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Original poster

We went for a walk and now I can’t stop worrying

56 replies

OregansHairStreak · 25/03/2020 18:58

We went for a walk to get some exercise and food from the corner shop to keep us going. Tried our best to avoid people but there were a few moments where we were definitely less than 6ft away from someone (like paying for the food, passing someone walking the other way on the narrow street, a few tight moments in the shopping aisles).

I wasn’t worried at first but now I feel so angry at myself for us going out. We’ve stayed in since the 13th of March (purely out of anxiety, no symptoms, not a high risk group) and now I feel like I’ve exposed us.

How do people cope with this feeling?! Or have I lost the plot and gone OTT?

OP posts:
Lordfrontpaw · 25/03/2020 19:00

I think you are worrying too much. Did you wash your hands when you got home?

Original poster
OregansHairStreak · 25/03/2020 19:27

Yes, we washed them as soon as we got back.

OP posts:
OrangeTwirl · 25/03/2020 19:31

Unless you know where the people you came into close contact with have been and who they have been with over the past 14 days then yes you should be worried.... sorry!

Washing your hands after the event won’t help

NotEverythingIsBlackandwhite · 25/03/2020 19:32

When you passed the person walking the other way, unless they coughed or sneezed near to you then no droplets containing the virus will have entered your orifices (eyes, nose, mouth, ears).

It would be best not to handle cash but, as you washed your hands when you came home, you have minimised any risk. You could clean any door knobs in your home you may have touched as an additional measure.

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 25/03/2020 19:34

I've been reading research that suggests that you need to have 15 minutes of exposure. I believe in Singapore they said 30 minutes. It's also spread by droplets and is not considered to be airborne apart from under very specific circumstances so realistically op your risk is absolutely minimal.

noblegiraffe · 25/03/2020 19:35

It’s different recommendations in different countries. The WHO recommend staying 1m away from anyone who is coughing or sneezing. I expect you met that.

YangShanPo · 25/03/2020 19:38

It sounds like you are fairly young and healthy so the risk is low. Thats why the government allows daily exercise and going to shop for essentials. The main reason for you to stay in is avoiding spreading the disease to those in high risk groups. Even going out to work is considered a reasonable risk for most people.

Ginnymweasley · 25/03/2020 19:43

orangetwirl I'm sorry but how is that helpful. We shouldn't be telling people to worry about going to the shop to get food for the 1st time in 12 days. Or going outside for a short walk. It's just going to increase people like the ops anxiety. In reality if she tried to stay far from people, didnt engage in conversation, washed her hands and didnt touch her face she has done everything right.

Hannah021 · 25/03/2020 19:44

Yeah its better to stay at home when u can... You'll find ppl with antigovernment opinion who think this is made up conspiracy yada yada ... Or plain dumb who simply cant process orderes... You cant avoid them once you are outside... So

Namethecat · 25/03/2020 19:45

We went on our walk today, a man was walking his dog which ran up to us , we turned around and had our back to him in case he came closer to get the dog .

Ginnymweasley · 25/03/2020 19:47

The op went out for food.... kinda essential I think. She took precautions when she could. How is telling her that she should worry and be scared and not go out at all helpful? She is already worried why do people delight in making it worse?

MiniTheMinx · 25/03/2020 19:52

Iv'e felt like this every time I have had to leave the house. We have been out for a walk once its got dark. Yesterday we only passed two people, but somehow I still felt a bit uncomfortable. Crazy. I'm going to have to psych myself up for the food shop or I might just send DH and make him sleep in the shed!

DressingGownofDoom · 25/03/2020 19:55

You can't live a totally sterile life OP.

screamer1 · 25/03/2020 19:58

I did this at the weekend and felt the same. Also took a delivery for work today that they dropped off and handed over to partner. Now completely fretting over home getting it.

Blondiney · 25/03/2020 20:05

Totally relate. I walked the dogs yesterday after being inside for a couple of days and had a full on panic attack. I came home and sobbed, convinced that the people I passed had infected me. To be honest I'd spent far to long winding myself up into a frenzy of fear, Mumsnet contributed to that to some degree.

Went out today and I was able to remain much calmer, for the most part. Try and get out everyday even if it's just round the block.

middleager · 25/03/2020 20:05

I was going to go for a walk today but when I got to the bottom of my road I saw it was busy (leads to park and shop) so I turned around sadly in groups.

fluffiphlox · 25/03/2020 20:06

There’s germs of all sorts all over the place all the time. We have to take the government guidelines seriously which I’m sure you are. You/I may or may not get this virus. It may/may not be serious. We will in all likelihood survive but it’s not guaranteed for any of us. Do what you can to protect yourself but you need to buy food and get exercise. Just keep everything in perspective.

PotholeParadise · 25/03/2020 20:11

You're worrying too much. If it was that contagious, it would have spread far faster than it has. If Jim Smith has it, then over roughly 14 days of being infectious, he will spread it to 3 to 4 people. Briefly passing someone in the shop isn't enough.

Wash your hands before you go out, don't lick anything while you're out, wash your hands when you get back.

peajotter · 25/03/2020 20:14

The biggest risk in anyone low-risk going out is inadvertently passing it on to someone who is high risk. As you have been isolating for 12 days without symptoms you can’t have done that.

Isadora2007 · 25/03/2020 20:14

Unless you know where the people you came into close contact with have been and who they have been with over the past 14 days then yes you should be worried.... sorry!

Bollocks. @OregansHairStreak don’t worry... worrying won’t change the outcome but WILL make you feel worse. All will be fine.

Babdoc · 25/03/2020 20:28

Pothole, the R value for Corona virus is aporox 2.5. Your hypothetical Jim will infect 2.5 people- and that is enough to cause horrific exponential spread. Each person he infects will infect two or three more, who between them infect five more etc - the case load runs into thousands very rapidly, just look at the horrific graphs on Worldometers, they’re now climbing almost vertically.

Realitea · 25/03/2020 20:31

You didn’t really have a choice.
Due to the lack of food around here thanks to the panic buyers, I’ve had to go around various shops just to get something, anything for me and my children to eat.
I’m terrified of myself or anyone in my family catching this virus and yet I’ve had no choice but to go out daily. Most of the time people aren’t keeping their distance either. My son had someone cough in his face in a queue the other day.

All you can do is take precautions and that’s mainly just washing your hands.

Thepeabody · 25/03/2020 20:36

@OregansHairStreak

You would hate what happened to me then today op. Was sneezed over by a cashier Shock Here's my thread from today

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3860760-coughed-over-by-cashier

OrangeTwirl · 25/03/2020 20:41

People are still minimising the risks. Sneezing is not a symptom of coronavirus. The government haven’t advised us to stay at home and go out only when essential for no reason! They haven’t shut the schools, colleges, shops and other businesses for nothing.

One day you lot will wise up. I guess not before someone you love dies alone from this deadly virus. Hope those - who think it’s essential to go to the supermarket every other day for milk and bread dont contribute to the agonising, lonely death of your loved ones. If you do, own it!

For those who think this virus is akin to common flu - you’re very wrong!

Why did I reply to scare the OP. I didn’t reply to scare OP. I’m being realistic. There is no point in telling OP “Awh you’ll be fine. Go out whenever you want. Nothing will happen. All’s good. You won’t contract coronavirus”. How do you know if the people OP has come into contact with is harbouring coronavirus? Fact is you don’t! Nobody knows. That’s why it’s so dangerous. Stay home. Stay safe. Only go out if essential. That’s the message. Nothing could be simpler.

The minute you leave your home you are at risk. Don’t believe it? Fine... go do it 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yes we all have to shop for food. It doesn’t help when people think it’s essential to leave the house every couple of days to stock up and cause crowding in the supermarkets.

Just fucking stay home unless it’s ESSENTIAL to go out. Another carton of milk or another loaf of bread this week is not essential!

YangShanPo · 25/03/2020 20:46

Dh and I are both keyworkers in the food industry and a school, we have been in to work around people and kids and of course we have been careful but it's not that easy to maintain the 2m at all times. People are going to be going out for work and to get supplies. Let's keep our spirits up and not be worrying too much. We are all doing our best to stay healthy and keep the country running.