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Original poster

Are people you know IRL actually taking this seriously?

322 replies

HouseElfy · 19/03/2020 14:16

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?!?!

OP posts:
wrongsideofhistorymyarse · 19/03/2020 20:47

A friend with symptoms asked of I fancy going for a drive on a few days. No.

My sister and family are isolating because BIL has symptoms but want to go to the shop.

Orange89 · 19/03/2020 20:51

Ok this is definitely coming in waves with me. One minute I’m ok then thinking the worst. A lot of my friends still think it’s nothing and will continue to go out. I’m so worried about my dad going into hospital next week (he’s high risk) and his partner has cancer to and is a career . Surely she shouldn’t be working ?

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/03/2020 20:56

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!

Well, looking at it from a different perspective, I can't get any slots and we are actually in isolation as I have it. All the selfish cunts trying to socially isolate but not actually in proper isolation have taken all the slots.... Hmm

Theredjellybean · 19/03/2020 21:00

I have symptoms.. I am fit well not in at risk group.. And I can say its not nice at all.
I am on day six.. So my dp who is in our fkat in West London has today driven a cross central London to east London (still zone1) to collect our two dds. And has driven them back to our house in Cornwall.

He said Central London is looking pretty normal. Traffic a crawl, people on streets, cafes, restaurants open, people queuing outside pret on Baker Street. Buses running as normal and work men on all building sites.
We drive in zone 1 alot.. I believe him that nothing much has changed.

Its really unfair.. Our other dds have had their a levels cancelled but the majority of the public can't heed simple straight forward advice. If people can ignore the govt and Swan around as normal why can our kids not sit their exams.

Them tonight on the one show.. Presenters sitting so close they were touching shoulders... I noted later in the programme they moved apart.. Bet viewers were complaining. Plus guests in the studio ffs...

I am. Thinking the govt need some proportion to get it.. Steadily over time to have a flat curve.. So enforcement of home isolation at this stage unlikely.

But it seems unfair that there is no school and no exams yet anyone who fancies it can be wandering round and going to the pub.

MrsHusky · 19/03/2020 21:42

its selfish when you never usually have your shopping delivered, and suddenly decide to.

I get mine delivered because i'm disabled (And also one of the 'high risk) people, todays jaunt just to get food for myself and my kids has absolutely killed me, everything hurts, I will be useless for the next two or three days.

so sorry, but yes, i'm pissed off.

MrsHusky · 19/03/2020 21:44

but by all means, focus on that bit and not the 'can't isolate when I have to go shopping just to get food I normally have delivered'

WaxOnFeckOff · 19/03/2020 21:52

But that's not what you said @MrsHusky. You said social isolation which is really for folk who are perfectly well but just trying to avoid too much interaction.

You are self isolating because of your health. You are in the same boat as folk like myself that have been told that none of us are allowed out who also can't get slots.

Apologies for the confusion and I can now see why you are annoyed.

Have you looked for groups that are offering support with shopping etc? You might manage to get a click and collect slot and someone could collect for you? Some of our smaller local shops are offering free delivery of groceries, butcher meat etc.

TackyTriceratops · 19/03/2020 21:55

People like the one described in your op are why we will be in lockdown by next week.,

TackyTriceratops · 19/03/2020 21:59

It's worth noting that France were closing schools this time last week and lockdown came in on the following Tuesday. Similar pattern elsewhere.

Fines for non essential outings.

TackyTriceratops · 19/03/2020 22:01

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.

I wonder if there's any way of working with a particular supermarket on making sure you can access those key foods?

I teach asd pupils and know how hard it is. This will be a common problem.

Cornettoninja · 19/03/2020 22:15

But it seems unfair that there is no school and no exams yet anyone who fancies it can be wandering round and going to the pub

I’m sad to say but I think with the benefit of hindsight you won’t think those still going to the pub are quite so ‘lucky’ in comparison.

Madhairday · 19/03/2020 22:24

i haven’t met anybody displaying the weeping and wailing angst that seems to be on MN (especially about exams being cancelled)

My DS is in y11. Believe me, all his friends and their parents are incredibly upset about this. Their last day at school is today/tomorrow. They've been working so hard to have the rug pulled from under them. They feel really shocked and upset. It's is not an overreaction on MN, it's indicative of what's happening IRL sadly.

GiantKitten · 19/03/2020 22:51

I have many friends on FB with kids in Y11 & Y13 & they are all genuinely upset about having the last few months of their school lives cancelled.

It’s a massive rite of passage which can’t be postponed or replaced. It’s very sad for them.

lifestooshortandsoami · 19/03/2020 23:30

No most people I know aren’t taking it seriously and don’t understand social distancing. Friends going out for tea at pubs, visiting others.
Close friend is in the risk category- works in call centre environment- work said wasn’t risk even though government guidelines and gp said otherwise. They can’t offer working from home.... they’re suggesting social distancing measures Within the office/ another office?

Scares me that people aren’t taking it seriously. How hard is it to just stay in and not see people for a while?!

WyfOfBathe · 20/03/2020 00:06

its selfish when you never usually have your shopping delivered, and suddenly decide to.

What about people who are suddenly isolated with suspected coronavirus? Or elderly people with heart conditions who usually struggle to the shops?

Nononoandno · 20/03/2020 00:10

Italy went in to lockdown after 7 days and 17 deaths...

Are people you know IRL actually taking this seriously?
Gingerkittykat · 20/03/2020 00:49

its selfish when you never usually have your shopping delivered, and suddenly decide to.

Is it selfish for me in self isolation to want to have my shopping delivered? As it happens there was no slots at all bookable in the supermarkets that deliver in my postcode.

I understand why you are frustrated but taking it out on other potentially vulnerable people does not help anyone.

spamm · 20/03/2020 04:37

People are generally taking it very seriously here in Virginia. Only left the house in the last 7 days to buy food and walk the dog. I am working from home, school is closed for the foreseeable future - probably until September now. We meet people in our neighborhood on walks, but we stay apart and talk at a distance. I have stopped our DS from seeing his girlfriend as she is in a very high risk group, and I had a possible exposure 7 days ago. I drove out tonight to pick up dinner, and the place I ordered from is only doing takeout - you order online, they deliver it to your car. It was so sad to see our local area so quiet and deserted - I actually had an ache at the pit of my stomach, but it is the right thing to do.

As a positive, I had an online happy hour with my work team this evening and it was great to hang out and just catch up. I banned all talk of work and we just chatted about family, food, pets and the craziness going on. It was wonderful.

Monty27 · 20/03/2020 04:46

Those that aren't taking it seriously are the spreaders. Angry

SoFuckingAnnoyed · 20/03/2020 05:09

I’m taking it seriously, DH isn’t.

We live in London and he’s been in work all week. He’s currently coughing with a sore throat on the sofa saying Coronavirus is fake.

I’ve been trying to persuade him not to work all week and he’s been acting like a petulant teenager. Making me feel like shit.

He says he’s not going in today so I was like “Oh? Why not? It IS fake after all.”

I’ve lost almost all respect for him over this week.

HulaHoop2 · 20/03/2020 05:20

I’m in Canada and people are taking it quite seriously here even though we have relatively few cases. Buses are currently “free” because the front doors are closed and the driver’s area is cordoned off with tape so you can’t get near him/her. Schools and nurseries closed on Friday. Clubs, pubs, gyms, cinemas, museums, etc. closed on Monday. Most restaurants and shops except supermarkets and pharmacies are closed. Ikea for example has closed all its stores but you can only do click and collect - they are only allowing one customer in at a time and you have to sanitize your hands and stand behind a Perspex screen while you collect your order. Everybody who can is working from home. In general, there are far fewer people out and about. The only people who don’t seem to be all that bothered are students and the elderly. I see a lot of old people out walking and some of them have approached my pushchair to touch my babies and I have to tell them no for their own good as well as ours.

It worries me to read about how lax people in the UK are being as all my family and friends are there.

HulaHoop2 · 20/03/2020 05:22

you can still* do click and collect.

FoxEars · 20/03/2020 05:39

We are as are most people we know.

Am still seeing whole family outings to Tesco's though and grandparents picking up children from school.
My neighbours don't seem to be taking it seriously either and a lot of posts I read on fb seem to think that it's one big joke .

FoxEars · 20/03/2020 05:40

sofuckinannoyed

Oh my, how ignorant.

That's awful.

Hope you're ok 💐