"Only the elderly/immune suppressed are at risk" - attitude of dicks?

[SylvanianFrenemies]

People who say not to worry about Coronavirus, because "Only the elderly/chronically ill/immune suppressed" are dicks.

Some of us fall into these categories. Some love people who fall into these categories. Some have some essence of humanity. Stop using "Only the xxx" to dismiss concerns. Stop conflating it with flu.

Wash your hands. Isolate yourself as required. Err on the side of caution.

YABU = I agree with these dicks.
YANBU = I am human.

Or stop washing your hands so much and use handcream!

Hang on a minute OP... I don't think it's a case of people saying don't worry about Coronavirus, because "Only the elderly/chronically ill/immune suppressed"

I'm seeing much much less emotive statements (than yours) which run along the lines of the following: "Coronavirus is more likely to have severe consequences for the elderly/immune."

That is much much different. The later is NOT a value judgment on anyone's life. It is just a statement (it seems) of fact.

If the virus were to affect everyone indiscriminately, then there would be even more likelihood that the elderly/immuno-suppressed might not get the medical attention they may need in any outbreak.

So yes in that sense it IS a comforting sentiment to be sharing.

We are a family in the high risk group with a couple of members with low/compromised immune systems. I agree that people who are of relatively good health can be dicks/don't assess risks in the same way as our family have to.

We are already taking steps to lower our risk of contamination e.g. emphasis on hand washing, anti bac gel carried (got spares given to us by the hospital so good stuff), and also avoiding densely populated areas - so no large crowds or groups. This does/will have an impact on one area of working for one of us, but the measurements seem necessary in the circumstances.

Children are still going to school but schools have issued guidance regarding recent travel and self quarantine. There's nothing else we can do.

But this phrase of only the sick and elderly will die does affect people - our child had this told to them in school - they immediately worried about the ill people in their immediate family and it made them seriously worried their parent was going to die. So while it may be a helpful snippet for anxious people, I can't help but feel angry that yet again the disabled people in our family are dismissed by wider society. Schools should have responsibility to not scare small children by saying their parent might die, which was the effect upon my child, for the sake of the kid whose family will be fine.

theres honestly not much I can do bar wearing gloves (which I do when washing up) as i have extremely sensitive skin like all the females in my family. they crack and get sore regardless. so damned if I do damned if I dont. I can hardly not wash my hands

good job I wasnt discussing with you then isnt it skierr.

If the virus were to affect everyone indiscriminately, then there would be even more likelihood that the elderly/immuno-suppressed might not get the medical attention they may need in any outbreak.

No. If the virus only kills 1% of the population then it only get kills 1%. It doesn't go up if the risk is the same for everybody. If the risk is only in certain groups then the risk in those populations will be a lot higher than 1% whereas for those in other groups it will be a lot lower.

My entire household falls into those categories and I find it comforting. I’m more worried about the breakdown of the supply chain or even the breakdown of society.

Madam, this isn't a one to one discussion love.
It's a public discussion.

Honestly, with cuts on your hand from hand-washing, you're more likely to 1. contract it and 2 transmit it! Please put plasters on your sores when you go out.

@flower1994

Actually, preserving your skin barrier should be a priority. Cuts are worse than not washing. Your skin is your body's defense, ensuring that skin in clean comes second to ensuring it's intact. Over washing to the point you have cuts is like going to a neighbourhood watch meeting about preventing burglary, but leaving your front door wide open.

excuse me skierr but do kindly mind your own business, I have bacitracin ointment and sudocrem that I use at night time not that i should have ti explain myself to you but thanks for the judgemental tones I also frequently wear gloves out at this time of year as the cold weather irritates it further so please dont tell me how to manage something that I've had for years.

like I said, I can hardly stop washing my hands can I especially not with young children amongst frequent toilet/nappy changes/vomits/bed wets and having to make food

So many dickish people saying this on here all over the shop it pisses me off.

Bacitracin?! FFS. No wonder your skin's bad if you're using that. You're probably killing all your commensals.

Everything in moderation. Over-washing doesn't make you saintly, and may make you more at risk.

also its blood borne virus' that are most likely to be spread through cuts etc. as opposed to respiratory illness'

this type of thing normally makes you ill when it gets into the respiratory tract but thanks for making me feel like I'm somehow dirty for getting sore hands

ltheres honestly not much I can do bar wearing gloves (which I do when washing up) as i have extremely sensitive skin like all the females in my family. they crack and get sore regardless. so damned if I do damned if I dont.

You said they are cracked because you wash your hands "so much" which implies that it is caused by frequent washing rather than sensitive skin. Which is it?

default look up how respiratory illness are spread and contracted before you try and give me info on a condition I have dealt with for years. okay you know better than my GP, I'll have to let him know.

that is not used all the time but again not sure why I'm having to explain this to you? you want people to wash their hands but now berating me because I said I do?

@flower1994 I am wondering how much you understand about microbes, commensals, and skin health? You say you're using an antibiotic cream that's known to cause allergies and skin breakdown, and wash your hands so much that it's caused cuts. This doesn't sound rational behaviour. Skin integrity is your first and main barrier to infections. If you get a cellulitis due to your hands, you'll be much more vulnerable to coronovirus. Please look after your skin.

default I am trying too, and if I got cellulitis I'd be in a pretty dark place healthaise regardless if I cot corona virus considering how serious it can be. you're saying these things to me like I'm not aware of the fact

health wise*

I appreciate you are probably trying to help but its coming across patronising...I have already been to the GP about it and I need to wash my hands frequently, very hard to get around with young children

And your GP supported your use of Bacitracin?

It is far easier for it to enter a cut than through your respiratory tract.

skierr look it up, you're so wrong

look at how its spread

I'm a dick then. I do believe that people with underlying health conditions are more at risk, but I worry about them. It's why we have an immunization programme, to protect other people with underlying health issues who are more vulnerable. I do think that people who are healthy are less at risk of death because that's the advice I've been told by a doctor. But I want to protect people who are at risk. A child in my dcs school has come back from a quarantined area and went to school with symptoms. I'm really cross about it because everyone at school probably has someone in their family who does have an underlying health problem. It's beyond selfish and stupid of the parents to send them into school.

It's a virus. It doesn't say 'Hey, no point getting in there, that's just blood, let's go for her nose'. It says 'Hey - look - entry point!!!'.