Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Could I have caught it?!

53 replies

GabyAby84 · 20/05/2020 21:53

On the 9th May, a family friend left a present on our doorstep.
We are being cautious so we sprayed it all down before we brought it into the house.

She’s posted on social media today to say she’s isolating because her daughter is a carer and one of the residents at her care home tested positive.

She said her daughters test came back negative but to be safe she’s got to isolate.

I’m so worried we’ve touched stuff she touched. Is there a risk we could’ve caught it?

OP posts:
Lalala205 · 21/05/2020 00:37

Reading the OP again it's the mum of the Dd who works in a care home, with a positive test on a resident whose then self isolating, but the carer tested negative?.... The chances of then contracting a virus from a package is about as likely as contracting it from a supermarket delivery tbh.

Lalala205 · 21/05/2020 00:42

Or even a friend of the OP who dropped off the parcel? Bottom line is its been 11 days, transmission from goods is low. You're not sick, you sprayed it down.... Yes, it's worrying times, but due to circumstances you've stated its really a non issue.

Original poster
GabyAby84 · 21/05/2020 01:57

I’m in the high risk category but not shielding category.
I have mild asthma, arthritis and psoriasis.

OP posts:
Peggysgettingcrazy · 21/05/2020 05:48

Op you had a post saying you felt like you had been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

It was clear your anxiety was out of control a while ago. Have you taken any steps since then, to get this under control.

The friends daughter was in contact with someone with Covid. That doesnt mean she definitely caught it

Her test is negative. The item was washed and your husband washed his hand.

This is all about your anxiety. You are going to end up making yourself ill.

Nacreous · 21/05/2020 06:00

This is anxiety based, and I would highly recommend talking to your GP, as it's clearly causing you harm.

For this to have happened ALL the following things would have had to happen:

  1. Daughter caught off resident (unlikely with PPE)
  2. Daughter had false negatives test result (unlikely)
  3. Mother caught it off daughter (unlikely given negative test result)
  4. Mother asymptomatic (unlikely)
  5. Mother contaminated parcel (unlikely given she probably didn't have it)
  6. Husband didn't decontaminate parcel properly (unlikely)
  7. Husband didn't wash hands properly. (Unlikely)
  8. Husband caught it asymptomatically. (Unlikely)
  9. You caught it off husband. ( Given he almost certainly doesn't have it, unlikely)

At that point it becomes clear that it is highly highly unlikely that you can possibly be infected via this route.

Please, go and see a GP, you shouldn't have to live with anxiety like this. It's clearly causing a lot of anguish and distress for you.

BillywilliamV · 21/05/2020 06:37

So even if OP did catch it, the chances are over whelmingly in favour of her having a mild illness and then getting better, even with the underlying conditions!

This is not serious illness for a huge majority of people!

Its ludicrous that this message has got so lost in the hyperbole and panic!!

Hydrate · 21/05/2020 06:48

GabyAbby I too was so full of anxiety over the virus. I took an ativan 3 times. After those 3 days, and after the household being isolated for 14 days, the fear lost it's grip on me. Reassure yourself that everybody is diligent about washing. Get yourself something to help you relax. A beta blocker. Don't watch news, especially in the evening. Hope you feel better soon

Hydrate · 21/05/2020 06:55

@GabyAby84, sorry I got your name wrong. Daffodil

Original poster
GabyAby84 · 21/05/2020 10:18

I have spoken to the Dr and I have medication and I’m having CBT.

But it still doesn’t eliminate the fact that I feel there has been a risk factor here.

For the past couple of days I’ve also had an annoying tickle in the back of my throat.
I am wondering if this is a symptom :(

OP posts:
Original poster
GabyAby84 · 21/05/2020 10:26

My friend said the reason she is isolating is that she has to visit sites for work, she’s a health and safety manager and shes been told to do so by her work.

She said all the staff tested negative at her daughters care home, but they are still testing residents.
Her daughter is still working and until they know that all the residents are clear (guess the 14 days is the suggested time) then she’s got to isolate Incase her daughter was to bring it home.

OP posts:
TheGreatWave · 21/05/2020 10:33

I am sorry that the situation has made you feel so anxious but as others have said you need to try and ground these thoughts. The chance of catching it in this way is vanishingly low. However you are now on high alert to every niggle in your body, which in the most probable likelihood is not CV related.

And even if by some teeny chance you do have it, the odds are overwhelming in your favour.

Original poster
GabyAby84 · 21/05/2020 10:54

Thanks for the responses.

I am surprised people don’t see this as a risk really, I’ve seen so much on here about people washing parcels and shopping / quarantining things.
I assumed people would see it from my POV.

Maybe I am over reacting but I’m so anxious about the whole thing.

OP posts:
TheGreatWave · 21/05/2020 11:09

I am not one to clean everything, but it isn't really of my concern what others do.

Please go back and read the post from nacreous at 6am, follow that through, and it shows that the chance of you catching the virus in this situation is pretty much impossible.

Did the CBT therapist leave you with any suggestions on how to work through situations like this?

MoltonSilver · 21/05/2020 11:11

Everyone in this situation took all the necessary precautions. Take a deep breath and try to calm down. The biggest issue here is anxiety not coronavirus.

TheGreatWave · 21/05/2020 11:12

Sorry that first sentence seems really aggressive, I just meant that others doing what they feel is right and needed is not for me to comment on as it is their choice.

KeepWashingThoseHands · 21/05/2020 11:13

In the words of Taylor Swift:

You need to calm down.

You're going to give yourself a coronary, never mind being worried about corona.

LIZS · 21/05/2020 11:18

So her dd has not had or got it from resident, but you think you may now have via her mother who dropped off a package that you cleaned... Chances of transmission 4th hand with no symptoms are negligible.

Original poster
GabyAby84 · 21/05/2020 11:50

Yes I’ve got some bits to work on from CBT but I’m funding it impossible.

Bit of a sore throat for a few days, an annoying tickle in my throat which I’ve had for weeks but now seems worse.

I’m just so convinced I’ve got it. It worries me that my husband or health professionals will dismiss I may have it and think I’m
just anxious.

I haven’t left my house or had any contact with anyone since 13th March.
I think I’ve been for 3 walks and haven’t been near anyone.

We have the shopping delivered and we wipe it down. Same with post or parcels.

Yet I’ve had a sore throat. How? 😖

OP posts:
moita · 21/05/2020 12:09

Stress? Hayfever? Bad night's sleep?

Original poster
GabyAby84 · 21/05/2020 13:23

I’m definitely stressed and not sleeping either.
I did wonder about hay fever. I’ve been getting awful pressure in my nose and face.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 21/05/2020 13:37

Try an antihistamine then. I've never washed or quarantined any of my shopping or deliveries. I just wash my hands after handling them.

janet1267 · 21/05/2020 13:48

You almost certainly don't have it but if it's maki g you this anxious why don't you arrange to have a test?

WithIcePlease · 21/05/2020 14:27

Maybe going on a good long walk each day would be good for your anxiety and your sleep.

MRex · 21/05/2020 15:22

If you won't do anything about this excessive anxiety, at least you should read up on the basic facts about the contagious period and risk factors so that you can recognise when you are being irrational, which is unfortunately where you've got to now. Most people get symptoms within 5 days, so your DH 5 days plus you is 10 days. It's now 12 days, so either you haven't caught it, or you're asymptomatic if you have. You're more likely to have already had it asymptomatically in March than you are to have it caught it this way. That's leaving aside the practical point that your friend doesn't have it anyway!

HotDogGuy · 21/05/2020 16:20

If your friends DD has been tested and it’s negative then I’m really not sure how you could have it.
There’s then several other things that would have had to happen / not happen for you to be at any risk.
Everyone on this thread has agreed you will not have caught it. On top of that you’re 12 days post ‘exposure’ so if you were exposed you’d have had it by now.
The sore throat is likely to be stress or your bodies reaction to anxiety. You may have convinced yourself of a symptom (my husband does this).
There’s nothing anyone can say that will convince you you’re not at risk. You need to speak to someone about your anxiety or you will make yourself ill