Are people you know IRL actually taking this seriously?

[HouseElfy]

Because the people I know generally really aren't. There seems to be a massive disconnect between mumsnet, social media in general, the actual news and what people IRL are doing. Yes, a lot of them are working from home now but other than that they are going shopping, to cafes, seeing friends etc. Just had a phone convo with a work colleague and she said even though the schools are closed now, "of course" they will still have playdates and so on because "kids would go mad" otherwise. My 76 year old granddad and his wife are still queuing for their pensions at the post office and going to their bloody bridge club. My FIL is still playing golf. My father says he is self isolating but then is still inviting visitors round for dinner. My own mother seems incapable of staying indoors longer than a couple of hours at a time and is currently out mooching about the shops.

Is it just me and people I know?!?!

@alloutoffucks Oh people have been panic buying and in some places there have been shortages of hand sanitize, formula, toilet paper, yeast, pasta and milk. However, they are quickly restocked as far as I know. Online there's a queueing system, so you can access the site after waiting in queue. Depending on the time of day it ranges from over an hour to just a minute (benefits of having twins that wake up at 3-4 am lol) and the popular items are all limited, e.g. you cannot buy 5 packs of toilet rolls. It's busier than usual. We could order for the next day, even sometimes the day same, but now there's a 2-3 days wait. So if you really need something, you'll have to go to a physical shop.

2-3 days wait would be fine. A month is impossible. And yes here items are limited.

A month is pretty insane.

A lot of elderly people want to use cash all the time as well. My granddad hates contactless.

@alloutoffucks can you skype/face time people or have a weekly phone call arranged with friends/family or a group chat on WhatsApp/Facebook.
I know it’s not the same as getting together with loved ones but it might help. Have you looked into any hobbies/exercise that helps improve mental health?

I fully understand where you are coming from, my nan has been self isolating for two weeks and is missing seeing the family.

It’s extremely challenging which is why we need to good community spirit to at least give each other a morale boost once in a while.

@GiantKitten I was actually furious my family member attended and they have regular contact with my grandparents.

All I kept thinking was “it’s a Coronavirus breeding ground”.

I understand people don’t want to stop living their life but we need to use our common sense and think of others it could pose a risk to.

Extended family member sent home from work on Wednesday, displaying symptoms. Parent of that family member went apeshit saying, "why did you tell your boss you felt ill? You're boss'll expect you to stay off for weeks and I'm not taking time off work." So the child's gone to the gym to get out of the house for a while. My mind is truly boggled by their thinking, or lack of.

It's strange. There's really mixed messages. I just read the article in The Guardian talking about emergency, contingency morgue tents going up, yet the death rate is in the low hundreds.

Schools closed, unprecedented, yet kids and families out in the shops and cafes. Passed a large Smyths toy shop earlier and the car park was rammed.

It's just baffling.

I am. And so are friends. No active socialising and yet ... today I trawled three different supermarkets trying to get certain items for my son who is autistic and has a very VERY narrow dietary menu. I’m really afraid he will starve.

Up to 10 kids playing outside my house right now. I've already had issues with this, as have other neighbours, without Coronavirus. My housing officer told me she'd warned the culprits parents that an "all ball games prohibited" would be going up and they've said they'd just ignore it. So good luck any one telling these idiots that their children should be indoors.

Photos on SM of a friend and her DH from inside a very packed restaurant last night. She's not long had major surgery. She isn't the sharpest tool in the box at best of times, but I'm appalled at her normally sensible dh.

Please read and forward to people you know

amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-age-victims/index.html

Over the last few days I've felt a change around where I live and think more people are suddenly realising this is serious. The streets seem quieter. I am seeing more people wearing gloves and masks etc. The shop I work in has had a steady flow of customers but about half as many as we'd normally have this time of year. I feel quite angry at the ones who are coming in still as we don't sell anything essential, but then we are open so I suppose I shouldn't blame them. I wish I could stay home though, I feel really scared. No safety measures have been taken to protect the staff, some of us are bringing in hand sanitizer but that's it. A lot of customers are still paying in cash, many of them tell me to keep the change. They are happy to hand me money, so put me at risk, but not so happy to take change and put themselves at risk. I think it's selfish. Though I'm touching everything they buy anyway, as I have to scan it so they should probably just take their change.

@NanSlayer wtf are you on about?

its difficult to socially isolate when you would normally get your shopping delivered, but there are no slots because of all the selfish cunts out there!

I've literally had to go to 7 different sodding shops today to get the food we need for the next week.. how the fuck am I supposed to isolate/distance when I have to do that just to manage to eat for the week?

i’m immunosuppressed as i take methotrexate for psoriatic arthritis, and my thyroid is laughably shit (waiting for surgery to remove it but who knows when that will happen).

so, i’ve been indoors since monday afternoon and will be here for the foreseeable. i’m thinking it’s going to be weeks but am trying to take it a day at a time. i suppose i could be considered ‘lucky’ that i’m disabled enough not to work, and my benefits cover my rent etc. i have asda deliveries booked ahead for the next 2 weeks.

i’ve no idea what other people are doing in my town, as i live at the end of a private road. my neighbours have been amazing, offering to get any shopping i need. luckily, i’m ok for groceries. the only thing that concerns me is getting my medication and topping up the electricity meter (pre-pay key meter).

i am feeling very isolated. my mental health is shit, and i’m trying to spend my days reading rather than internetting, and only putting the telly on in the evening. it’s dreary, but i can’t risk getting sick, so here i am!

i’d rather over-react and be safe, than be laid back and end up on a ventilator.

normally get your shopping delivered, but there are no slots because of all the selfish cunts out there!

What do you mean mrshusky? People who have managed to get a slot are selfish cunts? so if you had managed to get one you would surely be a selfish cunt too? Your logic is skewed!
I have a slot for next week - I’ve been lucky. No guarantee my stuff will arrive though..

I think it’s fair enough to say folk are being selfish if delivery is not their only option. My friend’s parents are in their 70s/80s and her dad is very frail. They live in rural Ireland and she has been frantically trying to get a shopping delivery slot for them as this is the only way they can get a big shop.

Lots of my friends are staying at home but many are still out at the pub

A mixture. Some are taking it seriously. Some are apparently ignoring it entirely, or in denial, or something.

Most people I know are taking this seriously.
They aren't lying about behind bolted doors moaning about the end of the world. They aren't going on about how they think they had it 2 months ago because they had a nasty cough. Or shoveling any vague, anxiety driven symptoms into the symptom checker and telling everyone they 'have it'.
Most people I know are being sensible, working from home where they can, taking precautions where they can, not going out etc..
Then again, I prefer sensible, normal people.

its difficult to socially isolate when you would normally get your shopping delivered, but there are no slots because of all the selfish cunts out there!

What's selfish about getting shopping delivered?

They aren't lying about behind bolted doors moaning about the end of the world.

Hey, no judging!

I mean, that is my usual modus operandi, to be fair.