Not about COVID but about DH thinking he is somehow immune?

[lborgia]

At home with 2 kids, one with medical issues that mean he's got a slightly lowered/compromised immune system.

Where we live a couple of local schools have been closed for cases, and a few adults also have it . This is in Oz btw.

DH keeps squawking about what's happening everywhere, but does not seem to realise that he might get it. They have had to cancel all local events, fun run, concerts, all sorts, and teachers at sick child's school feel they'll be closing next week because someone will have the bug (demographic means tons of Pacific travelling parents etc.).

DH is going to a school reunion today of a few friends to meet up with someone whose just arrived today from overseas.

He feels sorry for him because pretty much everyone else has cancelled. He and one other friend are now the only ones going.

Overseas friend arrived today from Canada on the only flight still operating, and is meeting up with them after dropping off bags. They are a family of 5 who have been through 2 international airports, and in transit for 24 hours.

Our basic foods at the shops have been rationed, I've had to stock up on medicine for both kids, and I cannot get a handle on my asthma this week.

YABU - your DH is allowed to socialise, the chances are tiny.
YANBU - given your compromised child, your asthma, and friends journey, chances are higher, and you are within rights to make him sleep in his office for a week.

I think many people are deluding themselves with an 'it can't happen to me' mentality.

Both. You're deluding yourself that your family wont be exposed to it and more than half will likely catch it. he might as well enjoy the reunion.

Tell them to provide their own food as your rations are for your children.

Interesting point. At the moment, dh is pretty much our only source of infection. Sick child will be e for at least the next 6 weeks because of illness/ treatment. Other child is home most of the time with special needs.

I do a 45 minute dash to 1 supermarket, 1 2 a week, very early in the morning. So, relatively, we are very isolated at the moment.

I'm not saying we won't get it, but maybe there's something to be said for not putting yourself in the way of it? Mmm... not sure

I don’t know - sorry! My DH is slightly compromised (cardiac issues) but also seems to have this “don’t worry we are not over 75/elderly so we’ll be fine”. I, on the other hand, feel fearful of all the unknowns. All we can do is what the government advises and currently, UK and Oz, what your DH proposes is allowed. I can see both your points of view basically.

Night sky - they're not comin to us, sorry, they're meeting at the pub.

I feel a bit torn on this one. I think it was foolish of his friends to travel all this way for something as non essential as a school reunion, but then I also think since they have come all of this way it would be a shame for your DH not to see them. I still fall on the side of YANBU because you have expressed concern to him, you have a vulnerable child and because he's putting your family at risk when everyone else has cancelled for this exact reason.

He didn't travel just for the catch up. He's here seeing family etc., and they decided to take the opportunity, so at least it's not that dramatic! I wonder if they could postpone till next weekend to see how everyone is... although of course that's not to say someone couldn't get it here.

He almost couldn't have hand-picked a riskier situation to be exposed to COVID than what you have described.....The airlines are losing millions and millions of dollars by restricting flights. I don't think they would do that if this pandemic weren't as dangerous as known. The friends should have never taken the risk with their family on the first place. He may not get the virus, but since the it can live outside the body for hours, he could bring it home if the friends later turned up to have it and expose you and DC. I'm sure he is a fabulous caring DH, but why is he being so cavalier with the health of his family just so his once upon a time friend doesn't feel bad? I'm sure they'll understand. I think he should stay at the office for 2 weeks if he feels that he just can't let his old pal who lives in another country down during a pandemic. For some reason, the WHO feels it is a very serious and contagious disease

Though part of the reason airlines are cutting flights is that people are cancelling trips left, right and centre and airlines stand to lose even more if planes fly empty or almost empty.

OP, I hope you’ll all be okay. I can see why it worries you.

Look up normalcy bias. A lot will begin to make sense.

I empathise - been having this battle with my DH to an extent as well. I think you need some level of emotional self-awareness to catch onto it?

I think you need some level of emotional self-awareness to catch onto it?

That's a whole other ball of wax.

Well, he's gone. I guess we'll see.

I’m in Aus too and basically people I talk to tend to say “what a lot of fuss for a bad cold”. They also can see the problems with closing schools and the problems with small businesses going under, just to delay us getting “a bad cold”.

On the other hand, my Chinese Australian friends here are pulling kids out of school, wearing masks everywhere, demanding school closures etc.

In the area I live I was at the shops on Thursday and although it was quiet, there were loads of really elderly people out and about having coffees etc. Spoke to one school teacher who said her mum (in 80s) said she wasn’t prepared to be stuck at home for months and felt sure she could see off “a cold”.

Interesting times.

My experience is that generally Australians are quite big on minimising... obviously #notallaussies ... and sticking their heads in the ground.

Obviously that's just the people I've met, but it's pretty exasperating.

70% reportedly suffer from ostrich syndrome during times like this. Doesn't make it any easier to sit in the 30% who don't.

- he’s currently sleeping like the innocent besides me, and I’m worrying that we’re going to end up with biohazard stickers on the door!

Do tell @lborgia!
Did he have a good time?
Was there anyone else at the pub?
Were there people on the streets?
Did people have on masks?
We need all the details

Iborgia. Where in Oz are you? There hasn’t been any rationing where we live in regional NSW? No toilet paper but that’s a different story.
I don’t believe at all the saying that Australian people put their head in the sand with these things. I think the PM is doing the best he can with what he’s been informed about.
One thing I do think they should do is temperature checks at airports but hopefully the spread will not be so great with everything being cancelled. Very sad and hard for everyone especially the Royal Easter Show.

@Aldilogue I'm in Melbourne and supermarkets are rationing how much people can buy of certain things (toilet paper obviously but also other stuff)

I think Australian's aren't taking it seriously because we always feel so far away from it all.

Tbh, even I felt a little reassured in the beginning because if it hit China like that and not us straight away (because of all our Chinese visitors) then maybe we'll be mostly ok.

DroppedBoxeedRuth I used to live in Box Hill, I wonder how that is looking at the moment!

@Aldilogue There hasn’t been any rationing where we live in regional NSW? No toilet paper but that’s a different story.

I'm in Adelaide, and major supermarkets are rationing rice/flour/pasta/wipes/toilet roll etc. Probably more, but they are the ones I noticed.

Our local stores, 1 or 2 only of pasta, flour, rice, loo roll, ... soap... there were about a dozen items on the list.

Alidi - I'm not taking about politicians, which is just as well because you're obviously ok with the current leadership whereas I would wouldn't trust him to lead a cub picnic. Let's just not try to fund the common ground on that one!

I'm talking about people around me. They are definitely freaking out about the world whilst not thinking their behaviour needs any consideration at all.

It's always someone else's problem.

Anyway, to answer the jolly question, they were right in the harbour, and it was pretty busy, because it was pouring with rain so quite a lot of people taking cover apart from anything.

@Aldilogue we looked at moving to Box Hill but dh didn't like it.

We're quite far out now, but still travel into the city.

Dh is now working remotely indefinitely and I start a new role tomorrow, and will be back on PT FFS.

Seriously bad timing!

DroppedBoxRuth yeah that’s pretty bad timing. I work in aged care and cannot go in to work because I have a cold. How’s the timing of that?! I’m scared to tell anyone in case they think I’ve got it. I’m casual too.