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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think people don't care about covid anymore?

246 replies

MumofLandD · 19/12/2023 10:57

That really. Quick straw poll on that.
DS (13) tested positive this morning after I had a very faint positive this morning. I tested because I had a sore throat all night and 6 days til Christmas I wanted to check. We have Xmas dinner at the ex's families planned and 3 others going are vulnerable.
I also test when feeling unwell as I am a front line health care worker and work with cancer patients and other vulnerable people. Although my hospitals policy is if you test positive and feel well enough to come to work then you are allowed to work, I morally disagree with this.
I co parent with ex partner, he is due to have DS tomorrow for the rest of the week and he thinks DS can go to school tomorrow if he feels better whereas I disagree. DS's best friend is spending Xmas with his 90 year old grandmother and I would hate for him to pass it on to her. Plus who else will he come in contact with at school who have plans like that? Ex partner is of the opinion that vunerable people are fine if they are vaccinated but I don't believe so. Not sure if I am still traumatised by the sights I saw in the first wave.
Interestingly when I asked XP if he was happy for our son to sit next to his mother at the table, if he was still positive, who is vulnerable but vaccinated he said no. 🙄

OP posts:
DoraChance · 19/12/2023 11:37

You'll always get people on here falling over themselves to tell you how much they don't care.

DS had it last week and was really poorly. I tested him because he has regular contact with my elderly dad, and also because I didn't want him to give it to his classmates and their families so close to Christmas.

If you're regularly in contact with people who wouldn't do too well with covid, or indeed any other nasty winter bug, then I think you're right to exercise some caution if you can.

FlamingoQueen · 19/12/2023 11:39

I think the guidelines are that children should stay home for 3 days if positive, then if they feel well enough they can go to school.
Personally, I think it would be very selfish to send him to school just before Christmas (or anytime really, just seems worse before the holidays).

widebrimmedhatstand · 19/12/2023 11:43

I'm currently home with covid and feeling horrendous- my kids have both started to cough and I've not tested but have kept them off school, because it's so close to christmas and I don't want to risk infecting anyone else.

TrickorTreacle · 19/12/2023 11:44

That ship has sailed.

LikeRobbieSays · 19/12/2023 11:46

For as many people there are testing and staying home to avoid infecting others, there are people following the recommendations of carrying on as normal unless they feel unwell. So if your son's friend is at school then there's a chance he could catch and pass on Covid to his 90year old grandmother from anyone.

PastelHouses · 19/12/2023 11:47

This reply has been deleted

This is a goady troll so we've removed their posts.

CornishGem1975 · 19/12/2023 11:47

@19lottie82 No, it isn't. There is NO requirement to isolate. Stop spreading misinformation.

COVID-19: guidance and support - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

There are no COVID-19 restrictions in the UK.
If you have COVID-19 you should try to stay at home.

Try, not have to.

eerilyquietthismorning · 19/12/2023 11:48

I think people stopped testing when test were no longer free.
Having had Covid and felt fine I can't say I'm too worried about it, both my vulnerable elderly parents came out the other side so I don't give it a thought.

dutysuite · 19/12/2023 11:50

I'm not worried about it, if there is one thing I regret it's having the covid vaccine, I'm just so glad I didn't agree to my children having it.

ILikeItWhatIsIt · 19/12/2023 11:51

Question for all those doing tests. If you felt unwell but the test was negative, what would you do?

RoseAndRose · 19/12/2023 11:52

The government guidance is that - although you do not have to test - if you do test positive, then for 5 days (3 days for DC) you should only leave your house if absolutely essential, and that if you really must then you should avoid indoors contact with other people and wear a mask if that's unavoidable.

Covid is still very nasty for some. Long covid can get anyone, and the reduced capability for work that comes with it is harming both households and the wider economy.

Covid reduces your immune function (other viruses do too, but covid is very good at this) so it's likely that if you have it then for several weeks even months after you're likely to come down with every damned thing that's going around. Which is pretty miserable.

So yes, I'd say take the steps, as far as you can, which reduce the burden of illness on everyone. Which also includes pushing for cleaner air - better ventilation/filtration - might take time to achieve, but will be worth it. And wear a mask - they're not products of the devil, but an effective way of reducing both the amount of crud you're putting out there to infect other people (whether covid or anything else that might be that bit more serious in someone who is post-viral run down) and reduces the amount of crud you're taking in.

Whiskyinajar · 19/12/2023 11:54

Tested positive last night, so pissed off as I only tested to get a negative result. More fool me.

I work with vulnerable patients so am off today bit hoping to find a way around it from tomorrow. Planning for sitting in an office isolated from others and talk by phone to patients.

EnidSpyton · 19/12/2023 11:55

If you feel unwell enough to not be able to function properly, no matter the illness, you should be staying at home to recover. If it’s made you that ill, it will make others similarly so.

If you have a mild illness and can still function normally, then carry on as you would normally, but take extra hygiene precautions.

It’s just common sense.

Covid symptoms are vague and vary from person to person. Tests are expensive. It’s not feasible for most people to test every time they feel unwell with what might be covid.

I will also add that the first wave of covid cannot be compared to now. We have a much better understanding of how to treat covid now, and immunity is increased due to exposure over time and vaccinations. It is not healthy or reasonable for people to still be living in a high state of anxiety over covid and those who are need to get support to help them more accurately understand their risk.

FWIW, every single highly vulnerable person I know who caught covid sailed through it with few symptoms, including very elderly grandparents and a friend who has had two liver transplants. The only person I know who had a tough time and now has long covid is a mid thirties former marathon runner.

AhBiscuits · 19/12/2023 11:57

The only people I know who are still testing are those hoping to test positive and use it as a reason to avoid something they don't want to do. Mostly attend the office because they want to work from home all the time.

Saymyname28 · 19/12/2023 12:01

I haven't tested since they started charging. It's no different to anything else any more. Covid or not you can't isolate just becuase you're ill, I've had a horrible flu for two weeks now, on what planet could I just stay home?

MumofLandD · 19/12/2023 12:03

EnidSpyton · 19/12/2023 11:55

If you feel unwell enough to not be able to function properly, no matter the illness, you should be staying at home to recover. If it’s made you that ill, it will make others similarly so.

If you have a mild illness and can still function normally, then carry on as you would normally, but take extra hygiene precautions.

It’s just common sense.

Covid symptoms are vague and vary from person to person. Tests are expensive. It’s not feasible for most people to test every time they feel unwell with what might be covid.

I will also add that the first wave of covid cannot be compared to now. We have a much better understanding of how to treat covid now, and immunity is increased due to exposure over time and vaccinations. It is not healthy or reasonable for people to still be living in a high state of anxiety over covid and those who are need to get support to help them more accurately understand their risk.

FWIW, every single highly vulnerable person I know who caught covid sailed through it with few symptoms, including very elderly grandparents and a friend who has had two liver transplants. The only person I know who had a tough time and now has long covid is a mid thirties former marathon runner.

I agree. I don't have anxiety about it, or put my life on hold though. I try to protect others through knowledge.
And I know personally know a few people.who died with covid who were vulnerable and saw many many more who were young and had no co morbidities who passed away within days of infection in the first wave

OP posts:
DumboHimalayan · 19/12/2023 12:03

I co parent with ex partner, he is due to have DS tomorrow for the rest of the week and he thinks DS can go to school tomorrow if he feels better whereas I disagree. […] Interestingly when I asked XP if he was happy for our son to sit next to his mother at the table, if he was still positive, who is vulnerable but vaccinated he said no.

Whatever your opinion or stance on mixing with COVID in 2023, this kind of hypocrisy is twattish. It's good enough for everyone else's vulnerable loved ones, but not good enough for his mother.

Fulshaw · 19/12/2023 12:03

The government guidance is that - although you do not have to test - if you do test positive, then for 5 days (3 days for DC) you should only leave your house if absolutely essential, and that if you really must then you should avoid indoors contact with other people and wear a mask if that's unavoidable

No, it isn’t. Someone has linked to the guidance upthread. It’s ‘stay at home if you can’.

CatsWillRuleTheWorld · 19/12/2023 12:04

Most people also don't care about climate change and haven't changed their behaviour as the issue became more serious and apparent, but that doesn't mean it's not a real or serious issue. Most people are simply not very informed or caring.

I suggest you don't follow what "most people" do on any matter, and instead look at the rational evidence. Covid is more damaging to organs and the immune system than the flu, and more likely to cause long-term symptoms (1 in 9 infected experience some form of prolonged symptoms, according to a recent survey by Canada's equivalent of ONS). Healthy adults only get the flu about twice per decade, according to a study by Imperial College, and usually in winter, whereas Covid is year-long and most people have had it multiple times in a couple years. It is also much more contagious, as unlike flu it is mostly airborne-transmitted. The results of unmitigated spread are already seen: record numbers of the UK workforce are out with long-term sickness. There are also increasing numbers of excess deaths with things like cardiovascular disease, especially in the over 50s-under 65s who can no longer get vaccines in the UK, and the British Heart Foundation says Covid is a factor in this.

It's also not true that health authorities worldwide have stopped advising isolation, testing, masks etc. These are still recommended guidance, it's just that it's not mandated by governments anymore. Do you only do things that you are forced to do in life? Washing your hands after using the loo is not mandated by the government, but presumably you do it...right?

It's understandable that people declared the problem "over", because as a species we can't focus on scary things for a long time without experiencing mental distress, but viruses don't care about our feelings.

ilovesooty · 19/12/2023 12:04

MumofLandD · 19/12/2023 11:24

But it is a big deal. Or was. And I feel morally obliged to test and keep my patients risk of catching covid low. Plus vulnerable family members or members of the public. But I agree we aren't going to irradiate it

I wouldn't even waste your time responding.

Frabbits · 19/12/2023 12:07

Most people don't care about it any more, and if you aren't vunerable or anything why would you, really?

I'm sure we've got some expired tests somewhere, but if I get the sniffles or whatever I'm not about to test myself. What's the point?

Rosie55 · 19/12/2023 12:08

CatsWillRuleTheWorld · 19/12/2023 12:04

Most people also don't care about climate change and haven't changed their behaviour as the issue became more serious and apparent, but that doesn't mean it's not a real or serious issue. Most people are simply not very informed or caring.

I suggest you don't follow what "most people" do on any matter, and instead look at the rational evidence. Covid is more damaging to organs and the immune system than the flu, and more likely to cause long-term symptoms (1 in 9 infected experience some form of prolonged symptoms, according to a recent survey by Canada's equivalent of ONS). Healthy adults only get the flu about twice per decade, according to a study by Imperial College, and usually in winter, whereas Covid is year-long and most people have had it multiple times in a couple years. It is also much more contagious, as unlike flu it is mostly airborne-transmitted. The results of unmitigated spread are already seen: record numbers of the UK workforce are out with long-term sickness. There are also increasing numbers of excess deaths with things like cardiovascular disease, especially in the over 50s-under 65s who can no longer get vaccines in the UK, and the British Heart Foundation says Covid is a factor in this.

It's also not true that health authorities worldwide have stopped advising isolation, testing, masks etc. These are still recommended guidance, it's just that it's not mandated by governments anymore. Do you only do things that you are forced to do in life? Washing your hands after using the loo is not mandated by the government, but presumably you do it...right?

It's understandable that people declared the problem "over", because as a species we can't focus on scary things for a long time without experiencing mental distress, but viruses don't care about our feelings.

This.

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 19/12/2023 12:08

It's constantly in the back of my mind. DM finished chemo towards the end of last year. Got Covid in Feb. Tested positive fir nearly a month. Symptoms continued fur weeks, was hospitalised for 5 days twice. Was (outwardly) significantly iller than she had been with cancer.

So yes, she - and I - are still cautious.,

110APiccadilly · 19/12/2023 12:08

exitviathegiftshop · 19/12/2023 11:26

Op you are right.
Look at all the threads on here with people complaining about the mystery illnesses they keep getting, colds that won't go away. They believed the gaslighting and can't see that their immune systems are damaged from COVID.
Try not to catch it and try not to spread it!

How do you know their immune systems are damaged from Covid when they don't?!

This is frankly the same level of evidence as people who think all illnesses are caused by vaccines!

NewPinkJacket · 19/12/2023 12:09

DS's best friend is spending Xmas with his 90 year old grandmother and I would hate for him to pass it on to her.

He's mixing with 100s of kids/staff at school though and his parents know this.

Plus if he's been anywhere near his best friend in the last couple of days, he's probably already passed it onto him.