Went for a small walk ... and came into contact with another person

[ocdhelpcovid19]

Still panicking. Went for a very short walk yesterday in the fields behind our house . Very rural .

Lo and bloody behold a cyclist came past . Cycled past us within 4 feet of us . Said hello as he passed . He wasnt facing us and still cycling and had a helmet on .

I can’t stop picturing the virus cells leaving his mouth and entering mine through the air . I’ve googled and it says you only have to breathe the same air to catch the virus . I’m checking my temperature regularly but I’m now thinking I’ve got two weeks until find out if I’m going to die aren’t I .

Same with Tesco delivery man last week . He was at least a metre and a half back though . But I’m so dreadfully worried .

That doesn't count. Contact is 15 minutes or touching things they've touched

If can’t calm it down in next hour or so will ring helpline

Please don’t do that. It is difficult enough to get through when you actually have symptoms or a 2 year old you can’t rouse. I really do understand how anxious you are but could you please try a meditation app or talking to a friend instead? The simple habit app actually has a free corona virus meditation at the moment. There are lots of FREE meditations, you only have to pay if joining premium. I hope you find some thing to help calm you

www.simplehabit.com

Oh not no Coronavirus helpline . I meant like Samaritans or something . I’ll try that meditation too . Thank you

Unlike me, but I am trying to be super strict with this as not only am I in a risk group anyway but I’m now terrified that I would not be intubated because in risk group (I didn’t know this until I read another thread on here - I was already being super careful and asked DH to limit shop visits to one a week, although the guidance on family members isn’t clear). I went for a walk where I thought I don’t normally meet anyone, but lots of people out today not observing the distance (and multi-generational family groups with 70 plus parents or perhaps just people who’ve had hard paper rounds) and going into the centre of the village the pavements are too narrow. But I do understand that you need to be in that proximity for quite a while generally speaking for it to be an issue.

Unless he sneezed or coughed in your face you will be fine. I hardly think someone with active coronavirus is going to be riding their bike at speed anywhere. You need to calm down

I'm touching money, people are talking to me every few minutes. I work in a supermarket. So far I'm OK. I know how terrifying health anxiety is. I can't tell you to not worry.
But I'm OK so far. My colleagues are all OK, there are 80 of us in branch. Only one has symptoms. He got them 10 days ago. We're literally in the absolute thick of it. I'm sure you'll be fine.

That's not enough exposure. You haven't caught anything from him.

Oh dear. Your health will likely suffer more by remaining inside permanently than by being within 4 feet of one other person for a couple of seconds. I know we have to take this seriously but this is ott.

Please do supplement with vitamin D and do find a way to exercise every day if you are honestly not going to go out at all.

OP - you won't have caught it from him.

Being outside will have disipated 'his' breath

Don't worry OP. Not enough contact for transmission.

The odds are you’ll be fine.

Try not to worry. I know it's all consuming mentally. Just keep doing what you are being sensible X

It is extremely unlikely outside where you are not breathing the same air at all really

If you are worrying about your supermarket delivery why not just shout through the door and say thank you can you leave it in the step please? It's all paid for remotely anyway. I'm sure you won't be the only one doing this.

Maybe you could do some CBT for anxiety OP.

I have a sign on my door asking people to knock or phone and leave. Im also putting it on delivery instructions if I order. I think most delivery people are doing this as a matter of course or its exposing them to potentially tons of possibly contagious people!