Husband wants to go to the Cheltenham races despite COVID concerns and I am pregnant

[JKD1982]

Hiya. I am 26 weeks pregnant and have been worried about catching COVID so have been avoiding large gatherings. Nothing dramatic just what I’d say is safe behaviours.

My husband has tickets for the races on Friday and wants to go. Despite the fact most European countries have cancelled any events with 1000+ people but the races continue because the industry is worth £100m’s.

I’ve asked him not to attend, considering the risk on passing it to me. It’s only the races just go another year??

Am I being unfair?

(Johnson isn’t going to be using any NHS services now is he?)

How many intensive care beds does the private sector have in the UK? I believe most private hospitals don't have any and rely on the NHS...

Of course but can you honestly say they would still have such strong views if it meant the rent was going to go unpaid and there was no food for your family?

There has to be a balance. There will be 100s of people for whom cancelling will make a very real financial difference and poverty causes death too.

I dont know, I think in 6 months' time the criticism maybe that we didn't give the economy enough priority in all this. A deep recession will cause a spike in deaths too

I agree with this.

I'm also pregnant and trying my hardest not to get too worked up and anxious but I think common sense suggests that pregnant women and those close to them take extra extra care. I've not read anything that suggests its hugely harmful to pregnant women however why take any unnecessary risks. A fever still carries a risk in pregnancy hence why the give us the flu jab.

poverty causes deaths too I doubt anyone will die of poverty because the races got cancelled. I don’t doubt a lot of money would be lost for some people, but all sorts of businesses are going to have to accept this virus is going to hit them.
Decisions have to be made for the greater good of the population, it can’t be about individuals.

I’m a local, and pregnant. Even a local taxi business owner wished it was cancelled (despite the amount of money he would lose) because he is genuinely worried. Walking into work through town at 8:30 this morning and there is sick everywhere after the heavy nights, so god knows how people are keeping up with government advice about prevention while drunk. Makes me
Nervous, can’t wait for it to end

A pregnant woman does have a slightly weakened immune system and coronavirus has not been around long enough for anyone to say if it does or doesn't have an effect on an unborn baby especially in the early pregnancy, so why would anyone take that risk?

NHS clinician here, had a briefing today re COVID and pregnancy, you're no more susceptible than any other healthy adult/ no transmission through pregnancy and no reason for further complications.
That being said if you're worried then you're husband should def acknowledge your concerns.

Of course Missy but it wouldn't only be the reaves that would be cancelled. If that,why not every other big event, with 1000s of people on zero hours contracts. They will already be suffering because people are staying away so fewer staff needed. It will come. It's important we don't do it too early or the long term effects will be devastating.

It is interesting how those with stable incomes are so keen to have everything cancelled though. Human nature is an interesting thing.

Given the situation in Italy I think it's staggering that these events are going ahead. And he's being totally unreasonable.

I live in Cheltenham and I can’t believe they haven’t cancelled it

What a selfish man.

If my husband wanted to go, I'd let him know he'd have to stay elsewhere in quarantine for the two weeks following. But that's me :)

I stayed at the Hilton near Cheltenham last night. It was £400 for the room. It was PACKED. I'm pretty sure I have the virus now. People were cheek by jowl everywhere.

The staff weren't practicing hygiene practices that are being done at my local bakers! No hand sanitisers at the bar being used after cash transactions for example.

There was no additional cleaning of rooms I thought- the remote control was sticky, cleaners trolleys in the corridor had no hand sanitiser.
Today I saw the staff having a Coronavirus briefing. A bit late I thought.

If you look at commentary from public health experts, they agree with the government approach. It is based on expert advice and on what has been observed of how other countries have dealt with things (or not). Politically, I could not be further from BJ and his toxic mates but this is not party political. Current advice is based on sound scientific evidence of what is most likely to help. Just because something feels like it should help doesn't mean it will help. Counterintuitive as it seems, cancelling large scale gatherings doesn't make a big difference to spread.

At this point!

I am pregnant too, and concerned. The document released by the RCOG says no risk - based on current levels. This is all based on 18 pregnant women who have tested positive. Yes pregnant women are affected, no in those 18 women it didnt pass in placenta cord blood or breastmilk however theres not enough evidence yet to say whether it caused the premature birth of some of the babies, or any long term concerns.

I live in Cheltenham and am staying away from the town this week and am also furious they have gone ahead.
My son is a transplant patent so at very high risk.

It seems our Government have learnt nothing from what’s happened in Italy. If we can cancel rugby and football games why aren’t the races cancelled? Money pure and simple! Well never mind the vulnerable and immunocompromised eh?

@QforCucumber pleased you posted, I agree. It's not been around long enough to know the true effects on babies born to mothers exposed to coronavirus particularly those in the first and second trimester. I'm not being a guinea pig, which is what it feels like the expectation is. Plenty of other countries are being a lot more cautious re the risk to pregnant women...