I’m a cleaner in a hospital and I’m really scared

[Reallynotok]

My children’s school is closing.
My partner will be asked to stay at home.

Meanwhile I’m expected to keep going to work where I could easily pick up this virus and bring it home to my family, every day.

I’m shit scared of getting it myself because I don’t want to die and leave them and I’m shit scared of passing it to my family in case they die.

At work we’re all ‘keep calm and carry on’ of course. And I really want to do my job and do it well, I love my job.

But I’m sat here in tears scared out of my mind by all the uncertainty and the worry that we won’t be safe.

I’m fucking terrified and just need to share it somewhere because I can’t say this to anyone in real life.

We are taking clothes off in garage straight after work then putting in washing machine and showering before contact.

I have no words of comfort for you, but wanted to say thank you so much. Without the cleaners and other staff the hospitals would be even more stuffed than they are now. The background staff deserve praise and thanks as much as the frontline.

Hi OP

Do any of your children or partner have any underlying health problems?

Advice to NHS workers - No need to worry, I doubt you'll even catch it and if you do, you'll be fine. And who cares if your kids catch it.

^^Completely agree but we have no choice.

Fuckers need to provide the correct (and enough!) PPE, at the least though.

I think it’s having the children at home and if there is a lockdown then everyone will stay at home, except us who work in hospitals.

In housing here. With a kid at home. We'll be working until the bitter end. People will die without us, and they will die without you. Hopefully after this shit show everyone will remember who actually mattered. And it wasn't footballers, bankers or celebs.

@ 1300cakes exactly! That’s what I mean, I have lost my trust in the advice I’m being given at work now that my partner and children are being forced to stay home.

@ jadey0885 no my family are generally healthy.
I’m still scared though.

We are all worried, but you at least have job security and are bringing a wage into your home. You have a DH who is parenting your child, and I hope providing you with emotional support and taking care your home.

There will be a lot of people who will be called on to support key workers and those healthy workers who will keep the country safe and running.

@Reallynotok

If that is the case you are at very low risk of catching it and spreading it.. I would recommend you use the right PPE(face mask and gloves)

@ jadey0885 you know, they’re not providing us with face masks. Just gloves and aprons, as usual.

@Reallynotok
They should be providing face mask hun. They have been doing that at my hospital.

I would say to you not to panic. You will be fine my love. Your healthy and so is your family.

you are not going to die op, in the nicest way, please get a grip xxxxxxx

@ callmeadoctor I know, I know. I’m trying to get a grip and would be saying the same to a colleague if they said they were scared with a big fake smile plastered on my face

cleaners in the NHS will be on the list of key workers, so your dc will be going to school.

@ CatAndHisKit the school is closing down.
Even if there was a school to send them to I’d rather not.
If all other children are being kept off then mine will be too, DP will take care of them at home.

I was going to start this thread earlier, OP. You aren’t alone, there’s a lot of us in hospitals feeling it this week. It’s OK to admit it.

you are not going to die op

You can see why she is concerned though. Everyone else (who may not have any cases anywhere near them) is being constantly told to stay inside OR RISK DEATH FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY. MASKS DON'T HELP.

OP, who is in contact with diagnosed cases, is being told - stop worrying hun, it's not even serious and you won't pass it on to your family, just wear a mask if you're concerned.

As we are being constantly bombarded with the first message it makes it a bit hard to swallow the second.

ah ok, if DP can do it. They offer it for those key workers who can't have childcare, which is good.

OP you do need to stay away from elderly relatives if you have them, but children don't get symptoms or fight it well, and if your DP is young, he may haev fever for a few days. The positive of this is, you;ll haeve immunity if you do catch it, but it's not a given as you work with all the anti-bac chemicals, more likely to catch in in busy shops with veryone stockpiling...You wouldn't bescared anymore once you aer through it - so a silver lining.

Biggest respect to all my fellow NHS employees from domestics to doctors, I’m have no words I feel your fear, anxiety and question what the future holds but let’s stick together be extra kind to one another we have no other option.....x

Thank you so much for what you do. I hope you will get through this okay. Please try and remember that physically you (and your children) will almost definitely be fine, you are young and healthy. But emotionally, I know, it's going to be very very tough for you. I'm not surprised you are feeling scared. You're only human. A lot of people are scared, and you're on the frontline so it's even scarier for you. It's unbelievable, what's happening. I really feel for you. I'm glad that you love you're job. I really think you are going to be safe. I used to be a nhs ward nurse...I've been so worried about all of you since this thing started....as in your emotional wellbeing and how hard you are going to have to work. I know frontline staff in the nhs can get treated pretty badly by management, but I also remember how we supported each other whenever shtf ...please rely on your colleagues for support. I hope you will be okay.

@1300cakes

It's not contradictory in the slightest.

The vast majority of people who become infected suffer no or mild symptoms. They can still pass it on to people in high-risk groups who are likely to develop serious illness and be at risk.

If we were all fit and perfectly healthy this virus wouldn't be as remotely concerning. We're not however. The 'lockdown' advice is not to protect those who are otherwise fit and healthy, it's to minimise spread of the infection, and to try and mitigate the threat to high risk people.

And it's NOT killing young people in Italy. The under-65's 'on ventilators and dying' are people with pre-existing medical conditions, just like 99% of coronavirus deaths the world over.

It's perfectly sensible to close schools. Children are not at risk from the virus, but they can still infect people who are at risk, hence the advice not to ask/expect grandparents to look after children while the schools are closed.

@ 1300cakes you get it! You’re outlining exactly the reasons I’m feeling this way.
Thank you!

And thanks to everyone else who took the time to reply, I’ve read them all and am beginning to feel a bit better.

I was looking at my colleagues earlier today and welling up with tears, in case one of them dies! I know, I know, grip needed!

Everyone in the hospitals are scared. You’re
Certainly not alone I’m feeling that way. My partner is terrified not so much for himself but in case he brings it home. Would it help to open up
To your colleagues so at least you can talk to people who feel exactly the same way? Sending you love and thanking you for the hard work you do in scary circumstances

@ Wheezycheezeball I may well start the conversation nobody wants to start.
We’re all being asked to be upbeat and positive.
I can’t be the only one who is worried.
Especially with the school closures.
Really brings it home.

If you are a regular person as in without heath concerns you chance of dying is probably 1/1000 also the same for your kids. They should give you PPE though if they don't that is a disgrace.