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?!?!

People are taking it seriously where I am. Lots of people out for walks but on their own or with people they share a house with. Local restaurants, cafes and bars are deserted. All the kids' activities are cancelled.

Absolutely taking it seriously round here. So many old folk with COPD and the like who will likely die because (some of) the young and healthy haven't taken precautions. It spreads when you're asymptomatic so you can still infect someone.
I want to know I've done all I can not to spread it to someone who may die.

@StillDumDeDumming

Sending hugs . My dad is in the high risk catogary and has to go into hospital next week for 2 minor ops that he has to have. I’ve only recently found out about his health condition so it’s hard to process and even harder not to hug him

This disease is out to get the older people. FACT!

So, they continue to go out couple shopping in the supermarket and complain the cafe is closed (because the staff are needed for the tills).

It’s not fair is it? But they have been warned. The risk is for THEM largely. Unfair? Of course it is but it is totally irresponsible and quite frankly selfish to carry on like this. Are they and their family honestly going to step aside when we have run out of critical care beds. Look at Italy. Literally lying on camp beds in tents waiting to die. It makes me boiling mad.

So please to all our oldies. Take some responsibility PLEASE

Would be interested to know what area posters are living in - judging by the figures, there are far fewer CV cases north of Luton than in London or surrounding areas.

I'm Midlands and there are 14 cases in the whole county, none of whom are in my area. I am a miserable antisocial beggar most of the time and rarely go out to crowded or popular places. The only time I regularly go out is to my deserted gym at 5am which is still open (for now)

My understanding of a lockdown is that you can go to work and back and/or to the shops and back but it has to be a direct line - no popping to see cousin Sue on the way and certainly no coffee shops or pubs open.

PLEASE can you all just wait till the weekend. Boris told people this comes into force at the weekend.

quite a few people are out and about getting food but the restaurants are starting takeaway or delivery services. No idea about the pubs I'm not going near them. People keeping their distance as much as they can.

If you are 70+ and your friend is 70+ and you are both being sensible they are the only person it is safe to see .

Blobby, they aren’t testing everyone with corona symptoms though, are they? So there are 14 confirmed cases in your home county. There may well be many more, they just haven’t been tested.

@HoffiCoffi13

I'm not saying that 'all of us in the UK' are not being sensible, but I repeat, there is clearly a substantial number of people who are not. See numerous posts on this thread and others.

Why is it galling to hear someone in another country explaining what happened there and comparing it with the situation in the UK? Where I am, the approach to containing the virus was swift and total. I've heard Johnson waffle on again today, and No 10 still says that a lockdown of London is inconceivable. It was inconceivable here too - then it happened in a matter of hours.

The point about lockdown is that it has to be as close to 'everybody' as possible, otherwise it is not effective. Clearly there have to be exceptions for key workers and key services, but by now, people should have realised that 'everybody else' means just that.

No. I have one relative who works in a hospital and has indirect contact with CV patients. His wife just took on a job working with the elderly in the community. I have another relative who is seriously ill, in and out of hospital at the moment, who was telling me about their plans for the weekend - a visit to a garden centre and their favourite restaurant. I feel like Chicken Little by comparison.

Oldie over here. I’m taking this very seriously. I was in Hong Kong just after the SARS outbreak and I’m aware of how devastating this has the potential to be. I’m just limiting outings to essential food shopping and using FaceTime to keep in touch.

And actually, latest analysis of the China outbreak suggests that those infected but asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) were the main cause of the rapid spread of the virus in China. Therefore, “I’m healthy, so I’ll carry on as I am, thanks.” isn’t as harmless as we’d like to think.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/16/coronavirus-infected-people-without-symptoms-are-driving-epidemics-fast-spread-says-new-study/amp/

You might not be coming into direct contact with a vulnerable person but the person serving you in the coffee shop/pub/garden centre/DIY shop may have a vulnerable person in their household.

I think they will keep saying no lock down until it's suddenly sprung on people with little or no notice. Pre-warning would just cause more panic and panic buying in particular.

Not near me they aren't.
Today when coming home from collecting dd from nursery she had a meltdown because we couldn't go in the swing park, it was full of kids off school playing.
Shops and cafes are all full. Supermarket was mobbed. People are going about business as usual.

Yes, they're all feeling the impact at this point!

• Friend A's sibling is stuck in a developing country and can't get out
• Friend B's sibling is stuck elsewhere (at least somewhere nice) and can't get out
• Boss' dad is dying from cancer - boss can't get there
• Colleague is 8 months pregnant and has just been told the father won't be able to be in the room when she gives birth unless rules change
• My entire family are separated from one another
• Other friend's GF has lost her job

So ... yeah, people are getting it in my own RL. They all understand that stopping this thing is their best shot at returning to normal soon-ish, so ... yeah.

@TheDogsMother

I was saying this earlier. Maybe the government hope that he most vulnerable will have more of a chance to prepare whilst reading between the lines without creating more panic buyers.

We haven't been out to shops, pubs, etc. for over a week now. Managed to get a home delivery and DH went to a petrol station M&S last night, armed with gloves and sanitizer, and got quite a few nice things for the freezer. I had to go to the dentist yesterday and they were being very, very cautious - which was great as I was worried about going. We go for a walk with the dog in the morning to the beach and hardly see anybody anyway, and I might go for a drive during the day just for different scenery. Am keeping all the jobs which need doing for when we HAVE to stay in.

ETA: none of them are sick, by the way. Just otherwise affected and smart enough to get that this is how we get out of this miserable situation!

Yes, my 93 yr old dad with cold is self isolating. As is my boss who has asthma. And loads of people social distancing.

Can't believe there are so many thick/selfish/irresponsible twats around. God, it makes me despair for this country.

@NanSlayer

The majority of the English population are brain damaged and brainwashed alcoholics not a good combination.

I'm assuming that was a joke ...

Today 16:44 NanSlayer

The majority of the English population are brain damaged and brainwashed alcoholics not a good combination.

Excuse me?

I'm a member of a few "Meet-up" groups, most have cancelled all social events - theatre trips, organized walks, pub meetups, singles events in bars etc. However one group, made up of mostly retired people, are still going out to pubs and cafes as normal, the organiser was most put out that people pulled out of an event last weekend at the last minute and sent a furious message that if people keep cancelling, she will kick them out the group! Most of the cancellations were due to age/health conditions and not wanting to risk it. The event was several 100 people in a hotel bar.