The virus is no longer a threat and we should all just get on with our lives.

[RhodaCamel]

That is exactly what my boss said to me yesterday when she asked me if I was still concerned about the virus and I had said yes, I was. She asked me this because I was putting on a mask to drive as I have to share a car with someone else (I wear the mask in line with government recommendations. The other passenger chooses not wear a mask, just me).
I told her that I was concerned that there will be a second wave in the autumn/winter and she replied with a ‘pfff! They are just saying that to scare us, I’m just getting on like normal. Anyhow, it is only a threat to the old and obese’.
Now, I admit that I am a worrier and this virus has freaked me out but surely she is being naive/blinkered to what is going on in the world? I believe that she thinks that as the government have lifted most restrictions that equates to the virus no longer being around! How can it no longer be a threat? It hasn’t gone anywhere, there isn’t any heard immunity yet and no extremely affective medication.
Just wondered if you were with me or my boss?
YES - YABU it’s on it’s way out
NO - It’s still a major threat to our health.

Point out that 366 people have died of Covid this week in hospitals alone in the UK. Ask her whether, if she read of that many people dying in, say, terrorist offences she would think there was no risk from terrorism.

Covid longer a threat? tell that to the people in Melbourne and Spain who are being forcibly quarantined, I'm sure they will be relieved to hear it. As will the people of Leicester.

I will start to think it might be no longer a threat when they dismantle the mega mortuary that is still standing in East London.

Omg it’s actually people with these kinds of attitudes who have unprotected sex with prostitutes.
🤦🏼‍♀️
“Don’t know anyone with HIV/hepatitis/syphilis so I didn’t think I would get it.”

I'm somewhere in the middle but one thing I have noticed is a lot of the people saying 'the risk is minimal don't be dramatic' are bosses/line managers who want to get their staff back into the office asap even if they're working from home perfectly well.

These type of line managers are everywhere at my workplace, I have a few colleagues who are being pressurized into going back into the office when head office has said all along nobody is expected in until at least September. Fortunately my line manager is much higher risk than me and is happy for both of us to stay working from home for as long as we can continue to do our jobs well.

She sounds delightful.

Maybe I’m mistaken but I’m obese and I thought my life was as important as everyone else’s.

It sounds as thought they have a surprisingly blaze attitude considering her son must be vulnerable if he's disabled.

I agree - he may not have any other health conditions other than the one which confines him to a wheelchair, but the fact that he is so confined means that he is unlikely to be very fit, just because he won't be able to exercise much. It also means that he won't have a very great lung capacity, because this is something which builds up with exercise (and singing - if he's in a few choirs he's probably okay).

They could be carrying the virus unknowingly and thus risking your health. Meanwhile you are wearing a mask and protecting his.

Honestly - the way some people go on you'd think that they'd been asked to wear an iron lung!

A quick look at Israel, Japan and a few other countries will give you your answer!

By the way, get that passenger to wear a mask or they take the train home. You are protecting them, and they dont have the courtesy to protect you. Oh, and my best friend´s neighbour died of Covid, no underlying illnesses, not obese and 45 years old. Leaves widow and two kids.

Oh god she’s one of “those” bosses isn’t she.
Has she called the Coronavirus a “loser” yet?

YANBU. As long as we are being told to social distance, wear masks on public transport etc, the virus is still a threat. If people want to turn a blind eye to that and get back to normal, that's up to them to take that risk but to respect that's not the way everyone feels.

Your boss is an idiot. Is she putting you at risk at work? If she was all up in my face going "no risk so I'll just spread my germs with gleeful abandon" I'd be looking for a next level to kick a complaint up to, and I'm not normally the making complaints type.

@redbigbananafeet You’re making the mistake that a lot of westerners make in their thinking about different cultures. Not all women wearing face coverings are forced to many wear it because they want to in line with their religious beliefs. One may argue that those beliefs are misogynistic but that’s their right to practice any faith they choose just as its every Christians right to believe God is male.

She’s clearly a tit. Just because she’s your boss, doesn’t mean she’s right.

[quote SheikhaPinty]@redbigbananafeet You’re making the mistake that a lot of westerners make in their thinking about different cultures. Not all women wearing face coverings are forced to many wear it because they want to in line with their religious beliefs. One may argue that those beliefs are misogynistic but that’s their right to practice any faith they choose just as its every Christians right to believe God is male.[/quote]
I’ve lived in Arab countries. Brainwashing and Stockholm Syndrome teaches women they are to cover. Doesn’t mean it’s not oppression

YANBU

Yes, 'we need to get on with our lives'

but, imo, we can only do that, medium to longer term IF we are scrupulous about masks / hygiene now. Or more waves may come.

the reality is that it isn’t dangerous for most of us and we should be getting on with our lives

Death is not the only conceivable danger here. More and more doctors are reporting medical complications in patients who were not on the vulnerable list: strokes, kidney damage, heart problems, scarring of the lungs etc. All of which the OP would be perfectly reasonable to want to avoid even there was no immediate risk of death.

I’ve lived in Arab countries

That doesn’t mean anything, nor does it make you an expert on religious and cultural matters.

I have my own views on "the virus" and my immediate family know exactly what I think.

I certainly don't tell people outside of my family what I think and certainly not colleagues.

Even if we ignore the extent of human suffering, the societal cost of having a large number of extra people long-term disabled is likely to be very high.

Why is she your employer if her son is in his 30s and has no learning difficulties? Surely her son is your employer. It’s him you need to speak to, he is an adult of sound mind. Her opinion is of no relevance.

@DuineArBith

Point out that 366 people have died of Covid this week in hospitals alone in the UK. Ask her whether, if she read of that many people dying in, say, terrorist offences she would think there was no risk from terrorism.

That needs some context. Far more people die every week from cancer, heart failure and a whole raft of other causes. 1900 people died on the roads last year but nobody ever suggested we should all stop driving. 10,000 people died of flu last year.

Yes, it’s a horrible virus that has a bad mortality rare in low hanging fruit - it’s bad news if you’re old, obese, BAME and male but it’s irrational to be so frightened now.

Tell her to ask Leicester if the virus is still a threat

Or ask her to explain why Australia and China are having to reimpose lockdowns.............

Or tell her to ask the head of the World Health Organisation why he's saying the pandemic is still accelerating ......................

Unfortunately, sometimes there's just no reasoning with stupid..................

Leicester is an outlier. It spread through the BAME population in sweat shops because they couldn’t afford to lose their £3 per hour to stay at home when they were ill.

What is happening at the disabled day centre you take him to?

Maybe ask them if all the users and all the carers and all the parents, and the safety inspectors, and insurers, have agreed there is absolutely no risk of infection ever again, no matter what is done by the other users and their families, and all the people all those families mix with?

This is appalling, that you and anyone you mix with is being put at risk of potentially fatal illness by orders of an employer.

Equally bad is that other users of that centre a) will be at needless risk, and some, no doubt, will be extremely vulnerable b) the centre has obviously not impressed on every user, and everyone in contact with every user, the fact that there still is such a thing as Covid 19,. It has not gone away, and there is no such thing as a person who is not at risk of getting it. Nor anyone who is not a potential infected spreader of virus, because many people have it even though they have no symptoms.

You are doing an important job. But you are not a soldier, and did not agree to risk your life. The other posters are right, about keeping windows open during the drive and of course mask wearing. The woman is lucky her son is taken on such a long journey and entertained all day, despite having, as you say, only mild impairment.

Tell her to take a good look at our (US) statistics, especially the states that opened up too soon. We are seeing daily high numbers in new cases and deaths that in many cases exceed the high numbers that were considered unprecedented and horrific back in April/May. This is due to people who think just like your boss does! Attitudes like hers are killing people; young and old, healthy and otherwise.

"Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race." (William E. Gladstone)