"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.

Even if you are not in at at-risk category yourself, many of us will have a loved one who is, so it's unfair to dismiss those who are worried.

Other than taking precautions, there's not a lot that individuals can do - but that isn't how anxiety works. Covid 19 isn't something that I'm actively worrying about, but that's probably because I have plenty of other anxieties that are dominant. I completely understand why it has become an active anxiety for some.

The Chinese doctor who first publicly warned about it, got into severe trouble for his pains and did die of it, was young and presumably healthy beforehand - or at least I’ve not read that he wasn’t.

I had a similar conversation with dd last night as some kids from her school had returned from a Italy but were not asked to self isolate. We both agreed that the risk to regular Well students at the school was very low so it was the right choice.However we did accept that it was worrying for those in poor health like dh. Does that make me a dick op?

I think what people are trying to do is reassure themselves and others that the risk around this one is no different to seasonal flu. I'm not sure I believe that now but either way, it's very insensitive.

I think you're being a bit silly. They're not saying these groups don't matter. They're trying to reassure themselves/others. I work with the elderly and visitors have been very cautious, many phoning to check it's ok to visit and what precautions to take. So I don't think people are wandering around deliberately not washing hands to pass germs on. Of course some people are just filthy. You only have to glance at the handwashing threads to see the amount of posters who don't bother.

Obviously we and the school are also careful with hygiene. The school has anti bac gel in every classroom etc etc.

I'm worried about it and have been following the threads (starting off due to an upcoming trip but now I know that probably isn't happening, I am following with the hope of it not spreading too much more)
I think YABU though. I don't think people are saying it to necessarily protect themselves. I don't want any elderly people to die from it. But at the same time there is NO point in panicking. Unless everyone stays cooped up at home for the next however many months, then there isn't much we can do. What these people are saying though is that any symptoms, please stay home.
What do you suggest we do?

If elderly and immune suppressed are at risk, then so are newborns and very young. I bet those voting YABU don't want to lose their and their friends and families small babies.
They might be healthy themselves and survive, but when you bring it home as a mild illness for yourself, your baby can catch it and die.
In my family we have some cancer survivors and asthmatics (mild), and one with a lung problem that is pretty much fine for now and causes no issues, so I guess my family is expendable.

It's a virus, anti bac is for bacteria. and fungus, doesn't kill many viruses. Proper soap and water and washed vigorously will clean it off your hands.

I don't think you'd be a dick if you said something along the lines of:

'You are young and you are lucky enough to be in normal health. the odds are with you to have it only mildly. But not everyone is in normal health, and that's why it's really important we do what we can to minimise the spread. Did you wash your hands properly when you came in?'

Restrictions on movement mean inevitable shortages of medications, especially ones with a short shelf life.

The poorest always suffer more in recession and times of shortage than the richest, and on a population level the elderly and those with chronic health issues are likely to be poorer.

@Thememorylingers (i am interested in whether people who are usually anxious are not anxious about CV. That is interesting)

Yes I suffer with anxiety myself but I don't try to spread my anxiety to others. Telling people they should be panicking is highly irresponsible, particularly where children are concerned. Risk analysis helps. But people are choosing to ignore that, put their personal bias and fears into factual information and get everyone panicking. I do not see how it helps anyone.

As pointed out the same statements are made concerning flu every year. I get multiple texts from my surgery: 'Ms Catherine will you come and get your flu jab you have been identified as a vulnerable patient'.

Guess I should get offended next time.

I think it's just factual isn't it? The statement that elderly people for example are more vulnerable than say a fit 20 year old? Also, I don't think it's suggesting that anyone matters less.
This is probably controversial to say and there will be some knicker hooking but I do think the death of an 80 year old who has lived their life is less traumatic than the death of a 20 year old.

As with any outbreak of a virus the two groups you mentioned are always at a greater risk of being severely unwell. Hopefully they are aware of that risk and take measures to reduce the risk to themselves.

The population as a whole could help reduce the risk to the 'at risk' groups as well , by following the handwashing /not coughing everywhere/ limiting your contact with people if unwell advice. As has been pointed out, most people know at least one person in the at risk groups, so a nationwide effort to protect our families and friends would be good.

I voted YABU. I think you're being over sensitive and taking it in the wrong spirit - trying to be offended by it.

I myself am immunocompromised, I have an auto immune disease, get my free NHS flu jab and try and be careful. However I have said the exact same thing to friends being ridiculous and hysterical about the whole situation. Telling them, frankly, if anyone needs to be panicking about this it is me because if I catch corona virus it will quite likely kill me, but we can't put our lives at halt for it or what's the point in living in the first place.

It is not people saying that we don't matter as people, it is reassuring overly anxious people that they are being ridiculous in staying locked inside and need to give their head a wobble and get on with life.

Obviously people should practice good hygiene but that shouldn't be specific to this outbreak, it should just be a constant in our lives. Flu is around every year and is always a risk so we should always practice hand washing, not just now we have, essentially, a new strain of it.

YANBU and we all have a responsibility towards the more vulnerable to practice good hygiene and isolate ourselves if unwell. It isn’t just a cold for many people. We should all, within reason, be a little cautious

DH says it - I pointed out at 58yo he probably falls into the "elderly" category. He went rather quiet then.

If elderly and immune suppressed are at risk, then so are newborns and very young
Not the same.

It's a factual statement.

My husband is in an at risk group.

Of all the things to get upset about!

What if that 20yo was your DD?

And was previously immune suppressed, or just one of the rare unlucky ones?

That's what this thread is talking about - those who are young but still,vulnerable. And the way that people talk about the (evidenced) risk groups can vary - sciency, pragmatic, kind or dickish.

When quite a lot of people in the intended group point out what seems to them to be dickish, I suggest 'stop dick' and make the same point in a kinder way.

@SylvanianFrenemies Where has anyone said that the old and more at risk don't matter?

You're reading things in there that aren't there owing to your own issues.

In any outbreak of any infection, the elderly (I'd be classed as that I expect!) and more vulnerable are at risk. Same for anything they get even 'simple' food poisoning.

I really don't get the point of your post.

Everyone needs to take the best measures to prevent this spreading.

No one has said the elderly and those more at risk don't matter.

You're looking for something not there,

I think people are trying to make it a “so far away, it doesn’t really affect us” thing. Possibly. Whilst it was in China it was shocking but far away. Now it’s in the UK. Some people think it won’t touch them. Makes them feel better.

I had ordinary flu before Xmas and was bed ridden. So ill. I’m not old old, or immunosuppressed but am very alarmed.

YANBU

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

who exactly are these people?

I think you're being a little sensitive, I can understand why though as my husband has asthma.

In this case, people mean only as a subset of all the people who catch the virus. They don't mean 'only' as in these people don't matter.

This is a comment relating to public health, ie. The health of a nation, not individuals. It highlights that it is not a massively deadly virus like the flu was years ago.

Sadly some people can't help but take every comments personally because everything is about them. And yes, I fall in the category at risk.