To not social distance

[katedan]

I have a congenital heart defect and as a result have been advised to self isolate and work from home. I am a children's social worker and this will mean not doing home visits which will put additional strain on my colleagues and will be difficult for the children I work with. I am fit and healthy and run marathons so do not consider myself to have an underlying health condition. Obv if I had symptoms or any family I visit disclosed they had symptoms I would not visit but AIBU to not take this advice but continue to be extra vigilant.

Thank you everyone, you have helped even those who were a bit cross with me. Like a lot of social workers I am a workaholic and the idea of letting people down and putting pressure on my team which is under so much pressure already is very hard. I like the idea of covering people's admin and there is reports and assessments etc I can write from home.

Like a lot of people I am struggling with the speed and seriousness of this situation, even a week ago things seemed a bit more normal now schools closed, no public exams and everyone at home feels surreal.

@katedan It is really tough. One good thing is that the best thing to do for others is also the best thing we can do for ourselves, so that, amidst all the chaos, is at least, not a decision we have to make.

New 'norms' will set in. We'll find ways around problems. We adapt. It's what humans are good at. The error at the moment is to resist the need to adapt. To try to keep things the same.

That could happen if any social worker visited. The issue here is the OP's own health.

Yeah, except dismissing her own underlying health issue as not a problem shows the OP doesn't have much of a grasp of the reality of the pandemic.

I'm not convinced the OP is the type to be mindful of the rules so might well soldier on feeling crap with what she is determined to believe is 'just a cold'

@katedan cross post, glad to see you are going to wfh.

And this is why I cancelled health visitor today.

Please can people stop being so selfish. It is not just about you!

Nobody wants this, but many are doing exactly as they should and isolating. For people with your attitude to come along and put two fingers up at them and make the time they have endured potentially being lonely and miserable at home all for nothing.

Please just do the right thing.

Also, missed your last reply and now feel mean.

Apologies.

It's reassuring to know that social workers care about not letting their clients (sorry if that's not the right word to use) down but these are exceptional times and your own health must come first. I suspect CSWs will be bombarded with cases when we get to the other side of this and then you really will be needed. There will be a lot of work to come and the best thing you can do is to make sure you're fit and healthy.

@RuggerHug Yes schools being open and the children being more likely to be carriers would affect the likelihood of any social worker doing their job catching the virus. I recall your original comment suggested that the OP would be the carrier between families. Please re-read your original comment.

Going from one family to another? That won't spread it you're saying?

Are you serious? You really need to ask?
God save us from the stupidity.

Findawaytobehappy