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Original poster

Why are some people carrying on as normal?

323 replies

Greenbutterlfy566 · 15/03/2020 21:33

Why are some people carrying on as normal?

Genuine question... Why are some people going to restaurants, bars, theatres, cinemas, soft play etc? I honestly don't understand?

OP posts:
SleepForTheWeak · 15/03/2020 22:56

Not read all the replies so forgive me if I've repeated what someone else has said.

I'm carrying on as normal.

There's not one confirmed case in my region, and I think it would be more damaging (at this point) to instil fear and restrictions on the old and the young.

This may change of course, in the coming weeks.

Nevertheless, we still can't get toilet roll or hand wash here.

onceandneveragain · 15/03/2020 22:56

Because if I self isolate, or even just "social distance" now what will happen when corona is still a risk (I.e. until they develop, trial, sell, and produce a vaccine), so at least a year from now?
I live alone. I'm prepared to not go abroad for a year. I'm not prepared to not see my family/friends/get any exercise/any social contact at all/not have any income for a year.

RufustheLanglovingreindeer · 15/03/2020 22:57

Im invigilating exams

In a hall full of (potentially) corona virus spreading children 😩

BookSkark · 15/03/2020 22:57

Because we have no reason not to - we're being careful about hand-washing etc. but ultimately DH is still commuting to work so we're much more likely to catch it from him than a restaurant.

We are making a point of only going to local independent restaurants though. I live in a lovely area, with lots of family-run businesses - they are the ones that will struggle to survive this, so if I can support them, I will do.

Obviously if one of us shows symptoms, we'll stop. But until then, it's no different to going to work or the shops in my view.

Fochit · 15/03/2020 22:58

Everything is normal here.
Pubs, bars and restaurants possibly busier than usual.

I’m carrying on as normal despite having a family member with classic symptoms. They’ve self isolated as advised

chomalungma · 15/03/2020 22:58

We know very well that we will get this virus so what do we do come on here and create mass hysteria or do we try and create some normality for our d

By carrying on exactly as normal, do you think you are contributing towards the potential spread of this virus and not 'flattening' the curve - so increasing the load on the NHS?

Thetigeronthewobbelboard · 15/03/2020 22:59

We all take calculated risks. They are the individual’s risks to take.

I have barely been out in two weeks, however I went for dinner today. Other than I have been to the supermarket, the woods once and dropped my son at preschool.

Hollyhead · 15/03/2020 22:59

I went to a restaurant yesterday, none of us are unwell, it was quiet, and we practiced good hygiene (even antibaced the door handles for them) I fail to see the problem.

OwlFox · 15/03/2020 22:59

If it's the 'end of time' s many MN's want you to think, I would rather end my time having fun. I am now on a UK holiday and am putting money into the tourism economy. Yes I am taking a bit more precautions but I will not squirrel myself away, I do that on a weekly basis anyway (aside from work).

DippyAvocado · 15/03/2020 23:01

Wow, people on here are very blase. I have a feeling many are in for a nasty shock. Italy/Spain/France - all were in exactly our position a week or two ago. To be honest, it's all been left too late to get a grip on the virus anyway. The government should have done it's very best from the outset to try to emulate the success of places like Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan where early locking down and contact tracing was essential in containing the virus. Even if they had put out more serious messages from the start about avoiding crowds etc, people might be taking a bit more care in their everyday lives.

Not sure why people keep going on about the herd immunity theory. Even the government have dialled back on that now after being criticised by just about every scientific expert around the world.

I am especially concerned by the number of people who are being made to go into work by their employers. Of course some jobs cannot be done from home but the government really needs to start forcing businesses to allow those that can work from home to do so.

nellodee · 15/03/2020 23:01

Hollyhead, 2/3 of people are infected by a person who is pre-symptomatic at the time. I'll link to the study if I really have to, but it's getting late and I'm being lazy.

HeresMe · 15/03/2020 23:02

Because if we don't society will collapse.

Business needs to survive.

And more Mumsnet end of world fanatism is scary.

catspyjamas123 · 15/03/2020 23:02

I can work from home. If I couldn’t I might seriously consider quitting because I have savings and this is an emergency. It’s going to be bad.

idontlike789 · 15/03/2020 23:03

450,000 people dyi

By carrying on exactly as normal, do you think you are contributing towards the potential spread of this virus and not 'flattening' the curve - so increasing the load on the NHS?
No its allowing people to freely fly from country to country knowing full well that the virus was out there that's how it's got here .

I have to go to work why the hell do you not understand that . ?

Thenthatsthatthen · 15/03/2020 23:05

@nellodee it would be nice to think the government will help us but as it currently stands we’re not entitled to much. So I have to Assume they won’t. We’re the ones buying the pasta and canned goods not for fear of having to self isolate, purely because Im very worried that we won’t have the money to afford food in a months time if things carry on the way they are which is looking very likely. We have little savings but I think my massive (non voluntary) drop in hours is going to mean we have to eat into those, so by the time the inevitable happens and DH’s work shut down to we’re going to be in real trouble.

idontlike789 · 15/03/2020 23:05

. Of course some jobs cannot be done from home but the government really needs to start forcing businesses to allow those that can work from home to do so.
I completely agree otherwise this is not going to work . People are extremely worried more worried for their jobs than regarding catching Coronavirus .

mindproject · 15/03/2020 23:06

I went out for a few hours today - went on a bike ride, went to B&Q, walked around the city centre. I felt so much better for it. On Saturday I spent all day indoors on social media and I started to feel quite anxious hearing all the news, getting caught up in the hysteria.

Honestly, a walk around outside does wonders for the soul in a situation like this.

nellodee · 15/03/2020 23:06

If you work in farming, food production or distribution, animal care, utilities, armed forces and police, health, waste disposal or certain manufacturing, then yes, you need to go work (I'm sure I've missed plenty, but you get the drift). If you work anywhere else, you don't, and the government need to be putting measures into place to ensure you will not be harmed too much by staying at home.

MyDaughtersLeftFoot · 15/03/2020 23:07

I’m not showing symptoms. None of my household are at risk. We’re following guidelines to keep our hands clean, cough into tissues/elbows, not get unnecessarily close to people, and we’re hyper aware of developing symptoms. Checking temps daily.

What else am I supposed to do? I work in a factory. We’re terrified of it getting to us. But it will.

I’m even planning to go to Center Parcs tomorrow SHOCK HORROR

CurbsideProphet · 15/03/2020 23:07

We can't order our shopping online because of the doomsday preppers clearing the shelves and leaving nothing for the online order pickers. That means we have had to go out to actual shops 🙄 DH still has to go out to work until he is told he must work from home.

Perhaps the OP has a spare room full of loo roll and pasta and has a recent inheritance which means they don't have to work?

mindproject · 15/03/2020 23:08

By carrying on exactly as normal, do you think you are contributing towards the potential spread of this virus and not 'flattening' the curve.

Someone drew that curve on the back of a napkin, decided to put in on the News as fact and now everyone thinks it's a diagram we should all live by. It's unbelievable what some people will believe.

nellodee · 15/03/2020 23:09

The doomsday preppers absolutely did not clear the shelves. They sat on their thrones made of five year old toilet paper, and laughed.

MigginsMrs · 15/03/2020 23:10

the government need to be putting measures into place to ensure you will not be harmed too much by staying at home.

They should. They won’t.

eaglejulesk · 15/03/2020 23:10

Because life has to go on. People are reliant on money coming in to pay wages, and that won't happen unless people are out there spending.

mindproject · 15/03/2020 23:10

We can't order our shopping online because of the doomsday preppers

The doomsday preppers bought their supplies months or years ago, back when things were cheaper and nobody was panic buying.