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Social distancing - anyone doing it?

31 replies

Tahitiitsamagicalplace · 13/03/2020 06:38

This is not meant to be a debate about whether we should, but for those who HAVE made the decision to isolate/social distance.

We are in a position to work from home and keep our two kids home. I have reduced immunity and lung damage due to treatment for blood cancer last year so I understand I'm at risk with this virus, but also, it seems countries who are employing a social distancing model to help deal with this are more successful at "flattening the curve". It seems if we as a family are fortunate enough to choose to stay home, we should.

I spent a good 9 months last year in isolation due to having no immune system during chemotherapy, so I know how I can handle it! But if anyone else is doing the same, maybe we could share tips on working from home/staying sane and juggling the kids and their school work and keeping them happy?

OP posts:
Tahitiitsamagicalplace · 13/03/2020 16:41

No one then?

OP posts:
MovinOnUp · 13/03/2020 16:45

Me, I have/am
I'm working from home and have taken the children out of school.
DP is still working at the moment but we are taking as many precautions as we can to limit any exposure to the virus.

After dinner I am going to work out a timetable of sorts for home educating the children.

MovinOnUp · 13/03/2020 16:46

I understand why many are not/can't but I agree with you that if you can, you should.

BarbedBloom · 13/03/2020 16:47

I am, immuno suppressed and asthmatic

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 13/03/2020 16:49

On the tube today people were trying to sit in every other seat.

Definitely fewer passengers as well.

mencken · 13/03/2020 16:50

I can and I am, sort of - semi isolation. No kids to worry about and no sodding dog to walk. Lots of handwashing, not socialising, visitors are getting that some are not welcome. Not attending events or meetings, still going out for walks and occasional food shopping. Will visit outdoor places but not indoor ones.

just staying out of the way, really.

MaidenMotherCrone · 13/03/2020 16:50

I'm out of work so it makes sense to stay at home. I'm not ill but staying away from others is the best thing I think. My DH agrees too.

Allmyfavouritepeople · 13/03/2020 16:50

I'm still working but getting a lift from my OH from next week rather than using public transport.
Got a small party to go to tomorrow which we are attending but aside from that we have no social plans for the foreseeable.
Helps that we're anti-social anyway!
Just need work to shut and then that's us tucked away. Got to keep working unfortunately.

Hairwizard · 13/03/2020 16:59

I posted a similar q earlier but its got lost in the traffic here.
Im thinking its time to start. Ds gymnastic club shut down yest due to it til further notice. The toddler groups have all started to shut down too.
Ds had swim class earlier. I had wanted to keep him away but dp took him anywayEnvy not envy.
Dp owns a gym and is remaining open at the min but i think he should shut down .
Dd goes to nursery and thinking of keeping her away as she picks up wberything going and i worry not so much for us but both sets of parents as there are underlying health issues : cancer and cv disease mainly.
Sil is a nurse in a hospital and i think she needs to be staying away and bil is a prison officer so again he should stay away.
Ds i dont know if he should be kept off school or not.
Also thinking the gps shouldnt visit from now on til things calm down.
But i dont know if im overreacting or not??
Im in ni and on last news update at 4 there were 29 confirmed cases here. Not sure whereabouts they are though. We are in the nw.
Part of me still thinks

SemiSkimmedMilk · 13/03/2020 17:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Saucery · 13/03/2020 17:01

Part time work essential, but everything else I have stopped. One supermarket shop a week if possible, first thing in the morning and wiping down trolley handles etc.

viccat · 13/03/2020 17:02

Yes, and I totally understand I'm in a very fortunate and unusual position. I'm self employed and work from home 95% of the time anyway so that bit is easy, and I also live alone (no kids or partner). I do my supermarket shop on Ocado anyway and buy almost everything else online as well.

I'm also an introvert and actually love spending time at home so not finding it hard at all. I didn't attend a social event earlier this week, and have cancelled a tattoo appointment I had for the last week of March, and will basically avoid going anywhere unless I absolutely have to.

NaturalBornWoman · 13/03/2020 17:02

I'm working from home for the foreseeable future and have prepared to completely isolate for 6 weeks or so. I did this a while ago so no empty shelves are due to me. Currently I'm still having normal weekly supermarket deliveries and DH is going to his part time job and practising enhanced hygiene but that will need to change very soon I think.

Grufallosfriends · 13/03/2020 17:06

We're trying to stay at home as much as possible. Definitely avoiding cinemas, restaurants etc

MoaningMinniee · 13/03/2020 17:06

I haven't been unnecessarily inside any building apart from my own home for the past two weeks. I wash my hands immediately after coming in and whenever possible when out and about at work. I hope national and local government will support all the businesses that will be suffering massive trade losses, like pubs, cafes, restaurants.

Tahitiitsamagicalplace · 13/03/2020 17:10

There you all are! Smile

I get online deliveries anyway, so I'm just keeping an eye on delivery times. I pretty much have to make an order the day our delivery comes now, as waiting times for deliveries are about a week.

There's a couple of big parks and forests near where I live, so I can walk the dog and get the kids out for fresh air there without coming into contact with anyone.
I don't know how I'll manage home schooling while getting my work done. I've a teenager and a 5 year old. The schools are being very supportive and say they'll send work online etc.
DH and I are going to try and have "theme days" to try and break up the boredom of it all. Tomorrow is waffle day because we are going to eat waffles Hmm Well, it'll entertain 5 year old ds anyway Grin

OP posts:
GiraffeWithSwag · 13/03/2020 17:29

Yep I am. No gym from last week. Cancelled a day at the races on Saturday. Low profile. Have 4 over 75s I’d rather have contact with without putting them at too high a risk.

Egghead68 · 13/03/2020 17:35

I’ve been staying at home since Thursday and only been at work and home before that since Feb 29th (at risk group). I’m working as much as I can by videolink which is going well. My main concern is what to do exercise-wise (I need to do cardio to manage my health condition). I’d like to get a treadmill but worry it will be too noisy for the downstairs neighbours. Any ideas?

Egghead68 · 13/03/2020 17:40

Should say I’m really enjoying the peace! It’s so relaxing being by myself (introvert). Some friends have taken to phoning daily and I’ve had to politely ask them not to.

ilovecherries · 13/03/2020 17:47

I have my nearly 90 year old parents in lockdown since last week when I visited and sorted them out - sadly 250 miles away. DH and I have reduced our outside contact as much as we can - both still well, so we are driving to isolated forestry commission land to walk with the dog, but no coffee stops or anything afterwards, just straight home. DH and I both freelance though, so it’s feasible. But, DD (23), is a teacher and is in several different schools a week, and as she still lives with us, I guess she’s our biggest risk.

Lipz · 13/03/2020 18:11

Well I'm in Ireland. Our schools are closed and I had to go to the chemist. The whole area is full of kids hanging out, the different estates had huge groups of children playing outside, bikes, skates, etc, the shopping centre and 2 parks had gangs of teenagers standing around.

They're many, many more adults around too, I am assuming it is because they are not in work so as they are able to look after their kids. Some were just outside in estates chatting to neighbour's, in shops, cafes etc .

In the chemist I was doing the 1meter -2meter distance, but it seemed no one else was and when I moved aside from the woman behind me, as she was very close, so much so that I could feel her breathing on me, she then shouted for all and sundry to hear that she didn't have anything and to stop treating her like a leper! So people are taking offense when you try do some distance.

It's way much busier out and about. My next door neighbour who runs a creche in her own home had extra children this morning. Car after car pulling up, lots of school aged children going inside. Then they were all playing outside for the best part of the day.

Then my own kids, I kept them in, they are all in their teens bar one , they were set enough work from school that would occupy them for about 6 months .. their phones bleeping like crazy from mates looking for them to go out!! Lots of these kids are older teens like my own, so don't need a parent watching them so they have free reign to come and go while their parents work. Of course mine hate me because I'm here as I'm a carer to my disabled dd and wouldn't let them out. I thought this was the idea when the schools closed, stay in.... but obviously not, I've never seen everywhere SO busy !!!

So no, there's no social distancing here.

FuzzyPuffling · 13/03/2020 18:39

Yes we are. DH and I both have heath issues (and I'm over 60) so three days ago we decided to do the "social distancing" thing. No more coffee mornings or going to church, or village meetings. I think the hardest thing is not having face to face contact with our close friends - but then again, our lovely neighbour told us yesterday she was "off to the gym, then out to lunch with her sporting group friends at a café". Sounds like high risk behaviour to me!

We've been in a similar position before when DH was neutropenic and at risk from germs, so we know we can do it. And because we live rurally we can still get out for walks or go to the beach.

I'm anxious about it anyway and this seems the best way to reduce both risk and anxiety.

Tahitiitsamagicalplace · 13/03/2020 20:57

@egghead68 What about dancing? There's lots of YouTube videos that are easy and fun to follow. I do just dance on my son's switch console and it's brilliant to get a sweat on!

@lipz that's absolutely mad. Shock

OP posts:
Egghead68 · 13/03/2020 21:01

Ooh yes - good idea @tahitiitsamagicalplace. Thanks

Motorina · 13/03/2020 21:03

NHS employee, so still going to work, but that's it. All social life is on hold for the time being.

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