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Do I really need to stay home?

218 replies

batmancave · 13/03/2020 06:47

Me and ds have a cough which i believe is from a cold. We've both had runny noses and no temperature.

Does he really need to stay off school and do I really need to stay off work?

OP posts:
IrisAtwood · 13/03/2020 09:16

@NoFruitTea Far better to get out and about and infect and possibly kill other people. It’s not like you know them right? I mean who cares about someone whose name you don’t know?

Anyway, I hope that your comment was facetious. The sensible thing would be for your husband or you to move out to somewhere else where you can self isolate.

Pilot12 · 13/03/2020 09:17

If you don't have a high temperature or a new continuous cough, you can carry on as normal.

I've had a cough for two weeks so I'm going out, wondering how long it will be before some random member of the public tells me off for it!

BadCatDirtyCat · 13/03/2020 09:17

@ShootEmUpSarsaparilla to be fair to pp I doubt this is exactly her choice - it sounds like money is tight.

(I still think she/her child should stay home if they have a cough/fever)

IrisAtwood · 13/03/2020 09:20

Sorry @Pilot12 but a cough you’ve only had for two weeks would definitely suggest that you need to be very careful about who you are around. Two weeks is plausible for it to be Covid-19 but you’re lucky to have a mild version (so far).

NoFruitTea · 13/03/2020 09:24

There are people of all ages who are immunocompromised but because you only have one small cupboard you are happy to put them at risk*

So what am I supposed to feed me DH and DD if I cannot go shopping considering we cannot buy in bulk and generally go shopping at least three times a week? What about all the families in a hostel?

HenHarrier · 13/03/2020 09:26

if you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started.

A bit pointless self isolating now if @Pilot12 has been coughing for two weeks.

NoFruitTea · 13/03/2020 09:26

Far better to get out and about and infect and possibly kill other people. It’s not like you know them right? I mean who cares about someone whose name you don’t know?

DH NC with his mum, no dad. I'm NC with mum, no dad. Only place I could possibly move out to is my grandparents and obviously that's a big no! So yeah I guess if I have to self-isolate DH is fucked Wink

SpudleyLass · 13/03/2020 09:28

Yes. Absolutely self isolate.

I'm pretty sure my husband and I only have colds too and not the Coronavirus, but we have no way of knowing that. Best to be safe and not chance it - though my husband has gone into work this morning, as his workplace hasn't told any of them they need to stay home.

NoFruitTea · 13/03/2020 09:28

Do you not think that’s the situation you should probably look at changing?

I live in a rented studio flat. Not allowed to put up more cupboards, no space for a full size fridge.

Rumnraisin · 13/03/2020 09:30

“Wow. All of these people who can diagnose a cold vs Corona Virus without any testing need to report for duty at their nearest hospital. They will really save the NHS a lot of time!”

It’s astounding isn’t it IrisAtwood - all these people out there with the super-human power of being able to self-diagnose in this way.

NoFruitTea · 13/03/2020 09:31

I won't be the only one not able to go a week without shopping, there are families living in B&B emergency accommodation who have to go out and buy food every day because they aren't allowed a fridge fgs and only have a kettle in their room. It's alright for the people with houses with more than one fucking room and ample space

Butterflyflower1234 · 13/03/2020 09:32

I think a lot of children are going to milk this one to try and get out of school (Not saying OP your DC is).

It's a really difficult one to know what's wrong/right to do. I'd say if you can, prepare yourself to stay at home for the week. Do a shop and get everything you need then rest for a week.

adaline · 13/03/2020 09:33

So what am I supposed to feed me DH and DD if I cannot go shopping considering we cannot buy in bulk and generally go shopping at least three times a week? What about all the families in a hostel?

Online shopping? Buy things like longlife milk and food like pasta and tins etc. that can be stored in boxes.

Why are people so reluctant to self-isolate? The government aren't suggesting it for shits and giggles - this is killing people!

ShootEmUpSarsaparilla · 13/03/2020 09:34

@nofruittea I guessed that there was money/space issues but I still know with certainty that my family would be able to cope for a week with a mini fridge and a cupboard because I’ve done it. If you have to do it, you find a way.

adaline · 13/03/2020 09:35

I won't be the only one not able to go a week without shopping, there are families living in B&B emergency accommodation who have to go out and buy food every day because they aren't allowed a fridge fgs and only have a kettle in their room. It's alright for the people with houses with more than one fucking room and ample space

What would you do if the government gave you no choice and put the entire country on lockdown?

NoFruitTea · 13/03/2020 09:36

What would you do if the government gave you no choice and put the entire country on lockdown?

Starve us all for a week? For real, what else could I do?

SlayB · 13/03/2020 09:36

While I agree with self isolating when you have symptoms of Covid19. I think it is not so cut and dry.

I would like the mention that new studies are showing that people shed large amounts of the virus before symptoms worsen.

15 % of people do not have a fever, some people don't have the cough. Some people start with diarrhoea 10 % then go on to have the fever up to four days later ( facts from case studies ) expressed by Dr Dominic Pimenta and Dr John Campbell.

So there are those that will just have a gippy tummy wondering around and people who may just have a headache and fatigue. Normal every day symptoms. Not to mention that asymptomatic people are potential source.

After seven days of self isolating with mild symptoms they go out. Viral shedding falls after ten days so it would be even safer after fourteen days. Also people continue to remain contagious even after they feel better.

What about people single mothers and poorer people who can't get a shopping delivery ? They have a minimum spend and bookings are filling up. What should they do if they need to eat and are waiting for benefits to be paid ?

Also some people cannot afford not to work. Debts need to be paid, bills rent, mortgage. My list is endless of outgoing money I can't be the only one. Self employed people who contract are vulnerable no sick pay, no back up nothing.

I have vulnerable people in my life and would abide by the rules to protect them and other people in society. I just think it's not that easy and hard to enforce.

ShootEmUpSarsaparilla · 13/03/2020 09:37

Oh please, you wouldn’t starve for a week.

SpencerReidsMistress · 13/03/2020 09:38

It's quite literally the advice. Stay home.

Apolloanddaphne · 13/03/2020 09:38

Lockdown doesn't mean not going out for shopping. It means less free movement of people. In Italy the supermarkets and pharmacies are still open as they understand people have to buy groceries and medication.

WaterSheep · 13/03/2020 09:39

as his workplace hasn't told any of them they need to stay home.

He doesn't need to wait until they tell him to stay home.

BarbedBloom · 13/03/2020 09:39

@NoFruitTea I have a tiny fridge too. I bought tins of stuff and learned to make my own bread. There are tutorials on youtube. You can use cupboard stuff to make meals.

As for parks, that is selfish. The virus lives on surfaces.

I am sensitive to this as an immune comprised and have asthma. A normal cold makes me really unwell, let alone this

Sunshinesky1981 · 13/03/2020 09:39

@NoFruitTea Then your husband who is out needs to go to the shops / or get a delivery and buy enough food to last a week.

If you only have a mini fridge /one cupboard then buy food that doesn't need to be kept in a fridge and keep it in the shopping bag. Honestly it really is not that hard to manage for 7 days on pasta/sauce. Beans on toast, jacket potatoes and tuna, hot dogs etc. It wont kill you, but your little trip to the co-OP or the park could well kill someone else

Sunshinesky1981 · 13/03/2020 09:42

And yes I have stayed in temporary studio accommodation with only a mini fridge, one of the mini ovens with a electric ring on top , while being skint and it is possible. Yes it may be shit for a week ,and you wont be eating like kings but you certainly wouldn't starve ffs Hmm

NoFruitTea · 13/03/2020 09:43

The Starve us all comment was about lock-down. From what I understand lock-down can be months. How do you get online deliveries if there are no delivery men bevause everyone is in lockdown? What do the poor people with Little space do then? A week fair enough, but even longer? Have you seen the state of some emergency homeless accommodation?

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