People without underlying conditions shouldn't be afraid of covid-19 **MNHQ editing title to make clear that this is one person's opinion and not fact**

[Alialialiali]

The German mortality rate is 0.4% which is comparable to flu

Germany are testing more than any other European nation whereas we're only testing people when they're admitted to ICU which means that all the people with mild to no symptoms are not featuring in our mortality rate driving it quite high and scaring everyone.

AIBU in believing that people without underlying conditions should not be worried about getting the disease?

@Dyrne
Well by that logic your post makes it worse. If all people see are posts saying “it’s just the flu, nothing to worry about, stop panicking” then of course they’re going to freak out if they start struggling to breathe.
Honestly though, if this hadn't been going around I'd have thought nothing of it. It was tightness in my lungs, from a cough but it was the prospect of it getting worse... and reading all those stories of young/fit people ending up on respirators that had me in a right panic.

My friend is a Dr on the frontline in a NHS hospital.

She posted this yesterday

"This week I have seen a healthy 20 something year old with no "underlying health problems" be admitted to ITU because their lungs have failed. It'll take them months to recover, if they do. This person will have been exposed to covid19 2 weeks ago, or more.

So all you estate agents, car valeters, window cleaners, builders...you're not essential workers. Stay home.

The people who "just want to see my boy/girl friend, it won't harm" - not essential. Stay home.

The people who want to pop to the corner shop for their daily paper - not essential. Stay home.

By going out, by seeing other people, you could be spreading this virus and in 2 weeks, it could be your mother, your father, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandparent, who is "another fatality with underlying health problems". Could even be you.

Stop being so damn selfish."

Today they think that up to 50% of the UK could already have had it.

No I’m not worried about it for myself and immediate family. Likely coming out the end of it now anyway after we’ve all had hacking coughs (mine seemed to go to my chest) and some of us temperatures. None of us have had anything bad enough to normally make us miss work or school. For most people this will be their experience.

I am worried about my grandparents getting it and a few other elderly relatives. For them it could be life threatening.

I guess I’m also generally worried about anyone I know having an accident or another illness during this time and the NHS being overwhelmed.

And if we are comparing it with flu, then actually I usually take all sensible precautions against getting that, too. I get the flu jab, I use tissues, I try and avoid people that are coughing and spluttering everywhere.

There is no vaccination against Coronavirus, so I’m avoiding it the best I can by working from home and washing my hands.

There is a wide spectrum of misery to experience between “fine” and “dead”; and I’d rather avoid feeling like shit, thanks.

There's news and videos from young healthy people suffering badly from this going round the internet.

The problem is, not everyone knows they have underlying health conditions until something happens or they die unexpectedly.

There are now thought to be two strains of the virus, one more deadly than the other.

I think we should ALL fear this virus.

I used to think it would mostly be mild until the patient's started arriving.Im frontline,healthy ,not as young as I was and a front line nurse.I will get it but no longer confident that it will be mild.

If I lived in Germany I would be a lot less worried. Unfortunately I live in the UK

Mortality rates may be low, but people still can become very ill. My very close friend is a nurse. She initially wasn’t very worried, but after seeing patients in their 20s and 30s, without underlying health conditions, very unwell with covid 19, she had become much more fearful.

We also have no clue what the long term effects will be on people’s health, scarring on the lungs etc.

@PlanDeRaccordement
Too many people with a 0.4% chance of dying are panicking. Its the vulnerable such as those with an underlying respiratory or heart condition who have a death rate of 6-10% that really need to worry.

And this is another GREAT point. Instead of panicking for ourselves, if we panicked FOR the vulnerable, that would be more helpful. E.g panic buy loo rolls by all means, but for the vulnerable not for yourself.

Healthy young people without underlying health conditions have died.

Do you have a source?

I'm badly ill with what's almost certainly COVID-19. I'm not going to die, and probably won't go to hospital because NHS 111 is good at acting to help people cope with the symptoms. But my DH called 999 once, because i was literally choking on sputum that I couldn't get rid of however much I coughed, I've had to puke it up.

I've never reacted that way to flu, despite getting it badly last year; it turned to pneumonia, which can be treated with antibiotics. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a result of that though.

The biggest difference is that there's a vaccine against the flu, which vulnerable groups are encouraged to have. There isn't one for COVID-19, which is why it's dangerous to vulnerable groups. It also spreads very quickly.

I'm worried about getting it. I'm 29 with mild asthma so not a serious health condition. But even if I dont die from it, I still don't fancy having a nasty illness for a few weeks, potential life long reduced lung function etc.
There is quite a lot of grey area between "very mild flu symptoms" which some get and "death"

Im not worried about getting it

Im worried about passing it on

AIBU in believing that people without underlying conditions should not be worried about getting the disease?

Well, given that people are dying because of those underlying conditions, despite what you say about Germany, I think that yes, you are being just a teeny weeny bit U.

There are otherwise healthy younger people becoming critically ill and surviving but I don’t think some people understand the long term impact of being critically ill. It has a serious psychological impact on many previously healthy people including permanent cognitive impairment and PTSD.
From those who have recovered in China, we know there are some signs of ICU survivors having lung damage, reduced lung capacity and it is thought it could be permanent. I cannot stress how much the body goes through to recover from being ventilated with such a serious condition.

Sorry posted too soon.

It the people who won't die of it that are contributing to the spread.

Just to add, when they say “underlying health conditions”, it doesn’t mean people who are terminally ill either. It could mean the 55 year old man who sits next to you at work who has COPD but is otherwise very functional. It could mean your friend’s 65 year old mum who works part time, looks after her young grandchildren and goes to the gym and has type 2 diabetes.

Aliali

well I've kind of had it

What a ludicrous thing to say. You haven't been tested so you have zero idea whether you have had it. The fact you convinced yourself you needed a ventilator two days ago and now you feel fine? That is not proof you have 'recovered' from Corona. Not at all.

@Mittens030869
I'm not going to die, and probably won't go to hospital because NHS 111 is good at acting to help people cope with the symptoms. But my DH called 999 once, because i was literally choking on sputum that I couldn't get rid of however much I coughed, I've had to puke it up.
Sorry to hear. Hope you get better soon. Yeah my symptoms were much worse than the flu which usually barely lasts a day. I was feeling very bad for about 2 days. And chest felt like I'd smoked a few packs the night before.... so not saying it's nothing and I could see why vulnerable people are dying. But it shouldn't panic people when they get it... unless they have underlying issues.

I am not particularly worried about and nor am I afraid, because worrying and being scared are complete wastes of my time and acheive nothing. However, that does not mean I am not taking it seriously and taking sensible precautions. I will also be very glad to hear it when they have found medicine and eventually a vaccine to stop this. But I am not spending my days being frightened, no.

I think the term 'mild illness' or 'moderate' have been over used. Mine will probably be listed as 'moderate' and yet at one point I felt like I was losing consciousness, as I was literally almost unable to breathe.

YABVU

Maybe the young people with no underlying conditions are unlikely to be very ill or die. But having mild symptoms means that they’re more likely to go out and about spreading it to those who are at risk of getting very ill and dying.

OP, yes, I also can see why old and vulnerable people can die, because you really have to fight to keep going, and it's exhausting.
But if your flu only lasted one day, I do suggest that you haven't actually had it, but only a cold. Flu is actually very draining.

I really want to punch someone.
My DB who is only mid 30's and has a DW and 3 DC's is showing symptoms, so he is safe.
But young people without underlying health issues are currently in serious shit, hooked up to machines - so there's that.

It would not surprise me at all. I was thinking 0.6%.

The problem is the media reporting. They are out of their depth.

It could easily turn out to be just a flu. It is of course impossible to explain that to the masses. The real virus is an outbreak of mass hysteria based on nothing more than a few misleading and statistically meaningless figures.

Unless you are a mathematician specialising in mathematical modelling and involved in this field don’t even bother responding.

In the meantime follow government guidance, stay in and be meticulous because the NHS cannot cope.