairly ridiculous comment.

Lweji · 04/02/2020 11:55

You're right, but you asked me specifically about morphology - so I explained.

Because you said the "morphology" was what was important. You are contradicting yourself, have you noticed?

Shape or morphology are not the important aspects of viruses.

HowlsMovingBungalow · 04/02/2020 12:02

Are you boycotting all Asian takeaways/restaurants?

woodchuck99 · 04/02/2020 12:09

Are you boycotting all Asian takeaways/restaurants?

Define Asian takeaway/restaurant.

HowlsMovingBungalow · 04/02/2020 12:18

There have been cases outside of China - wonder if you'd avoid those takeways too ..
South Korea
Japan
Thailand
Singapore
Malaysia

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 04/02/2020 12:21

Shape or morphology are not the important aspects of viruses.

Not on face value, but it effects the mortality/infection rates etc. Everything links.

woodchuck99 · 04/02/2020 12:28

There have been cases outside of China - wonder if you'd avoid those takeways too ..

I don't eat takeaways personally but I wouldn't avoid if I did as that wouldn't involve being in close contact with someone who is infected.

There have been cases outside of China - wonder if you'd avoid those takeways too

Why would I ?There have been 20,000 reported cases in China so far. The countries you mention have had less than 20 cases so nowhere near the same risk.Hmm

Lweji · 04/02/2020 12:48

Shape or morphology are not the important aspects of viruses.

Not on face value, but it effects the mortality/infection rates etc. Everything links.

FFS

How do you think it matters if it's a round or a rod shaped virus?

PhilCornwall1 · 04/02/2020 12:58

Well, it it starts to spread more over here, I'm going to bulk buy masks. There's always a money making opportunity in everything! GrinGrin

justdeckingthehalls1 · 04/02/2020 13:00

Well, it it starts to spread more over here, I'm going to bulk buy masks. There's always a money making opportunity in everything!

You might have missed your chance. Have you seen the price they've shot up to on Amazon?! 😳

HowlsMovingBungalow · 04/02/2020 13:01

You should head over to the preppers thread! Grin

Lweji · 04/02/2020 13:01

I'd rather invest in soap for hand washing.

Urkiddingright · 04/02/2020 13:02

I’m not worried at all. The flu kills more people and I never worry about that. Coronavirus has mostly killed middle aged men who smoke or had existing health conditions, I’m none of the above.

woodchuck99 · 04/02/2020 13:04

I heard yesterday a specialist say that the evidence that it was infectious before symptoms was based on one case and that the person was actually showing symptoms.

Yes, they are now saying the Chinese person in Germany was experiencing symptoms when she infected her co-workers. This is reassuring but I think the jury is still out.

Urkiddingright · 04/02/2020 13:04

Oh and worrying about eating a Chinese take away is just standard white person low level racism. Maybe you should start wearing a face mask but only whenever a Chinese person passes by.

goldfinchfan · 04/02/2020 13:05

I don't trust we are being told the truth about how many people are dying.
I ahve underlying health concerns, 2 respiratory illnesses and a compromised immune system so I think it is fair that i am concerned.

woodchuck99 · 04/02/2020 13:06

I’m not worried at all. The flu kills more people and I never worry about that. Coronavirus has mostly killed middle aged men who smoke or had existing health conditions, I’m none of the above.

By "mostly" they mean over 50%. By pre existing health conditions they just mean they had other comorbidities. It doesn't mean they were on the last legs would have died soon anyway. Lots of people have health conditions and to not be worried because you are not one of them is selfish in the extreme.

PhilCornwall1 · 04/02/2020 13:07

@justdeckingthehalls1 I haven't no, but I can imagine they are going up.

NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite · 04/02/2020 13:07

I'm not worried particularly except I have a Malaysian friend who visited Wuhan with her extended family in December. She got in touch recently and said we'll have to get together to catch up and I couldn't say that there's no chance until I know she isn't some sort of carrier for the virus.

PhilCornwall1 · 04/02/2020 13:08

Coronavirus has mostly killed middle aged men who smoke or had existing health conditions,

Oh bugger!! That's me gone then Confused