Do you feel less risk averse if you've been going out to work everyday?

[headachehair]

Just curious really. If you've been going to the house and working all through lockdown, are you more comfortable with lockdown gradually lifting (in whatever form that is) or has it made you more risk averse?

I've been at work everyday (full time NHS, not frontline but with patients) and I feel very comfortable. We were ALL bricking it when lockdown happened and we had to carry on but I've seen each problem that arise (PPE, redeployment, implementing social distancing etc) be dealt with. It's been fine. We were ALL terrified that there would be major outbreaks (there weren't) but when small outbreaks happened, they were dealt with well and didn't spread, not many people affected and everything carried on.

I'm quite comfortable with getting out and about if we're allowed and doing what I need to do to reduce my risk and this that of others. I think as things open up, people will find ways to work around challenges and the idea of it is definitely more scary than the reality.

How do others feel?

Should add that we went out to our 'street party' earlier, but came in because I felt uncomfortable that people weren't even trying to socially distance. Was interesting.

And I definitely keep away from people when I'm out and about, in the supermarket/queue and so on.

There's a difference between being hyper vigilent about it and being 'normally cautious' I think.

This is a brilliant thread,thanks for contributing. I think hearing from people who aren't WFH or socially isolating,it's very reassuring. I agree that this lockdown and the constant rolling media stream doesn't help.

Ive been working too, and so has my husband. Im comfortable with whatever is the best advice, to be honest. I think, by working, we have seen santising and distancing in real life and can understand how it helps in the reduction of transmission. Obviously any release of lockdown will have these things in place still.

Anyone who has to work in our office has, in addition to the cleaner, to santise door and other handles, door edges where peoole push, light switches, postbox, franking machine, photocopiers, telephones, taps, keyboards and mice as they arrive in the office. It take a short while but weve embedded it in our routine easily.

We have a post quarantine system. We make our own drinks.

Every morning and night I check my smell and temperature.

We luckily could self distance if everyone was in but whilst we do what we can at home attendence has been greatly reduced.

I am quite confident and calm that some restrictions could be unlocked so long as safe practices are in place. For things that do not lend themselves so easily to safe practices then ways of making them so should be developed, so they can follow on at an appropriate time.

OH has gone out to work every day and seems quite chilled out but then said to me the other day he feels like he is just waiting to catch it.

Yes, I definitely feel pretty calm/relaxed now after over a month working frontline on the NHS caring for COVID patients. All of our staff who caught COVID have thankfully recovered and the majority of staff have been ok or more than likely caught COVID and been asymptomatic.

In addition those who caught COVID who have children have had their children be symptom free which was a worry for me as I have a child and a baby at home.

We have seen some very sad things at work but the vast majority patients who haven't survived have been very frail and most have recovered and been discharged. The government narrative that this is a disease that doesn't discriminate is clearly proving false as time goes on.

It's good to hear this as too much negative news is all I hear day in and day out. I can't wait to get back to the office.

My partner is a key worker and has been going out to work every day. I'm technically a key worker but working fully from home and in daily contact with my colleagues who are working on the premises and are absolutely fine. I'm very comfortable with the idea of lockdown restrictions easing and doing whatever we need to do to get on with things as best we can. Wash your hands, keep calm and carry on.

I’m NHS non-frontline but plenty of contact with those who are and I would say I’m cautiously optimistic. I like the way the numbers are going but am much more comforted by the projections of continuing lockdown for a further three weeks which look much more manageable with decent testing and other precautions that are only possible now it’s in the public consciousness. As far as I can tell we’re basically back where we when lockdown started and I think we need to be lower and more on the ball with face masks, the app etc.

I didn’t join our streets party today mostly because I think it’s unfair to ask my dd(4) to keep her distance as I just don’t think she’d be able to do it when she’s caught up in the excitement but I was also conscious that my risk is higher than anyone else’s in the street right now and I don’t want to be responsible for an outbreak!

I’m a key worker (Emergency services)and have worked throughout. There were nerves around the time of lockdown but we’ve been going about our business fairly normally, limited Ppe where appropriate but not routinely. Plenty of public contact with no apparent consequences. I am totally happy to see lockdown measures ease when the time is right. I know people who have lived in a lockdown bubble that are terrified to leave it.

I've got two jobs, very relieved not to be doing one as I didn't feel comfortable/safe being there before lockdown. I can't imagine I'll feel much different when I go back.

Still doing my other job. Lots of contact with customers/shop floor but I do feel safe there. There's gloves, masks if we want them, sanitizer, we only deal with customers if we happy about the distance, we have disinfectant wipes and can leave the shop floor if we want to wash our hand, arms despite the above. I'm paranoid about using the gloves, sanitizer, washing, distancing but know I've got the support to keep myself as safe as possible and this certainly helps me.

I go into work (school) once a week to do my bit with the key worker kids. There's a nod towards social distancing, but kids don't socially distance at the best of times! The first time I had to do my rota shift, I was nervous, but fine when I got there. I just make sure I wash my hands a lot, keep as much distance between myself and others as I can and always change out of my clothes, stick them in the wash and me in the shower as soon as I get home.
I think having this 'normal' day a week will help when we have to go back either part or full time, whenever that is.
The worse part of this for me was the week up until the schools closed in March - lots of kids off sick, lots in with coughs, lots going to sick bay with temps, lots of staff off, and no extra hand washing, gel, or social distancing, other than cancelling staff meetings and school assemblies. That was scary, because of staff shortages they were increasing class sizes for a few days.

I think I had the virus late Feb, but obviously don't know. I think if I didn't have it then, I was extremely lucky not to have got it the week we closed.

So now I tell myself that the R rate is lower, the classes are small, there is extra hand washing, cleaning of the school happening, and that reassures me.

I've been going to work full time in covid ICU and while i agree the lockdown should continue I'm a bit with those healthy, under 70s I know who are absolutely terrified about catching the virus. I work in a big, busy hospital and attempt SD but at times it's just not possible. My anxiety levels are almost zero now.

DH works on public transport in a city centre. First couple of weeks I was terrified. Then realised we'd probably already had it. We wash hands a lot, DH strips off and washes when he gets in etc. Supermarkets feel dirty, but I think they prob already were and I just never noticed.

Yes, I agree. I think we've all had it in our house (although not confirmed so could be wrong) and I wonder if that impacts things as well. Majority of my colleagues (small office) have had symptoms, as have many of our friends. In March it felt like we were 'in the eye of the storm' and now I feel more relaxed.

I'm very much sticking to social distancing, and following guidance. DP is out more with his work and feels very relaxed about going to the shops etc.

I guess it's probably a coping strategy?

Definitely a coping strategy @FrancesHaHa
I'm more anxious at the supermarket, than I am at school.

I find supermarkets worse than at work. I think being one person a trolley reduces conversation. Makes it seem more scary.

In the office, although there's rarely more than three of us, we chat like normal.

It's really interesting reading what people are saying on here yet there seems to be total hysteria on other threads about the possibility of schools ever opening or people ever having to leave their house before a vaccine is found etc. I'm not sure who is in the minority in the wider population!

Really interesting to hear people’s comments. DH and I are NHS workers and social distancing is really not being adhered to a lot of the time. We have friends and colleagues who’ve had covid and recovered fine. I’m fairly relaxed when I’m at work but, like others, I’m more anxious at the supermarket! Our children are at school some of the week and I don’t have any worries about that either.

I have not has ANY shopping delivered - I leave the slots for people who need them.
The Supermarket queues are very sociable as is the shop itself
work that cannot be done from home is going on
the motorway network is lovely and quiet
I am extremely careful to explain my rules to new workplace people
If I can hit you, you are too close
but I'm very chilled about the lockdown ending sooner rather than later

This thread is really interesting - and reassuring for me. I'm wfh, DS2 is wfh, DS1 is home from uni. We've been very much in a bubble, apart from food shopping 1/2 times a week and exercise/ dog waking.

I've noticed I'm becoming more and more nervous about coming out of lockdown as time goes on. It's good to hear how those who are working are going about their day without to much worry.

Working outside of my home every day with children and have been for weeks. Obviously there is a risk in all things and I am not disrespectful or frivolous with my health or that of others. Having said that, I am no more nervous of Covid than I am of any other illness. I do not choose to wear PPE at work and I am not taking any additional precautions other than washing my hands as soon as I get home.

Well I haven't been out working as normal. I'm wfh. But my dh is still out working.

I'm ok with lockdown being eased. But I definitely think there could be something in it with people who are at home and the fear.

When you don't go out for so long (apart from a walk round your area), you can almost forget there's a world out there. A lot of my colleagues are terrified of lockdown being eased, yet they were in the 'it's only flu' gang a few months ago.

Dh is desperate for lockdown to be eased. I want it to be eased because wfh with two dc is unbearable. I've been going to the shops recently and you realise it's not so bad, I don't wash my shopping, I just try not to touch my face and I wash my hands well when I get home.

I've been working throughout and quite nervous about easing of lockdown.

Both DH and I have worked throughout (apart from two weeks of isolation after I developed a dry, chesty cough).
We are both very keen for some degree of easing, in small and sensible increments. Aware that this may mean tightening back up again if required.
I'm NHS but MH not general, so have PPE for patient contact, but not when we're in the office. We're all just taking what measures we can but accepting those that can't be managed. I feel the same will need to be rolled out eventually in a wider scale - socially distance as much as possible whilst getting as much as possible of life back on track for as many people as possible.

I have worked throughout, in an acute hospital. I am not worried about lockdown ending. I haven't had covid and I don't want to, but I have precautions in place and I change my clothes when I come home. On my days off I prefer to stay home, partly because I am tired, partly because DH does the supermarket shop.

I am worried about many things, but not this.