Those who initially said they weren't at all worried about Covid-19...

[Emcont]

Do you feel naive at all? Maybe the wrong word..

My DH wasn't concerned and was one of the 'it's the flu' and he is now absolutely petrified of what it may do to his parents.

I was nowhere near as concerned as I am now. I was pretty naive in thinking they would be able to stop it like the Ebola outbreak

[Isawthathaggis]

I was not worried about Clovid 19, I am still not worried.

I am deeply scared for the economy and the resulting cutbacks to the NHS / Schools / roads / disabled / elderly.

[catsandlavender]

I feel the same - I wasn’t worried about getting it myself and I’m a bit more worried now than I was. However I’ve always been really worried about my parents getting it.

[Casino218]

Nope I was totally apocalyptic from day 1. In fact I was talking about this a few weeks ago and myself and my boss were saying why does no one else see the shit storm that's coming?!

[Honeyroar]

I didn’t take it at all seriously initially. I thought everyone prepping and panicking were OTT (still do,,sorry!). But when it got closer and closer I became more worried. I am cabin crew for an airline and have flown through 9/11, SARS, Ebola, terrorism, foot and mouth etc without much effect, so have a carry on attitude. I was worried to be flying in close proximity to many people with little PPE. However since I’ve been furloughed and home I’m quite relaxed. I’m keeping my distance, observing lockdown and looking after my at risk family knowing I’m not bringing risks home from work.

[isabellerossignol]

I think I was quite pragmatic about it, and I still am. I still do think there was a lot of scaremongering on Mumsnet. But yes, I did underestimate how unprepared the UK was for it. I assumed that the health service had basic equipment for starters.

Having said that, I still don't know anyone who has had it, or suspects they have had it. I don't even know any friend of a friend of a friend type connections.

I am deeply sorry for what the bereaved families are going through though. I think the pain of being unable to have a proper funeral for example, or just to have the support of friends and family in person, is unimaginable.

And yes, of course I also worry that this could happen in my family too.

[Clevererthanyou]

I was concerned from the start, not “Oh LORD the sky is falling we’re all gonna DIE!!!” but sensibly concerned. My employer and one of the Directors on the other hand wouldn’t allow any conversation about it and wouldn’t make any plans about what to do if one of our clients or staff became ill. PPE was limited and they wouldn’t order more in for our staff because they didn’t want to take it seriously. When we were all advised to work from home my employer decided that he prefers to work in the office so we all have to work in the office and he lied to our governing body about our ability to work from home. I work in the care sector. I’ve been signed off as unfit to work by my gp for an undetermined amount of time because of the toll my employers attitude has taken. They still aren’t taking this seriously.

[Moondust001]

I haven't changed my name, I am definitely not naive, I always knew it wasn't flu, and nor am I an hysterical gibbering wreck. In other words, no I am still not disturbed by the coronavirus, but I am definitely disturbed by what it is turning the economy and the human race in to. For those who think that equates to not "being careful" or paying due regard to the guidance, that is where people are being naive. I am "careful" about lots of things, including having my vaccinations, driving safely, and not plugging 27 appliances into a single plug socket. None of that means that I need to live in fear. There are lots of things that are worse than coronavirus. I've seen and experienced some of them. And some of the posters on here are far scarier...

[TheLastSaola]

I wasn't worried about it, and I'm still not. I am worried about the long term economic effects on people's health and well-being though.

I don't down play the terrible sadness of lives lost from COVID. But lives are lost before their time, all the time. From cancer, heart defects and disease, bacterial and viral infections, accidents and suicide and many more. These include lives of the young and old, the healthy and unhealthy.

Maybe I'm affected from nearly losing my life from illness in my teens, and from my best friend losing both his parents - but life is for living, not for withdrawing in fear.

In 2018, 60,000 more people died than in 2011. 30,000 people died from the 2003 heatwave in Europe. 200,000 people died worldwide from swine flu in 2009. 28,000 people died from flu in the uk in 2014/15.

We live with death and always have done, I won't allow myself to live worrying about it.

[sickofhim]

I wasn't particularly worried because China was saying only elderly people with underlying conditions were dying and for most people it was no worse than a cold, and that it was from the common cold family of viruses.

I am now worried as they clearly lied through their communist teeth. I'm not frantic, but very concerned

[Wehttam]

Very relieved I was worried and took this seriously from day 1. Not having to stand in line for supermarkets is a big relief, not worrying my family are doing that are either is also a relief.

It’s better to be scared of this instead of not being bothered because it may well bite you on the arse otherwise if you become complacent.

[Russellbrandshair]

Actually stress reduces the effectiveness of your immune system quite significantly so I really disagree that being scared is “better”. People who are ruled by fear make impulsive bad decisions- just look at the panic buying as a prime example. It was completely unnecessary. We always had enough food but people were scared and panic bought and caused the very thing they were fearful about.

[Buddywoo]

I am in my early 70's with several underlying health conditions, i.e. high blood pressure, auto immune disorders and COPD. I am also type A positive blood. If I catch it the chances are that I will die. This does not worry me at all. I have had a good life, and still have, but I do not wish to live to a great old age. I will have to die from something and this seems as good a way as any. I don't particularly want to die at this stage but if it happens it happens.

[Orangeblossom78]

I'm not that scared for myself. Have been very ill in the past and came through a lot. More worried for my DH who is more at risk. And very worried about the impact of it on everything else.

[Krisskrosskiss]

My DH wasnt that worried and still isnt... I was petrified from the beginning and still am!
Of course he isnt so laid back that he didnt follow all the guidelines... but his view is that they expect 80% of the population to get it so it's just biding time whatever you do... and his view is you could be hot by a car or die of the normal yearly flu but you dont spend all of your time obsessing over that... I know hes right really and that you just have to do your best to follow advice but also accept that you might get ill at some point anyway.. and not to waste your time expecting the worst. I still look at the daily deaths coming in and cry tho I cant help it.. I am scared

[Thewheelsarefallingoff]

I was worried a lot earlier than other people. I'm still worried, not just for my parents and PILs, but for my DC, siblings, myself and DH. We just don't know how it's going to affect each individual, whatever age.

[SpeedofaSloth]

Not really. If I was scared I couldn't go to work anymore, so this isn't a bad thing.

[StrangerDays]

I wasn't worried, personally I'm not worried about having it but I am of course concerned I could potentially infect others so I'm adhering to lockdown.

I don't know anyone affected so I'm very, very lucky that the numbers, although awful, seem distant and impersonal; though I feel for anyone who has lost a loved one, and feel gratitude for all the Frontline workers.

I do worry about the economic impact and what consequences lockdown will have, and felt CV would affect us all, somehow.

My life hasn't changed that much, but the small changes have benefited me so far (saving money, more time to keep fit, not having to see toxic family members).

I quite like my new simple, relaxed routine. This situation has also helped me to make some decisions that I've been battling to make for the best part of 3 years!

[FliesandPies]

I'm still waiting to be worried about the virus, very little evidence of it so far in my area of the country. I'm not naive about it, the death toll is tragic and the government have let the country down by failing to act effectively or honestly.

Like others, I believe the consequences of lockdown socially and economically will be far more disastrous long-term.

[Clevererthanyou]

I feel that perhaps some posters are misunderstanding. This thread is about people who didn’t take this situation seriously at the beginning but now do. Not people who are panicking and letting constant fear of dying from this take over their lives. There is a difference! Just be sensible and take precautions.

[ofwarren]

I was concerned from February and added to my preps. I'm so glad I did because I've not needed to go to the shop since the last week in February. We are a shielded family so aren't supposed to go to the shops.

[OneKeyAtATime]

Wasn't worried. Still not worried.

[DippyAvocado]

I wasn't particularly worried initially but now I am very worried for my parents, both in their early 70s. Both fit, active and helpful except my DF has hypertension which is fully controlled by medication. Even with the hypertension he could be expected to live another 20 years or so - there is a history of longevity on his side of the family so I really don't want to see him lost before his time.

I'm also worried that we know so little about the virus and it's long term effects. Also about the possibility it could mutate into something more dangerous for young people, as the second wave of the Spanish flu pandemic, for example, was far more lethal than the first.

[DippyAvocado]

healthy

[lljkk]

SARS-COV-2 doesn't scare me at all.
Death by virus, come to think of it, does not upset me in principle.
If I or people I care about have a 1% chance of dying in next year of a natural cause (covid19 is a natural cause), then so be it.
it's not like violence; death by violence upsets me hugely, in contrast.

Many things happening to achieve covid19 control, they upset or they scare me a lot. Especially as I can't see how they won't stop before 2022. I guess it is a little like living under the blitz; a rather horrible tidal wave of events that I have no control over.

[Thewheelsarefallingoff]

@Clevererthanyou, I think you are misunderstanding the difference between being worried about the possibility of oneself or a loved one dying and being in constant fear of dying to the point of it taking over.