People uneccessarily self-isolating are annoying me AIBU

[Alialialiali]

self isolation is different to social distancing

self isolation you enter when you or anyone in your family develop a cough or a high temp or you/family member are in a vulnerable group

social distancing is what we should be doing as a minimum all the time. ie. minimise going out.

All those people self-isolating at the drop of a hat you are causing the problem. For self isolation, you WILL need to stockpile food etc because you want to eliminate going out for 14 days.... But if we all self-isolate then we are all going to need to stockpile which is what everyone has just done last week. ie. why the government didn't mandate it in the first place... cause of crazy people.

We are in week 2 of this and we need to have the stamina to get through to month 18. You are not going to do this by self isolating for all that time.

So, people self-isolating and therefore stockpiling are annoying me... AIBU?

@Aesopfable
But that is not true is it? If we wanted it to be over quickly we would just have carried on as normal. Lots of people would get it, lots of people would die, but it would be over quicker.
lol. I think some people are thinking eradication is still an option. I don't but also I can't say it's not cause i can't prove it.

I don't need to isolate but I am to an extent. My husband works from home anyway, and I was retraining which has all now been put on hold so I'm at home looking after the kids. As soon as cases reached double figures in this country I went and did a huge shop and a mountain of batch cooking so I didn't have to be a part of the panic buying fiasco that is now going on. The only thing I will need to go out for is milk and fresh fruit and veg if I can get it. You don't need to have enough for 18 months. The panic buying will calm down and supermarkets will catch up eventually and everyone will be able to get what they need.

Some people on my street are self isolating out of fear not because of underlying conditions. They rely on me and others to get things they need. It has slightly bothered me as it’s like they aren’t worried about me catching it as long as they’re ok. But then I just thought well they’re doing what they need to do and by them staying home the number of social interactions in society as a whole is reduced. Overall it’s a benefit to all of us for this to happen.

Jesus wept. Having enough food in the house to feed the people that live there, for 14 days, is NOT stockpiling.

Wiping the shelves of 20 tins of tomatoes is stockpiling

Wiping the shelves of all of the hand gel (when you could buy it) and selling it online is profiteering and selfish cunty behaviour.

Save you’re ire for those bastards and stop bitching about people getting enough food in for 14 days.

I’m not asking friends/family to put themselves at risk of going shopping for me simply because I couldn’t get my act together to be self sufficient for 14 bloody days.

I really feel for people who can’t afford to do it, but if you shop sensibly, most people could buy enough food for 14 days (unless you have a large family maybe). It might not be your first choice if food, but it’ll keep you going.

I have diabetes & high blood pressure (probably through the fucking roof right now) so I am avoiding any contact with people. I am trying to a) keep myself safe/alive & not be a burden on the NHS -though I doubt they’d even bother to ‘waste’ a ventilator on me tbh I’m still going for early morning walks around the park - no one else around at all to help with my blood pressure, blood glucose, mental health & lung function and I will do anything my elderly aunt or good friends absolutely need, but I’m actually hoping not to need to go out and NO ONE is stepping over the door step. NO ONE.

I helped a friend out this week as they suddenly had to self isolate (family of 5) but I was NOT happy about having to go into a supermarket to buy food when I had prepared not to have to and advised her to do the same. I did it because I love them, but come on people get yourselves better organised. You NEED to be prepared to stay at home for 14 days at the first sign and not then go shopping spreading it around!!

And For the love of fuck STOP sending someone I your house out for a loaf of bread/pint of milk or ANYTHING ELSE if you are self isolating because one of you has symptoms.

Ask yourself how many people you’re prepared to kill for that loaf of bread.

@pennylane83

What if you've already self isolated for 14 days therefore of the assumption that you are now clear of symptoms - are you expected to continue to social distance for the next 12-18 months.
This is a VERY good question. What if you're one of the lucky few to have been tested, then recovered... now you're under no restrictions?

OP I have a cold. At least it’s probably a cold. I am only coughing intermittently and my temperature is normal. So far. Would you like me to come over and give you a lift to the shops?

I should add that although not official symptoms, I also have a banging headache, a wierd sensation in the centre of my chest and a metallic taste in my mouth. All of which people who have had CV have identified as symptoms. Would you still like to get in the car with me?

Staying home looks really sensible right now.

My family are self isolating without symptons because we have very severe immune issues and asthma issues.

I can work from home.

Honesrtly.... who do you think you are to judge people who take this seriously and are afraid? The bigger problem is those who think it is all over blown. I doubt the government is hastily eredcting makeshift morgues in westminster for shits and giggles.

@Moogee - what you did, your "huge shop" that was panic buying.

The government guidelines are not clear enough and there is not enough testing going on. I don't know whether they have a shortage of test kits or what the problem is.

The self-isolate if you have a cough thing is wishy washy.
People who suspect they have symptoms of COVID-19 should be able to have a test done. We have drive-in centres here in Austria. If they are positive they are put into home quarantine and not allowed to leave the house for any reason - including to get food.

Social distancing applies to everyone in the UK. If people are not going to take this seriously then the government will have to put more measures in place to deal with this.
Social distancing should mean not having contact with others outside your family other than for work, purchasing food/essentials or to help others who need it.
It does not mean carry on gathering in groups on the beach or in a shopping centre etc.

I suspect the government will announce tougher measures next week as it seems people just aren't getting this.

I agree we should all stay in as much as humanly possible. What confuses me and makes me a bit anxious is that as soon as you do a big shop you start using it, so right from the next day you have less and less in. We're limiting snacks and being sensible but the temptation is to think while I'm well I'll nip out and get a few more bits, and even with brief trips and hygiene precautions that's going to mean more trips to shops than I would normally do.

I don't have a big network around me and a few people i know are in isolation themselves anyway. I haven't been able to get a delivery slot so it's really hard to know what to do for the best.

We are not trying to eradicate. WE but obviously not YOU are attempting to limit the spread so their are enough respirators for those who WILL need them.
By joining in with self isolating we will all get our chance of treatment if we need it otherwise we will see a massive death rate in a very short period of time. Not only the elderly but all age groups are potentially at risk if they don’t receive effective treatment whether it is for COVID-19 or meningitis or trauma care or cancer.
People are still going to have heart attacks,stokes etc despite this pandemic they should still be able to access life saving treatment. They shouldn’t have to wait in a queue of people with Covid19 who didn’t think self isolating or social distancing applied to them.

If you are showing symptoms, then you do not go out for 14 days, and neither does anyone in your household. Even if you are wearing a mask, you can still pass it on if it is e.g. On your clothes.

If you don't have anyone nearby to ask to do a food shop for you, then you do need to stock up in advance, but actually this is not that much food unless you are a large family.

Social distancing is different to self isolating - everyone should be social distancing whenever possible.

Even if you know you have had the virus you should social distance, as you could still pass it from person to person eg by shaking hands and there is also a potential risk of reinfection.

Apologies for getting cross.

Truth is I am really scared.And I do NLT think people are taking it seriously enough.

I have a friend who said they got really bored so they and some friends are having sunday lunch togther. That is 11 people goiung to hers when she has a bed ridden MIL with COPD living in her house.

Good one. She and her DH are university educated professionals whoi are not short of brains.

I thought.

You say you’ll get a delivery. Have you tried to book a slot recently?

You ask what you should have done. What you should have done is gradually built up some extra stocks over the last month.

I am going to report this thread OP

Why?

The more people get told to STAY AT HOME the better!

You can’t argue with stupid, but you can try to make them slightly less stupid (and dangerous)

People shouldn’t just stop judging others.

If people self isolate then so be it, if others are happy with their social distancing then so be it, if people want to mix with their family then so be it. We all make decisions based on what’s best for our family.

Stop judging!

@PheasantOnACushion

Fucking hell. I thought that was selfish & stupid before I got to the bit about the MIL

Just goes to show education isn’t everything & its fucking usjess uf you weren’t in the lines for common sense!!

Poor MIL

@Alialialiali that batshit came from Dominic Cummings.

In regards to the OP post it is unreasonable.

Two households I know have had to self-isolate for 14 days. They both got deliveries of medication and food delivered to their doorsteps by people who weren't self-isolating.

@MamaGee09

Stop judging

I’ll stop judging when stupid fucking people start behaving themselves and stop spreading a deadly virus around that will kill people who aren’t being so ducking stupid.

It’s not just themselves they’re putting at risk, it’s OTHERS - others who are vulnerable.

Selfish wankers need judging& calling out!!

So am I one of the people you think are overreacting? Because my youngest DC had a fever but below 37.8 and I had a minor cough and a tight chest of the type I would normally work through for fear of my office sickness management policy. I spent hours trying to find a definitive answer about childrens' low grade fevers and variations in temperature with measurement method, and the definition of persistent, and then thought, why the hell am I splitting hairs about this and isolated us. You could call that the drop of a hat, I suppose. I call it the precautionary principle.

My 'hoard' was built up over months following the brexit vote and I am so glad of it now. We were able to sidestep the panic buying entirely.

IMO I'm not causing a problem, I'm doing my very best to prevent one.

Two households I know have had to self-isolate for 14 days. They both got deliveries of medication and food delivered to their doorsteps by people who weren't self-isolating

But why should those people have to put themselves at risk to do that because stupid people can’t prepare for stay at home for 14 DAYS.?!

@SoundofSilence 🌷exactly. Hope you & DS are both better soon & that you won’t hesitate to self isolate again if you get further symptoms (lots are worried about work reaction if they do it more than once, but it’s what needs to happen) take care xx

I reported the thread because OP said is she had symptoms she would go out if she has to or put on a mask. In case you didn't read that bit...

I take your point but I really don't want people to believe her.

We are a family of 4 and effectively self-isolating from today (DS2 has just finished school, the other 3 of us have hardly been out for 5 days). We have 2 asthmatics in the family but we also think it is the responsible thing to do.

We have not stockpiled food, but probably have enough of most things to last for 2-3 weeks.

I have a long-standing veg box delivery, which includes bread, milk & eggs. We are luckier than most in that respect. It's still not enough for 4 though, as usually there are only 3 of us at home.

I don't think I'm ever going to be able to get another online supermarket delivery so will be asking the youngest and fittest of the DC to do one shop a week at the supermarket. We will plan it very carefully & if he can't get everything we need, that's too bad, we'll do without.

I think this is the responsible thing to do.

There is a middle ground between social distancing and self isolating. If you have an underlying condition (unless you are in the super vulnerable group) you are advised not to go out except for exercise alone unless essential to go to the shops, so ideally not at all. It also makes sense for family members to limit shopping trips otherwise they might pass it on to you.