To think people need to be released from the idea that they must 'stay safe'?

[TheDailyCarbuncle]

IMO people's heads have been messed with on an absolutely massive scale during this pandemic. So many people seem to be locked into the idea that they absolutely must avoid getting covid at all costs, no matter what, to the extent that they're convinced that if they don't do everything possible to 'stay safe' then they're definitely going to die.

I genuinely think that the extent to which governments around the world have convinced people that the only thing that matters is this virus is a far far far bigger problem than the virus itself. I think governments are too cowardly to say what needs to be said, which is that there is no way to prevent everyone from getting it, and that attempting to prevent it is causing so many other problems that it just can't be done any more.

I think people are being driven around the twist with the idea that this threat is out there, lurking at all times, waiting to get them. It's like a form of mental torture, with people questioning everything and worrying about everything, while the economy crumbles around them.

There is no guarantee of a vaccine or of more effective treatments. There is every chance that covid will still be circulating, along with every other virus, in 2030. You could do everything absolutely 'right' now and still get it next year or in five years.

I get the fact that it was new, unprecedented, etc. But where do we draw the line? When will the acceptance come? When it's too late and there's no way to restore the millions of jobs lost? When economies have collapsed so much that poverty, violence and starvation make covid look like a walk in the park?

I know this isn’t AIBU but YANBU!

Well, if you're fortunate enough to live in Scotland where Sturgeon has the policy to eradicate the virus there, you would feel generally more comfortable. It's political choice that we're in an environment where it still ticks along at a supposed acceptable rate. I'd say the answer is to pressurise the England govt to eradicate the virus and have more of a long term strategy.

Yep totally totally agree. Life is full of risks, we need to accept it and move on. The rhetoric has moved from 'flatten the curve' to 'eliminate'. It can't be eliminated, it's a pipe dream.

YA definitely NBU. I agree with every word. At least I'm not hearing the annoying words uttered much these days.

Agree as well!

@chocolate08

Well, if you're fortunate enough to live in Scotland where Sturgeon has the policy to eradicate the virus there, you would feel generally more comfortable. It's political choice that we're in an environment where it still ticks along at a supposed acceptable rate. I'd say the answer is to pressurise the England govt to eradicate the virus and have more of a long term strategy.

This is a genuine question - how do you 'eradicate' a virus that is present in practically every part of the world?

I am genuinely puzzled by the 'eradication' idea in Scotland. Do they mean that they're aiming for zero cases for a while? Or zero cases forever? How is that even possible unless the borders are permanently closed and no one is allowed in or out?

I dont think this virus can be completely eradicated though as it circulates in animals (Bats? Pangolins?) too. I wonder how easy it would be for it to travel back into Scotland etc if its so easily spread?

I'm self employed so I'm actively trying not to catch it, hopefully until there's a vaccine.

I'm not travelling. Only going out to get food or for socially distanced walks.

I will reassess in a few months if there's no vaccine.

@LaurieFairyCake

I'm self employed so I'm actively trying not to catch it, hopefully until there's a vaccine.

I'm not travelling. Only going out to get food or for socially distanced walks.

I will reassess in a few months if there's no vaccine.

It's likely that if there's a vaccine it'll only be offered to vulnerable people - funding the distribution of a vaccine on a large scale for a virus that doesn't kill most of the people it infects won't be economically viable.

Yabu.
Why dont you all just Q up to get it then isolate, but dont expect the nhs to be able to help you.

@Keepdistance

Yabu. Why dont you all just Q up to get it then isolate, but dont expect the nhs to be able to help you.

I'm trying to understand this attitude. No one actually wants to get it - no one wants to get any illness. My point is that expecting never to get it isn't realistic.

America is looking like it will become a useful test case for the more laissez faire approach. But it will take a while longer to see the real effects of its upward trajectory.

@TheDailyCarbuncle: see Devi Sridhar on Twitter. She's an advisor to the Scottish govt. Her pinned tweet is an explanation of the eradication policy.

Then I will pay for it

Like I do with the flu vaccine every year

I'm trying pretty hard not to catch it! I am going out, seeing one other household outdoors (Welsh rules) limiting shopping, wearing a mask if I need to go indoors somewhere and washing hands frequently. I'm not terrified. This virus is highly unlikely to kill me, but I dont want to catch it and I really don't to spread it.

No government could have countenanced doing nothing and letting it rip through society, although I'm not sure how close Brazil's policy was to that.

Out of interest op what would you want to world's governments to have done?

Yanbu. If you’re of working age you’re more likely to die in a car crash travelling to work than die of Covid 19.

The Governments own documents tell us that the population were deliberately manipulated to feel personally threatened in order to ensure compliance with lockdown.

The media is also culpable, so we get ridiculous headlines about 400% increases in cases, as they know most won’t read past the headline to the actual numbers.

People are actually terrified of Covid 19 in a way I’ve never seen people frightened before, even though we have awful viruses and illnesses in circulation. I’m sure sociologists will have some interesting debates in a couple of decades about how the fear was created.

There is being aware and there is being anxious.
I think most people are sensible but there are others who are obsessed with staying safe. They have not gone out of the house for months and confidence to go out is gone.

My mum is like this. She just sees that the outside world is not safe and is panicking.

Your post is very generic.
Some people do seem to be locked in the idea that they must be in a safe bubble.

But most countries that have gone over the worst are reopening with safety measures in place. The idea is to reopen economies while keeping an eye on the virus, to ensure health systems don't get flooded.

And I'm sure you'll have noticed that while some people almost refuse to leave their homes, others are behaving as before, with risky behaviours.

And we've seen new outbreaks all over.

Finally, getting the virus in 5 years may be very different from catching it now.
We're still studying this virus and trying to find the most effective treatments and even a vaccine, which will be great to protect the vulnerable, yes.

It's only mental torture for stupid people and those are the ones we had to frighten into being careful in order to save lives. I (and probably millions of others) have not lost any sleep over it because we understand the situation.

I just followed the guidelines and got on with it. While marvelling at the people saying their life was over because they couldn't go to the gym, restaurant or get their nails done. I imagine them striking that pose with the forearm across the eyes.

Remember you're mostly hearing from two minorities . Those who are terrified and those who think saving other people's live is a waste of time and money.

Governments and medical experts in every country in the world agreed this needed doing to avoid a bigger loss of life. If they come to mumsnet and learn they were wrong I'm sure they will be devastated.

People are actually terrified of Covid 19 in a way I’ve never seen people frightened before, even though we have awful viruses and illnesses in circulation.

Name one and explain why it is a bigger concern than sars-cov-2.

No, silly suggestion.

Flu - vaccine
Measles - vaccine
Malaria - treatment
Rubella - vaccine
Etc etc

We work to eradicate and avoid disease.

Cancer - if you could catch it from a person you would avoid avoid avoid.

If we don't 'stay safe', hundreds of thousands of people would die in a short space of time. And I like the people I like to be alive.

There are two pandemics, on the virus and the other fear. The latter may be more dangerous for most of us.

The impact of chronic stress, cortisol on the body is not to be underestimated. Being in a constant fight or flight type panic is really not good for us.

Some of the language used, even by e.g. the BBC (who used to be calm and factual at one time) is ridiculous. Only yesterday Boris was going on about it 'circling like a shark'

They really need to emphasise that for most people they will be OK. And that it is the minority who get severely ill. Because in the press you can easily deduce it is a killer for everyone

@Lweji

People are actually terrified of Covid 19 in a way I’ve never seen people frightened before, even though we have awful viruses and illnesses in circulation.

Name one and explain why it is a bigger concern than sars-cov-2.

Plus this, covid19 is v bad in terms of spread + impact

[quote chocolate08]@TheDailyCarbuncle: see Devi Sridhar on Twitter. She's an advisor to the Scottish govt. Her pinned tweet is an explanation of the eradication policy.[/quote]
I've seen what she's said about it. But I'm still flummoxed as to how she thinks it's possible to continue to pinpoint a virus, which, for a very large proportion of people, results in no symptoms at all. It would be great if the virus did just fizzle out, but what if it doesn't? Does she propose constant border closures, constant testing? At what point do we say 'ok it's out there, let's get on with it' and accept that perpetually trying to fight it is a losing battle?