To think I'm the only one still living a distanced life...

[ciarachats]

I'm still strictly distancing, because, well
that's the rules!
But I know very little people that still are.!!

The thing is, I'm so miserable because of it.

I have a 7 month old baby that my mum hasn't held since March. My mum
works around a lot of people and I've not felt like it's a good Idea for her to hold the baby.

I've barely seen friends because the weather is rubbish for outdoor meet ups!

We can't go for coffee because how do you stay 2m away from someone and drink a coffee in a shop together?!
Same for going for lunch or a drink etc.

It's all starting to drive me crazy and I really miss seeing properly.

How long are we expected to keep this up for!!

Should I just stop this now and get back to normal?!

@WorkinWomansBlues

*I live in a covid hotspot; I have had it (overweight) and DC (asthma) and for both of us it was like a normal, if slightly persistent, cough with some additional gastric symptoms. Never went near a hospital. A number of family members and friends (Healthcare and social care workers) have also had it, some in other high risk groups, and all have been either asymptomatic or had mild symptoms.

Not sure if that makes you feel better but it’s our experience*

Did you actually test positive for it? A lot of people say they've had it but were never actually tested.

@ciarachats so quite far from the 40 that the NHS has as a risk factor then

Looking at this

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/whos-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/

You dont have any high or moderate risk factors at all

Yep tested positive as did family and friends I mention.

We’re in an area where testing rates are high.

DH and I both had it (tested positive).
DH is overweight and asthmatic. He had a high temp for 24 hours followed by a cough for approx 3 days (and a bit of diarrhoea).
I am neither overweight nor asthmatic. I had the ‘long tail’ version, no temperature but a cough and shortness of breath and fatigue for 10 weeks. Fine now.
My mum had it, she’s over 60 and has several underlying conditions. She was completely asymptomatic and only knows she had it as she was tested routinely (NHS worker).
None of that means much as it’s different for everyone. The fact is though that even being asthmatic and overweight you are not ‘likely’ to die from it. Likely to die means more than a 50% chance of dying, and even 90 year olds with underlying conditions don’t have a 50% chance of dying from it.

Sorry- I tested positive. DC was negative but suspect poor sample. Would certainly be odd if they didn’t have it, as we bedshare, and they were symptomatic

@Kaktus

DH and I both had it (tested positive).
DH is overweight and asthmatic

Glad you're all recovered!

Do you have any idea how you all caught it?

[quote ciarachats]@Kaktus

DH and I both had it (tested positive).
DH is overweight and asthmatic

Glad you're all recovered!

Do you have any idea how you all caught it?

[/quote]
My mum caught it at work (NHS). DH likely caught it on public transport (London) and passed it on to me.

You are completely right to be cautious, we all should be. I don’t particularly want to catch it again.
But you can find ways to see people if it’s making you lonely/unhappy not to. Even in the rain you can sit outside with big umbrellas. I was in a cafe with my dad yesterday, we sat at either end of a large table and they had all the windows and doors open so there was plenty of air flowing through.

@ciarachats I agree with Kaktus it is ok to be cautious and always have an eye on the risks - as long as you know what the risks are.

You arent high risk at all. But that doesnt mean you should be throwing parties indoors or going out for dinner inside with multiple people but I think you can find a middle ground

@Quartz2208

@ciarachats I agree with Kaktus it is ok to be cautious and always have an eye on the risks - as long as you know what the risks are.*

Thanks. I'll try and arrange an indoor meet up.

I guess I'm just not very good at weighing up the actual risks. ☹️

I don't get why so much of this thread has been about this risk and that risk.
The risk to every person is different depending on area of the country, health conditions etc.
Surely the point is that we should follow the rules until they are lifted. The government has made it quite clear they would rather we were out there spending money and repairing the economy, so the rules won't be around forever, but while they are we should follow them.

Surely the point is that we should follow the rules until they are lifted.

Well, yes - nobody is saying otherwise. But OP is limiting herself beyond what the rules say.

Surely the point is that we should follow the rules until they are lifted.
Well, yes - nobody is saying otherwise. But OP is limiting herself beyond what the rules say.

I’m happy to say otherwise. They’re not rules, they’re guidelines. Some guidelines I’m going to absolutely follow (self isolating if I have symptoms for example) but some guidelines just aren’t feasible for my circumstances (my mum looks after DS while I work so obviously within 2m).

We should all be capable of some degree of critical thinking.

I’m happy to say otherwise. They’re not rules, they’re guidelines. Some guidelines I’m going to absolutely follow (self isolating if I have symptoms for example) but some guidelines just aren’t feasible for my circumstances (my mum looks after DS while I work so obviously within 2m).

I don't disagree.

But my point is nobody is telling OP to break the rules - they're just telling her that she can do more than what she's currently doing and still be following the guidance.

But my point is nobody is telling OP to break the rules - they're just telling her that she can do more than what she's currently doing and still be following the guidance.

Oh sorry yes, definitely agree. I think OPs first step would be to actually give guideline-living a go. Hopefully in time that would create encourage her to feel comfortable enough that her mum can help/spend some time with the baby.

They simply must have their coffees, holidays, parties, beauty treatments, regardless of whether it’s safe or not.

How fucking condescending and judgemental of you. We are not all gripped with fear of a virus that for the vast majority of us has little or no effect. You need to look at the bigger picture.

The government guidelines and laws mean nothing - just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s safe - smoking for example is legal but unsafe.

What a bizarre thing to think. Smoking isn’t “unsafe” (aside from the obvious chance of burning yourself). There are risks associated with smoking in that it increases the risk of getting certain diseases. There are risks associated with drinking, driving, skiing, eating sausages, having heart surgery...

I’m really thankful I live in a country where the government doesn’t dictate every move I make. I can make informed decisions on nearly every aspect of my life. What beautiful freedom!

@Babs709

The government guidelines and laws mean nothing - just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s safe - smoking for example is legal but unsafe.

What a bizarre thing to think. Smoking isn’t “unsafe” (aside from the obvious chance of burning yourself). There are risks associated with smoking in that it increases the risk of getting certain diseases. There are risks associated with drinking, driving, skiing, eating sausages, having heart surgery...

I’m really thankful I live in a country where the government doesn’t dictate every move I make. I can make informed decisions on nearly every aspect of my life. What beautiful freedom!

This must be a different country from the one I live in where our busybody nanny state PM is trying to tell people where to do their jobs, and make employers rent office space they don't need.

OP I haven’t read the full thread but I’m like you- still doing the distancing and it seems like most folk are living normally ( but I think that everyone should still be following the rules as they could pass it to someone vulnerable if they do get it)
A couple of my friends went abroad and I can’t think of anywhere I’d like to be less than a plane at this time!

OP you aren't alone. I do the same. Was shielding and can't stop feeling cautious about things, especially after the lack of guidelines for is shielders.

Some people ARE encouraging the guidelines. They're saying it's fine for her Mother to hold her baby. In England, different households need to remain 1m Plus apart.

If they're not rules, but guidelines, how come you can get fined for not following them?

I wish everyone well. I believe the risk is relatively low for most people now. Hopefully everything will go back to normal soon and it will be managed in. the same way as we manage flu e.g. it's in the general population and dangerous for some but generally tolerated and not effecting how people live.