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.

I feel like her tbh. But I stick to the rules mostly and would wear a mask if required.

My son and a friend of his have resumed their driving lessons this week. They don’t have the same instructor but interestingly, neither instructor is wearing a mask, has made any modifications to their cars or is asking for students to wear masks.

I’ve been to John Lewis and M&S today. Apart from hand sanitizer at the doors, they both felt very much back to normal.

The irony is that people like the OP's boss actively make things worse, because return to normality depends on trusting that people are following the rules.

Do I want to sit in a restaurant? Maybe if I think the other clients are like OP, definitely not if the other clients are like the OP's boss.

Having looked at the PHE guidance for PPE for Health & Social Care workers, what really surprises me is that the latest position is that "Note: we are currently experiencing sustained transmission across the UK”, however with regard to wearing PPE by care and health workers, states "COVID19 is no longer categorised as a high consequence infectious disease” and masks are not more widely advised - this is clinical and social care settings, and medical grade masks of different levels of protection.

The Government guidance for vehicles seems to be unclear in your specific situation, although a legal requirement to wear a face covering on public transport!
It does say that employers should be supportive of an employee wishing to wear a face covering, but also that exposure time, safe distancing, and hand hygiene should be prioritised - which you are not able to do. I think the best thing to do would be to get specific advice from the HSE.

The positive points are that you drive one person, so are effectively a ‘bubble’ and limited exposure, unlike a taxi driver. Your passenger is in the rear of the vehicle. You are clearly aware and taking the steps you can to keep infection risk as low as you are able. You must stipulate to your employer/his parents that they must keep track of his health - any suspicious symptoms - you can find list through WHO, or NHS - and he should be kept in isolation. That might be as much as you can do, but legally difficult.

Keep doing what you’re doing, BE FIRM about what you will and won’t accept, and try to keep a confident and professional approach. The family will do what’s easiest for them, but may be receptive if you have considered and thoughtful simple requirements to keep everyone (including themselves and wider family) as safe as possible?

Practicing good hand hygiene, social distancing wherever possible, staying outside for socialising wherever possible, and wearing facemasks properly whenever indoors (or in a transport vehicle) with people from other households, is currently the only set of methods we have in order to avoid or slow down a second wave of infections. If we can take these measures, we might avoid a second lockdown.

Refusal to wear a facemask in these situations without a valid medical reason is just like driving while intoxicated, except that the refusenik is mostly endangering others, less so themselves.

I am in the middle. The incidence is currently really very low and we do need to keep on living our lives.

On the other hand, if people are stupid (and quite a few are) and deliberately have parties, do not socially distance (especially indoors) and refuse to wear face masks indoors and when using public transport, it will certainly return and claim many more lives.

If we can just be sensible, we could have a 'new normal' until a vaccine comes.

It is still a threat

Where exactly do people think it has gone!

No tin foil hats please

That’s what I think @larrygrylls

Because the government want the economy back up and running... they have changed the way things are reported in the media and this had given people the impression things are okay.

This is not the case. YNt just want to make you feel she negate they can't afford to continue with the furlough scheme.

More people will die of covid-19 as the daily infection is still high.

I'm not over anxious ..but I know they're is still danger ahead...getting lax will have consequences

She can’t really dictate to you how you feel.

I’ve always thought it’s still a threat but had I been in any doubt listening to Sir David King on Wednesday nights Peston programme would definitely have put me straight. Very worrying. Also two factories and a pub next to where I work have had to close again and two pubs and a factory near my home. Your boss is deluded.

I suppose all I can do is continue to wear my mask, use hand gel regularly and wash my hands as soon as I can. I will explain that I’m wearing my mask to protect him and ask if he could possibly return the favour! What more can I do?

You could buy some FFP3 masks. That way you are protecting yourself and he can do as he likes.

You could buy some FFP3 masks. That way you are protecting yourself and he can do as he likes.

Really good idea. In fact this is exactly what I would do. This here is a reusable P3 mask so offer very good protection for the wearer.
www.screwfix.com/p/gvs-elipse-half-mask-respirator-p3/6922g. Being reuseable (the filter lasts about a month) means it works out cheaper than loads of reusuable ff3 ones.

If you both had face covering on you are protecting each other so I'd be less inclined to go with an ff3 mask unless the other person also had one on as as they have breathing valves where breath comes out so don't in fact protect anyone else, just the wearer

I wouldn't give a monkeys what the mother or the ds says. Protect yourself however you want. They certainly won't give any thought to your protection

I will explain that I’m wearing my mask to protect him and ask if he could possibly return the favour! What more can I do?

You can wear a P3 or FFP3 mask and protect yourself at the expense of protecting him (if he refuses to wear a mask). However since he isn't bothered if you wear one or not, that is not a problem really as he is no more likely to catch it off you if you are wearing nothing or an ff3 mask but you are much less likely to catch it off him.

I'd do it to make the point if nothing else myself

@bridgetreilly

Why do you think there isn't any herd immunity yet? I'd have thought there was a strong level of herd immunity which is what is largely causing the infection levels to stabilise.

Well, for a start, it doesn’t appear even people who have caught the virus have been conferred immunity, and if they have, we don’t know how long it lasts - meaning it’s possible to be infected more than once. Herd immunity comes from people catching it, not being able to catch it again so not being able to pass it into others. The virus eventually dies out because it can’t find any new hosts to infect. But a lot of people have to get sick and/or die, unless there’s a vaccine. Years ago (e.g. medieval times and the plague) we attained herd immunity by everyone, or most people catching it, and the people who got, or had natural immunity didn’t die, basically. Even then, cities would shut outsiders out.

I forgot to say, the levels of infection rates are stabilising because of people social distancing and shielding. It’s nothing to do with immunity.

We had to mix for the first time as the family are clearing a relatives house. We socially distanced as much as possible . A week later we found one person in the house had worked with someone who was now covid positive. Just don’t be complacent and think it’s not going to happen to you .

And I car share and we both wear masks and your employer has a responsibility to make your work place covid safe irrespective of what they think.

Can you make sure all the windows are open in the van? The more air circulation the less likely you are to get a big dose of virus.

Can you put a plastic barrier between the back of the van and the driver area? I rode in an Uber with this, he just taped a huge plastic sheet from ceiling to floor. This with windows open would be a lot safer.

Its so unfair you are in a position that makes you feel powerless to enforce masks.

I've had a few moments with ppl where they make me feel like I'm crazy/neurotic for trying to follow the distancing rules, and the social dynamic made me want to accommodate their comfort level, not mine.

@RhodaCamel "only a threat to the old and obese" Well that's going to come back and bite her on the arse. Carry on as you are and ignore her.

If it was no longer a threat then the entire HoC would be back at work, but they aren’t & probably won’t even bother after their 12 week summer recess. I mean, they won’t want to cancel their holidays at such a quiet time, will they?
You take every necessary precautions you want to to help you keep as safe as possible, and remind your gormless boss about the employer’s duty of care to employees.
Nicely, of course 🙂

YANBU and the information she cited is opinion not fact.

There is also the issue that whilst SHE may not be at risk, others are and we should be protecting everyone not just ourselves.

Anyone regardless of age is at risk.

My boss is slim, early 40's with basic allergies and has had Covid for 11 weeks, she can't shift it, is on an inhaler now and is breathless just talking on the phone. She is quite literally the last person we expected to catch it and be this unwell for this long as she is never off sick.

The wards are still full of Covid patients of all ages.... it does not discriminate.

Just had a google for some FFP3 masks, they are sold out everywhere!

End of week / weekend - try again Monday maybe. Sticks will be replenished.

*stocks

Of course it is still a threat 🙄
Lockdown is easing because the nhs can cope right now but believe me you do not want to catch it. I had it at Christmas and it is horrendous... struggled to breathe and every time I lay down it felt like someone was sitting on my chest... the pressure was immense