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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not stay in all day

129 replies

sadlittlelifejane · 26/09/2023 10:16

What's the general etiquette around going out with covid nowadays?

I have what would be considered a mild cold but my friend had a spare test (at her request as she has just had it and was conscious about having more time off work) and it turned out to be covid. If i hadnt have tested I wouldn't even think twice about going out as I have a stuffy nose! My children are 2 and 6 months, I can't stay in all day. Can I go for a walk in the park? Can I go to the coffee van? Pop to corner shop to get milk? Sit on outside seating area in starbucks? What's acceptable nowadays?!

OP posts:
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10
Notfeelinghunkydory · 26/09/2023 10:46

You can do what you like. I wouldn't have tested though!

Original poster
sadlittlelifejane · 26/09/2023 10:49

Notfeelinghunkydory · 26/09/2023 10:46

You can do what you like. I wouldn't have tested though!

I only did because I was so adamant it would be negative. Many regrets!

OP posts:
Cuppaand2biscuits · 26/09/2023 10:51

Go where you like. We've had a few people that have tested positive recently that have come in and worked their shifts as normal because they felt well enough. Customer facing role so no option to work from home.

Original poster
sadlittlelifejane · 26/09/2023 10:52

Cuppaand2biscuits · 26/09/2023 10:51

Go where you like. We've had a few people that have tested positive recently that have come in and worked their shifts as normal because they felt well enough. Customer facing role so no option to work from home.

Interesting. Was everyone OK with that?

OP posts:
jannier · 26/09/2023 10:55

You're supposed to stay home for 5 days still if you actually test positive. I wouldn't be going inside places like corner shops where I could pass it onto others and potentially kill them.

CherieBabySpliffUp · 26/09/2023 10:56

You CAN stay indoors, you're just choosing not to!
From your OP I would only go for a walk around the park.

Nutella22 · 26/09/2023 10:56

I wouldn’t go out while knowingly Covid positive, unless it was absolutely essential. I’d wear an FFP3 respirator if I had to.

Colourfulponderings · 26/09/2023 10:59

I would go outdoors of course but no, I wouldn’t be going into cafes and shops.

The attitude seems to have shifted to ‘if you feel well enough’ but it’s not about that - it’s about the impact to those more vulnerable. I would feel so guilty if I made someone seriously ill.

Blackblueandgold · 26/09/2023 11:00

I wouldn't be going indoors anywhere. I WFH so easy for me to stay home.

Dolores87 · 26/09/2023 11:08

You can do what you like there are no restrictions but if you know you definitely have covid i would stay in as just because you don't feel that bad you can still make other people very sick by giving it to them.

Crazyjanes · 26/09/2023 11:12

I wouldn’t have tested either. Just because you know makes no difference. The guidelines say that you should behave as normal unless you feel unwell enough to need to stay at home. Vulnerable people in shops, cafes etc will be exposed on a daily basis to people who have no idea they have covid.

Luxell934 · 26/09/2023 11:16

I’d have more sense than to go visit elderly/vulnerable relatives/friends. I would still go to the supermarket or to grab a coffee if needed, but I wouldn’t go out for the sake of it especially to indoor places.

Cowlover89 · 26/09/2023 11:16

Go out. I wouldn't stay in

PinkRoses1245 · 26/09/2023 11:16

Notfeelinghunkydory · 26/09/2023 10:46

You can do what you like. I wouldn't have tested though!

Same here. Do what you want, based on how you feel.

margotrose · 26/09/2023 11:18

I wouldn't have tested and would just carry on as normal if I felt well enough.

Ponoka7 · 26/09/2023 11:21

I think that you should try to stay away from other people, so parks, walks all fine. Going to the local shop it depends on lay out. In my local shop is a woman who is CV and one who is pregnant, it would be bloody selfish for me to go if I had someone else who could. My DP has restrictive breathing pattern because of long Covid, it's destroyed his life. He was a symptomatic when he had it. I'm ECV and need the antibody treatment if I got it. That would mean my DD would need a day off work (she works in a hospital) because I'm her CC. There's a 'it doesn't matter anymore " attitude to it on here but it's still having a big effect on work absence and the nation's health.

Notagains · 26/09/2023 11:23

I am similar had to test but wouldn't normally have. I stayed in away from everyone until I tested negative 5 days later.
I think it's the responsible thing to do. I would rather kick my heels at home than pass it onto someone who may not have a mild version or where it may lead to long COVID.
The fact that you would have gone out if you didn't know and there will be many people walking around with it is irrelevant you do know and should do the responsible thing.
If you must go out a walk outside where you keep away from everyone would probably be ok a trip to the shops definitely not.

Ladyoftheknight · 26/09/2023 11:41

Stay indoors, don't kill anyone. Duh.

verdantverdure · 26/09/2023 11:43

It's just good manners not to give covid to people isn't it?

Just because you experience the initial infection as a mild cold it doesn't mean the people you infect will.

Go to the park and anything outside by all means, but don't go in shops and cafes and infect someone who gives it to my kid's teachers cheers.

Or me, I'm just getting over it

DanceMumTaxi · 26/09/2023 11:45

We’ve had a pupil come to school knowingly covid positive. Their parents have told us. Other vulnerable kids eg diabetic have had to not going into lessons with this child. They had to have lessons in the hub. There was nothing school could do about it. So tbh I think you’d be fine to go out and about. Stay outdoors as much as possible.

Coral569 · 26/09/2023 11:46

I think everything you listed is absolutely fine. I wouldn't stay indoors.

Mariposista · 26/09/2023 11:47

I wouldn't have tested.
I would be going out.

verdantverdure · 26/09/2023 11:47

It's just my opinion but if we all spread covid willy-nilly by carrying on as normal that's asking for trouble isn't it?

Weirdly I don't think people always make the link between people going around spreading covid and the consequences.

(Such as our kids being taught in groups of 95 in the sports hall because of staff illness.)

Or at least it often seems that the same people who say we should just go about as normal when infectious also shout the loudest when the school year goes to online learning two days a week because of staff illness.

Original poster
sadlittlelifejane · 26/09/2023 11:51

verdantverdure · 26/09/2023 11:47

It's just my opinion but if we all spread covid willy-nilly by carrying on as normal that's asking for trouble isn't it?

Weirdly I don't think people always make the link between people going around spreading covid and the consequences.

(Such as our kids being taught in groups of 95 in the sports hall because of staff illness.)

Or at least it often seems that the same people who say we should just go about as normal when infectious also shout the loudest when the school year goes to online learning two days a week because of staff illness.

Is that not to do with covid still being a relatively new infection though? So it's still going round a bit harder and faster than the common cold but less that when it started? Surely the more resistance built up the better? Otherwise we will struggle for years. Around the general population anyway. Those who have weak immune systems are different obviously but that stands for a lot of winter illness.

OP posts:
ZebrasLoveLions · 26/09/2023 11:52

It’s the same as with any illness: if you feel well enough to go out, do so!

If you don’t, don’t, but there’s no need to stay in all day if you feel well enough to go out.