To be absolutely terrified of our future...?

[tolaughortocry]

I've found myself feeling really hopeless, down and anxious about Covid and the state that the entire globe is in at the moment.

I know it sounds silly in hindsight, but I'm so anxious and cannot imagine the day that Covid is gone / at least 'controlled' in a way where we can all return to SOME kind of normality.

I work in a college, I'm front facing on a reception desk where we see hundreds of students, contractors, tutors and the general public every day. I know lots of people are in this position too, but it's really beginning to take its toll on me now. I'm terrified.

The college has had in excess of 3/4 positive cases each day. It doesn't sound a lot.. but when the students are able to freely roam the corridors, food outlets, come to reception, use the restrooms etc and not necessarily be hygienic in the process; this really does concern me. And I know I'm not the only one.

I don't know what to do or how I feel. Im scared, anxious and helpless and can't see the country recovering for a long time, following the impact of this awful pandemic. Let alone the rest of the world.

Is anybody else feeling the same? Needing a hand to hold 😔

I can see why you are so concerned for your partner

Is it possible to take over some of the responsibility for Covid control measures in your area? If you came up with some new ways of doing things or enforcing existing rules could you get your colleagues to go along with it? Most people are quite happy to follow new rules with gentle and frequent reminders. You could buy some yellow and black tape to mark distance from the window, for example, and stick it down yourself. These things might not do much to practically reduce your risk, but risks always feel more manageable when you take some control over them.

Your work environment does not seem to be "Covid safe" (whatever that is supposed to mean) so I would report the short-comings to the powers that be. Any students who won't wear masks don't deserve to be there, imo.

Please go to HR and raise your concerns about the work environment. It simply isn't safe. Maybe speak to ACAS too, see what their point of view is.

Best bet is to stop reading the news if you can. It's just a constant shit-show of misinformation and scaremongering.

I think education settings really are the only places where proper social distancing is just not happening. It’s like the rest of the Covid rules don’t apply.

I’m clinically extremely vulnerable and work in a secondary school. I’ve just accepted that I’ll probably catch it at some point, or maybe I already had it earlier this year (a possibly). I suspect I may get very ill but then we’ve gotten used to living in a country where horrible viruses have been virtually eradicated by vaccinations. I just have to remember my grandparents had a lot more dangerous and nasty viruses to contend with and try and carry on and live my life.

In order to do that I’ve stopped watching the TV news or listening to scaremongers.

The probability of you dying is very low, hold on to that thought.

I'm a care Assistant and have been up close to 4 covid residents in 2 days. Full ppe. No I'm not worried if I get covid I get it. I chose to do the job I do and know its highly risky like HCP

Thank you all so much. I am so sorry to hear that some of you are critically vulnerable too. It's a scary world we are living in, at the moment. My thoughts are with you all and your family.

I will be speaking to the HR department this afternoon to see if anything can be done.

4 more positives have just emerged since having written this post. 😣☹️

Forgot to add and I don't mean 2 meters away I mean helping the residents with there personal care

@Vivana you are a hero. 💪 I have two friends in the personal care industry and they're so strong, a caring nature shines through and overrides the horrible situation we are in currently. These poor people can't go without their care, somebody has to do it! Well done to you 💓

Not a hero just doing my job. We are looked after tho with weekly covid tests but before I did this I worked in retail and I understand what your getting at as having all these students or other strangers around you all day and not knowing if they carry the virus is very scary and I hope something can be done and hr put something in place for you OP

As pp have said - speak to HR.
Get the screens fitted properly.
Get tape on the floor so pupils know where to stand so they are not within 1 m of the screen.
Ask pupils to wear masks before you will speak to them.
Fresh air ventilation is very good at reducing transmission rates - so if you can get windows/doors opened (make sure people dress for this) then that helps enormously.

You have a right to feel safe at work.
This situation is here to stay for the next few years so people need to adapt their workplace physically and culturally until it becomes the norm.

Got my fingers crossed that HR can do something, too. We are all actively telling students that we see, to put their mask on immediately, we are also asking them to leave site if they don't wear them.. only think is, is that they come back on site, socialise with friends etc and it's just one big circle.
Ventilation is not so possible in reception as we don't have windows sadly, but the sliding doors are opening and closing often so perhaps that will help a little?

Without sounding flippant, every generation has the "oh my god what is going to happen" moment. I commented on a thread similar, saying how my lovely elderly neighbour had the same thought when young. "What world have we brought our kids in to" etc and now they have the priviledge to watch their children have the same worries, and so on and so on. In between their tough times and this tough time is a whole life filled with joy, new births, weddings, celebrations.

Listening to my grandad speak about war times, losing his sister to a bomb and another sister still having shrapnel in her neck years later made me realise, we all endure scary times. He thought at the start of the pandemic "il be a gonna" and hes still here now, like uncle Albert telling his stories. Sorry bit of tangent there but you get my drift.

@CoronaBollox absolutely understandable. There's been worse and will be worse.. it's just awful regardless, and the fact it's completely worldwide is terrifying! 😣 I haven't lived through anything like this before.

Bless your grandad, I am so glad he's still doing well ☺️ my thoughts are with you and your family. X

Yes for sure, I didnt mean it to come across like suck it up bla bla. I just meant its heartwarming to hear people who have suffered wars, poverty, recession etc to still have hope. It's scary times and so much uncertainty

@CoronaBollox it's okay, I didn't take it like that don't worry ☺️ always hard to know though via text / online isn't it 😣😆

Yes it is heartwarming, it gives a feeling of hope. If others can get through it then surely we can, too.
We just need a vaccine! 🤞🏼🤒

Nope I don’t feel terrified, but I’m working from home so my scenario is different to yours, if I was in your place of work I’d feel concerned and ensure I follow as much of the advice as I can, and have a constant supply of wipes, gels and sprays.

Hopefully with half term coming you can get some respite.

Don’t feel worried about expressing your worries as you’ll certainly not be alone.

Good to see some realistic and positive posts here 😊

@FAQs thank you - it's nice to know I'm feeling a way that is justified - sometimes I wonder if I'm being a bit unreasonable.. but it is such a real and awful situation, it's horrible working in amongst it too.
Thank you - I will ensure I keep a supply of those things, and just try my best to sanitise everything I touch / everywhere I go 💓💓

Keep your chin up and come back to let us know if anything changes at work x