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?!?!

I live in rural Norfolk. The shops and market were busy today. We have about 10 cases in Norfolk (that we know about). I think we are all expecting lockdown within the next day or two.

I went to the Gym on Monday. I can’t see it being open next Monday.

I know I need to stop walking round the park with my friend, but given I am quite deaf. I am dreading that. I can’t quite see the difference between going shopping with lots of other people around, and walking round the park with one other person. Walking with 6 feet between us will mean I can’t have a conversation. I have stopped going out for coffee, and meals.

I am checking my temperature each day, and won’t grow out if it hits 37.5 (My natural temp is about 1 degree lower than the official normal).

I have no excuse as I am a biologist.

Most are, but I just spoke to one person who's 67 and in two of the NHS listed risk groups and he said he's going out every day because he gets too bored not going anywhere He was just about to head to Sainsbury's for the second time today to pick up something totally non-essential after we spoke on the phone.

Everyone I know is taking it very seriously, it’s like a ghost town where I live. I haven’t seen any children being taken to school for days. I’ve seen a few dog walkers and it’s the only the elderly walking together, everyone else is on their own. All my friends are following all the guidelines.

This is what italy did. they didnt take it seriously and everyone used the schools being off as an extended holiday.

They need to do a lock down. The seriousness of the message isn't getting through to everyone.

^This.

Bozo pissing about advising this and that is not working. He needs to grow a spine and make the tough decisions a PM should be able to do.

However he was just desperate to be PM about Brexit. He is totally unequipped to deal with this.

So many people on my FB ar planning a frigging prom and asking so photographers, djs, caterers etc so they can have a huge party. I know and I fully understand how bitterly disappointed they are, I really do but FFS!!!!! So many cafes, pubs, soft plays,beauty salons etc are open and are offering discounts

I don't really know as I am staying well clear of pubs, restaurants etc etc. Live in a fairly quiet area and people I see out on a walk wave from 3 yards away. Had to go shopping this morning and while some were breathing over each other, others were standing apart in queues.

unfortunately we do have a high percentage of stupid so we are going to have a high percentage of sick and dead.

Not really, I have people wanting to arrange play dates (not a chance), my mum going about normal stuff (a couple of weeks ago her and my uncle went to a football match),. My in laws and one of my husbands colleagues have gone into isolation because they are in their 70s/80s. Apart from that and me, dh, and kids under duress, nobody else seems to be even social distancing. I really dont get it at all.

I'm actually a little surprised but all the people closest to me are taking thos seriously. My mum and dad are vulnerable and are isolating for 12 weeks. My closest friends who I meet up with for dinner regularly are all working from home and we have cancelled meeting for the foreseeable future to limit social contact.

I'm on maternity leave anyway and my children aren't school aged so we are also limiting all social contact. The only thing I have to do is go to supermarket.

Most people I know are taking it seriously w/o being hysterical.

But then most people I know didn't vote for Brexit or Boris so what I see isn't a true representation of what's going on.

Our village has created a support network to communicate and to help those in isolation. Until today the village shop hadn't run out of anything, but people are stocking up now.

The town is more quiet driving through, I don't know how quiet cos I haven't walked around!

I will need to collect a prescription from Tesco today or tomorrow and I haven't been to a supermarket since last Sunday (getting groceries for my vulnerable FIL) so I shall see what state it's in!

I dunno, not been out since last Friday...

Street looks quiet, seen folk out with dogs or school run. Seen a variety of different people out walking same dog which belongs to an older neighbour so I presume he has isolated. Lots of cars remaining in driveways. I will be allowed out from Saturday but I guess I'll mostly just be doing supermarket runs and then I'm working from home for the forseeable. Cancelled our anniversary dinner too.

I'm taking it very seriously and so are my friends but I think many aren't because they don't know anyone who's ill.

Even my friends in north Italy only know of one or two people who have come down with the virus. They are extremely worried but to many people it just doesn't seem real.

My 77 yo dad has just been out for a drink with his 60 yo brother. The brother is very fit and healthy so I doubt he is at risk if he contracts CV but he has been all over London this week on public transport so I think it was irresponsible of him to meet up with my older, less healthy parent. But then again, I also know my dad is a stubborn man who won’t take no for an answer.

Mumsnet is the worst most doom mongery place as far as coronavirus goes. Everyone I know is doing what they are told, following the rules but being very positive. But mumsnet was like this over Brexit as well, there's definitely an attitude that some musmnetters have where if you don't agree its the end of the world then you are a bit stupid.

Here in the west of Ireland people seem to be taking it seriously - I can't vouch for that because I haven't actually been out for a couple of days! My husband's still working (healthcare support) but 50% of his office are WFH and those who remain are keeping their distance from each other. He's taken his own mug, tea and coffee, and a packed lunch from home. Not much traffic on the road (that I can hear, anyway), and of course all our pubs and restaurants (and schoolos etc.) are closed. DH and I are limiting our social contact to one local friend who doesn't leave his own property - it's a 1/2 mile drive to his place, and that's as far as I'll be going for the foreseeable future, other than perhaps a trip or two out in the car at the weekend to deserted places where I can do a bit of photography. I feel as safe as it's possible to be at the moment.

Most people I know are taking it seriously w/o being hysterical. But then most people I know didn't vote for Brexit or Boris so what I see isn't a true representation of what's going on

Absolutely classic mumsnet

@HouseElfy

Pretty much same as that. I’ve come on Mumsnet for support as hardly any of my friends taking it seriously. One of my friends clearly thinks I’m being weird and said am I not even going to see her (errr no she galavants about all over the place!!). I feel a bit pissed off with her tbh as she knows my dad has underlying health issues so in the high risk category. I feel bad enough going to see him without not knowing where she’s been!!

Definitely agree with MN and media seeming to be more on the same page. Countries would not be shutting their borders destroying their economy for the fun of it! People really need to pay attention to what the government advice is and not cry about their social life taking a little hit!

I can’t believe the stupidity of parents hosting play dates and people out socialising as if it’s just a big joke.

I’m in Ireland and we’re taking this very seriously over here. Grandparents aren’t being used as childcare (amongst my friends anyway) and people are definitely staying home.

I think there’s also a bit of that idiotic British superiority complex at play. They look at Italy and think ‘we’re British not Italian, it won’t happen to us’.

When huge numbers are reported to be infected and the death rate suddenly soars in the U.K., maybe then it will get through to them, when it’s too late.

This makes me fume. I HAVE to go to work to support children of frontline staff (happy to do so) but some of the other students who are coming in REALLY don't need to be here and non-frontline parents are lying as well. That's NOT what I'm risking my health for.

If schools had closed completely there's no way I'd be in cafes and pubs, I'd be completely self-isolating and NOT putting myself at risk.

No and I’m really annoyed that they aren’t. Friends suggesting play dates for the kids. I’m the only to have said no and I got told play dates are allowed, just don’t go near old people. Yes, because five year olds can play with each other at a safe distance...

We will stay home until told otherwise.

I've actually been pleasantly surprised at how seriously the people I know are taking it. I'm from Manchester and know a lot of "hard as nails, be reet" guys who are also respecting the vulnerable and staying off work and staying in with their coughs. I didn't really expect it. I've been taking it completely seriously and haven't left the house at all since I became symptomatic.

Noone is out socialising here. The supermarkets and shops are quiet. We are going to the shops every couple of days but that's it.

Social distancing is about mitigating risk. You cannot eliminate it completely.

In a democracy there are probably around 75% people who will follow sensible social distancing advice - and around 25% who are unwilling, unable or have reasons to ignore it. But if COLLECTIVELY we reduce social contacts by 75% by self isolating that will massively reduce the rate at which the infection is transmitted within society and help to safeguard the ability of the health services to cope with at substantial part of the demand.

We are, as is everyone we know. When we do have to go out, other than supermarkets, shops, streets, pubs etc are nigh on empty.

If people were continuing as normal then logically businesses would not be worried about going bust, and people loosing their jobs. So clearly the vast majority of people are complying.

People in the UK haven't grasped what is coming their way. The UK is perhaps two weeks behind Europe in terms of the spread of the virus (or at least the reported spread) and yet already has far more deaths per million from Corona than countries such as Austria and Germany that have been in lockdown for up to two weeks.

A quick look at some figures suggests that the UK has got this badly wrong.

Austria has one-eighth the population of the UK, has been in lockdown for nearly a week and has had 4 deaths. A similar rate in the UK would give just 32 deaths, not 137 (as of 19/3)

Germany has a population of over 80 million, about 25% larger than that of the UK, yet has only 27 deaths, and has also been in lockdown for a number of days.

I am currently in another EU country, also in voluntary lockdown. This time last week I was going to work and socialising as normal. On Saturday everything closed down - pubs, restaurants, all shops except food shops and pharmacies. The schools closed on Friday. We are still allowed outside, but only to fetch food and medicines, and only alone or with one other family member. Short walks are allowed, but we are not to get within 1.5 metres of anyone else and must not congregate in groups of more than 4.

My son is a doctor based in intensive care. He is the most laid back person ever - and he is totally freaked. We have heard more from him in the past week than in the past 2 years - endlessly lecturing us on the need to stay safe. He seems to have dobbed us in to his siblings and they keep phoning now to check we haven't gone out. I guess they now know what we went through when they were teenagers and we were trying to get them to keep themselves safe ...