Coronavirus - Am I going mad!?

[Orange89]

I’m confused why most people I’ve spoken to (friends, family, neighbours) aren’t worried about Coronavirus!? Places are going into lockdown and Boris has said we will loose loved ones early!!! My dad is in his 60s and has a low immune system (who also happens to be no more worried about this) but surely most people have someone elderly in their lives they’re concerned about?! It’s putting my life on hold , I won’t go the gym or take my 2yr old to the creche / soft play or hug my poorly dad. I think the most worrying thing for me is that it can be passed on unknowingly to someone it could be serious for. It’s driving me insane but am I alone??

You aren’t alone, that’s why there is an entire topic about it on Mumsnet.....maybe ask for this to be moved.

I have been reading some threads . I guess pointless to ask on here but I just don’t get why everyone I’ve spoken to isn’t worried. Maybe they’re all pretending to be calm but I’m being made to feel it’s just me. I guess I just wanted back up!

You're not alone! I am relatively young, but I'm asthmatic and my anxiety over this is horrendous! If I catch a cold I am bedridden for two weeks with a chest infection. It's not in my local area yet, but I feel when it arrives, if I catch it, I may die.

Aw I feel for you and everyone else with underlying health issues! I live in one of the most effected areas but people I’m talking to are brushing it off as no worse than influenza etc , but I feel the media wouldn’t be reporting on it this much if they weren’t more concerned about this virus, it’s the speed it’s spreading and the unknown. My usually paranoid friend has just had a baby and isn’t one bit worried either. Are some people just too wrapped up in their own lives to notice what’s happening around them or am I just watching too much news. I feel like this is an unhealthy unwanted obsession!

I don't see the point in worrying. I'm doing all I can to prevent myself and my family from catching it.

Everyone is equipped with hand sanitiser. All our cars have Dettol wipes, Dettol anti bacterial aerosol spray (which I highly recommend!) and spare hand gels - we wipe the cars and spray the seats each morning and night.
Drummed into DD about hand washing (thankfully she enjoys doing it) and have plenty of soap on hand, plus loads of clean hand towels which are used once and then washed. Plenty of packs of tissues for catching coughs and sneezes.

I can't do much more so if we get it, we get it. Worrying isn't going to stop anyone from catching it.

Everyone isn’t calm. We’re just doing our best. I work in A&E. Staff attitudes are split 50/50 between “we’ll be fine, but everyone is going to get it sooner or later” and “how do we stop this spreading and avoid taking it home to loved ones”. Staff hand washing/ sanitising has increased 3fold based on the rate we’re getting through handtowels and sanitizer in staff only areas!

Also, the news (in my opinion) have been reporting on COVID-19 in a hugely irresponsible way.

I don't know if these images will reassure you a bit but they definitely did me.

You can see total cases, total deaths and total recoveries.
Remember the news has said a lot about people dying but has mentioned not much on the recoveries (61000 recovered in China for example.)
Sometimes you've got to look past the mainstream media else you'll go mad.

I think the numbers on those pictures have changed now, but you get the gist. I'm sure you'll be able to google what the most up to date figures are.

The numbers are totally meaningless.

I think many people are resigned to the reality. Short of total lockdown there is little we can do to prevent it spreading. It can be spread during the asymptomatic incubation period, so advice to self-isolate if you feel unwell is underwhelming. Plus many of the elderly and frail who are at risk still rely on support workers, carers, medical staff etc so can’t be isolated. Unfortunately, some deaths are an inevitability.

Delicately Why?

Even on those old UK figures 18 recovered out of 456 is not that reassuring tbh.

@LilyMumsnet

I'm normally calm but my US company has now shit down all of our EMEA offices and we have been directed to work from home.

It's pretty serious.

'Shut down' sorry for the typo

We can’t get hand sanitizer in any shops where I live. We had the first case here. So I guess that does answer my question that people are worried but no one seems to be admitting it in person . To me at least! I think the worst thing is it’s out of our control!

I wasn't particularly worried, as I pretty much self isolate as a way of life anyway (joy of rural living!) I'm still not really worried, but my lodger came home tonight and said his boss's wife has symptoms... I have COPD. :(

Brings it home. Literally.

I think the worst thing is that de Pfeffel has said people will die. But there is little in place to stop it. Our healthcare system is on a par with Romania, not just because of underfunding but because it's shit generally - we're ranked 19th in the world. Our hospitals can barely cope with Friday night drunks, let alone a global pandemic for which there is no vaccine. We aren't testing anywhere near enough people, we have people flying in from the ends of the earth no questions asked and the main concern that people travelling abroad from here seem to have is whether or not their insurance will cover non essential travel that they've already paid for. Like, fuck all the people you might infect on your little jaunt. It's shit.

Well said, Vallderama

The numbers are totally meaningless.

^

Yes. 1000 dead in Italy. Meaningless.

There's a massive difference between worrying and panicking.

I doubt there's a single person in the world who isn't even slightly worried about either them or their loved ones getting Coronavirus.

Just because it's not 'driving them insane', doesn't mean they aren't concerned.

However, tell us what actual good will come from panicking?

Our hospitals are deserted now because they are making room for infected people.
This is feedback from friends who are getting ongoing treatment for cancer and other long term issues.

Its pretty scary what our health system is about to deal with. We are weeks away from being Italy and yet Boris won't shut things down because he just wants to keep the economy going to make Brexit look like a success.

Yes I think they are choosing the economy on this one. We are not prepared for this . Even bill gates said this about disease x and I think this is what we are facing. I completely agree that worrying is pointless and as the saying goes ‘worrying only takes away today’s peace’. However I just can’t help but worry. It’s a feeling not a choice unfortunately!

Up to date figures. Even if they are 'meaningless'(?) I like to keep an eye on them.

I've asked this to be moved to the coronavirus board, but it probably won't be moved until the morning.