Are you changing your behaviour to try not to get coronavirus, or are you resigned to the fact you will probably get it?

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Genuine question.

I'm a member of front line NHS staff working in a community setting. I see approx 20 patients a day and they sit less than a metre from me.

I also have 2 kids in school, albeit a small one.

ExH works in ITU in a large city hospital and we share care of the kids.

I feel it's inevitable I will get it. Most likely from a patient at work, as so far we haven't seen a drop in number through the doors and I very much doubt we will.

I feel resigned to the fact that there's very little I can do to stop myself from catching it, so I'm focusing on prepping for when I/we do.

Is anyone else doing the same, or are most people trying to focus on not getting it?

I feel both these things at the same time. I expect I will get it, then again I am being super careful about washing hands and also doing things almost in a superstitious way, e.g. taking vitamins and tongue scraping.

TBH if I could catch it, not transmit it, recover, and this helped the population, I would sign up now.

I’m trying, but I also have a toddler so no matter how much scrupulous handwashing we do, she’ll then come along and shove her grubby fingers in my mouth. I’m realistic that I/we will probably catch it but there are a few little things I can and am doing. At work I’m cutting back to only essential meetings and doing all the rest by phone or video conferencing, so that’s less local travel and coming into contact with slightly fewer people.

I'm living my life, but am slowly making adjustments.

Shopping at quieter times in supermarkets (have prepped so only need a quick visit for fresh stuff). Today, I'd have normally gone for a walk and coffee, skipped the coffee. Washing hands often, antibac. Sounds silly, but holding my breath if someone coughs near me.

I have no idea if I'll get it, but having had pneumonia twice and being very ill with it, I've been trying to build my immune system up - eating more fruit, veg and protein, lots of fresh air, not skipping exercise classes (that might change very soon), taking a vitamin tablet every other day in case I'm lacking in anything.

I'm not changing my behaviour.

20+ years in care/support work and never caught a damn thing.

Always washed my hands, took vitamins, dodged smokers and was cautious around unwell people.

I have a job to do. I intend to get on with it.

My middle child lives in England and says he’s resigned to catching it, as he lives in a small flat, in a huge city. He says they will all be working from home soon, but until social quarantine comes in, he will still be going out, though but to large crowds. I’m worried sick about him being unwell in a different country to me. Although he’s a very healthy and fit young man. Your kids, never stop being your kids. I’m so sorry for those people who are working face to face, including shop workers, health care, hairdressers, etc. It must be such a scary time for them. I work from home (Dog sitter) and because of having a very rough year, health wise though now fully recovered, I have absolutely no savings. I’ve told my clients they need to hand the dogs over to me outside and I’m considering showering the dogs, before they come in. They’re no longer allowed to give ‘doggy kisses’. I know they can’t catch it, but they can carry it on them, which worries me. I’m considering telling them that if they, the humans, have cold/flu/chest or other symptoms, that the dog is not permitted to come to mine. They know my child very well and know she’s vulnerable, so I hope they respect that. Reading how thick some people are on here, I’m sure some will ignore.

Sorry, I meant to paragraph that.

Repeated, with paragraphs.

My middle child lives in England and says he’s resigned to catching it, as he lives in a small flat, in a huge city. He says they will all be working from home soon, but until social quarantine comes in, he will still be going out, though but to large crowds. I’m worried sick about him being unwell in a different country to me. sad Although he’s a very healthy and fit young man. Your kids, never stop being your kids.

I’m so sorry for those people who are working face to face, including shop workers, health care, hairdressers, etc. It must be such a scary time for them.

I work from home (Dog sitter) and because of having a very rough year, health wise though now fully recovered, I have absolutely no savings. I’ve told my clients they need to hand the dogs over to me outside and I’m considering showering the dogs, before they come in. They’re no longer allowed to give ‘doggy kisses’. I know they can’t catch it, but they can carry it on them, which worries me. I’m considering telling them that if they, the humans, have cold/flu/chest or other symptoms, that the dog is not permitted to come to mine. They know my child very well and know she’s vulnerable, so I hope they respect that. Reading how thick some people are on here, I’m sure some will ignore.

I think most of us will get it. I am starting to think now about planning ahead for lock down

I am making small adjustments but they are more about protecting my mum and others. I clean up after myself wherever i go, sit apart from others and am not going out as much. I always wore hloves andcwashed my hand though for work. I feel if it hits the school i work at i will get it as i help every visitor to the school sign in and i sit in the sick bay and do the medicines, inhalers, temperatures, catch the vomit, stem the nosebleeds, clean the minor grazes, change children that have wet themsleves and so on. Its not front line like nursing but there is a certain amount of bodily fluid and sharing the same air space that isnt like some jobs. The children do tend to cough in your face when you are cleaning their knee up or appear with a nosebleed and spill on you before you have grabbed the gloves.

I'm resigned to getting it really. I work in a large office in the city centre, lots people coming and going. I get buses twice a day three times a week and my kids school has over 600 pupils. How can I not get it! I wash my hands, use antibac, try and keep my house clean, wash my kids hands but its definitely coming our way.

Would prefer to get it over with if it creates immunity and I can then visit my grandma and my brother but I'm not sure it does so who knows. Could be in this limbo for months.

Yes, I’m have changed behaviours even though resigned to getting it , it doesn’t hurt to be a little more careful even if only to not infect others.

Shopping at quiet hours/middle of the night.
Keeping 1m from people outside where possible (without looking too rude hopefully)
Washing hands more
Keeping surfaces and commonly touched parts (doorknobs, fridge door etc) at home cleaner with dettol or alcohol wipes on a regular basis.
Can’t wfh yet but hoping to soon so just being vigilant at work, about door handles etc , can’t control anything else there!!

Sharing gel sanitizer with those mentioning they couldn’t find any - I managed to get hold of some back in late January thanks to Mumsnet as mostly use soap and water anyway.

Stopped going to the gym gym, now just go running.
Slowly turning down social events and will not go to any from now onwards.

Other than the above it’s just watch and wait really.

I'm somewhere in the middle. I'm in my late fifties and have diabetes, so I have somewhat raised risk of a serious dose, so I'd rather not catch it, thank you. I also work with people who are mainly elderly and unwell, as does my DH.

So yes, I am doing what I can to avoid getting it (hand washing, no handshaking, keeping a distance) and expect soon that many of the activities and meetings I currently attend will be stopped, because of the demographic. Then I will maintain contact with my client base by phone and email and limit going out to essential shopping and walks for exercise on which I will avoid being near anyone else.

I'm resigned to the fact that I'll get it. I've given my hand sanitizer to more vulnerable people.

Changing behaviour in order to help flatten the curve.

I'm changing my behaviour, I have multiple health conditions and also a bit overweight so would really rather I don't get it. DP is already home-based and I have got permission to work from home and intend to do that for at least a few weeks. I will not be socializing either, although I have had to make a couple of trips to the shops. Will be trying to get deliveries instead going forward.

I have mixed feelings on schools closing. On the one hand, it would slow the spread, but on the other it would be very difficult for my primary age DC. They will not be attending any clubs for a while either.

I would quite like to be deliberately exposed & get it now rather than later.
I don't believe that you can get it immediately again or repeatedly.
I'd rather plan how to take my chances than wait for it to probably get it me at random & inconveniently.

I'm not changing my life unless something is cancelled I couldn't control.
I guess I think there's 50% chance I'll get it in next 2 yrs.

Both.

I'm resigned that I will catch it, yet am doing as much as I can not to.

I caught a virus anyway last week, even though I was being really careful.

I'm a secondary school teacher so pretty resigned to the fact that i'm going to be susceptible regardless of anything I might do. I'm due to have a baby at the end of the month, so once i'm off work, i will be doing more to protect myself as I'll have more control over who I come into contact with.

I'm resigned to getting it but have made smaller changes to slow the spread.

We've not been to playgroups, I'm shopping when it's quieter without DC, avoiding large crowded areas, additional hand washing, but otherwise it's business as usual.

I'm in the vulnerable category (as is DH), so I'm taking steps to avoid catching it as far as I can. Fortunately, I can go largely online to work and maintain contact with other people. Not great, but better than the alternative.

I am immune suppressed and have asthma. Also recovering from a chest infection. I am staying at home, haven't been out in two days. I am doing all I can to avoid getting it but DH still has to go out to work and our home is not set up for me isolating away from him. My mum is also in vulnerable group so has cancelled her holiday. My dad is self isolating as almost certain this would finish him off as he has COPD and heart failure.

My son works in a large school so - if I do catch it, it's likely that he's brought it home.
I had flu a couple of weeks ago (still coughing) so I'm working from home - which is pretty normal for me - and avoiding going out as much as possible because I don't particularly want to catch anything atm.

I figure I'm bound to get it at some point but would like to delay it until I've got rid of this cough and have a bit more energy

Resigned to getting it, although I never seem to catch viruses. I've never had the flu or a chest infection.

I can't WFH and I need to work and keep sending DS to school as long as I can anyway. And I don't have a car so I need to use public transport.

I am trying not to get it, but not turning myself into a hermit. Hand washing, cleaning etc. Not touching face. Keeping my distance from others where possible. Still going to the gym though. It is very important for my physical and mental wellbeing.

Immunosuppressed and asthma, and staying home, but I'm resigned that I will probably get it eventually. I'd just like to wait as long as humanly possible so i get it on a nice flatter bit of the curve, once everyone is experienced, or even better when there is a foolproof treatment!