Am I OTT or do other people just not care?!

[Lou0808]

Tonight on social media, I've seen several posts from "friends" (and by friends I mean Facebook friends, people from school who I've not actually seen or spoken to in a long time) who are having parties with absolutely zero social distancing.

One particular person has posted videos of people in her house, easily 20 people.
All doing karaoke, drinking shots, dancing.

Another post from a separate person is a picture being in a pub hugging three girls captioned "missed my besties"

A work colleague posted a picture of her young niece saying she's staying over at her house, again hugging her.

I don't mean to sound like the "fun" police. I know we've all desperately missed our friends and families, but the situation is never going to improve unless we follow the guidelines.

I have a 4 month old DD and I've love nothing more than for her to have a cuddle with my mum and her other grandparents, but I just wouldn't allow it.

I desperately miss my friends, I'd love to have them over and hug them, but I wouldn't do it.

Am I being over the top? Am I right for feeling pissed off at people just not following the rules?

I just feel like it's going to drag things out even longer if people just do as they please 😔

@annabel85

I think it's just the frustration that unless people follow the guidelines, I can't see how the situation is ever going to improve.

It won't. Same thing happened in America once they opened bars and everything back up before they'd got on top of the first wave.

We opened bars and restaurants when we were hugely over the first wave. As did New York and a few other east coast states. The states where things are looking bad right now reopened when they were still on the other side of the peak.

@AlecTrevelyan006

Apart from a few large gatherings in the large city centres I suspect everything went off quite smoothly. I very much doubt we’ll see a spike in a fortnight or so.

I totally agree with you.

@Lou0808

Thank you for this. You are definitely not being OTT. You are abiding by the guidelines, largely based on scientific evidence ( but also economic / political influence). The idea of some saying "well you do what you want with your family, I'll do what I think is best for my family" is absurd. Infectious disease doesn't work like that. Public Health policy does not work if (unqualified / ill informed) members of the public behave in ways that put others at risk. Same with seatbelts, drink driving etc ; your personal "choice / freedom" ends where you put other people at risk.

@Bearhorn
In the US, the states that safely opened up restaurants etc require mask use indoors ( shopping, banking etc), began lockdown much earlier and have a more developed track & trace system. States like TX, FL, AZ etc had a more "cavalier" or relaxed attitude towards CDC guidance and are suffering from the consequences sadly.

The govt did such a good job in scaring the hell out of everyone and it's very difficult to convince everyone that everything is now safe (safer) despite the fact that infections are falling, hospital admissions are falling and deaths are falling.

AND the most important thing that seems to have passed so many people by is that even if you get coronavirus you will almost certainly suffer no symptoms.

The virus is going to be around for a long time (maybe forever) so we need to LIVE with it.

We are doing very quick hugs with family that we know haven’t been anywhere.

However, I do agree that all these parties that are going on are ridiculous and quite honestly dangerous

@AlecTrevelyan006

That's an interesting perspective. I feel like most people I know are led by science / evidence, rather than fear. Unfortunately, as compared with most other developed nations, the UK acted slowly with its Covid response.

Regarding infections, asymptomatic infections account for about 40%, so in fact most people will have mild to moderate symptoms.

As for "living" with the virus, yes I agree and we have been able to work, shop, travel on public transport, socialise etc safely ( masks, hand gel / washing, social distancing etc). It is very possible (& necessary) to learn to "live" with the virus, provided that people consistently follow guidelines.

I 100% agree with you OP. I am fed up of hearing ‘don’t worry about what others are doing, just worry about what you are doing’, because, essentially, it’s the actions of these people that will spread the virus.
The rules tell us we can be indoors/outdoors with a small number from one other household, but we still have to social distance! I’ve seen people hugging for photos, and I just don’t understand some people. To me, they aren’t assessing the risks, they are being selfish. It’s fine if their actions would only effect them, but we all know it would be a much bigger issue.

* To me, they aren’t assessing the risks, they are being selfish.*

Well yes, to someone who doggedly refuses to assess the risk will think that

I 100% agree with you OP. I am fed up of hearing ‘don’t worry about what others are doing, just worry about what you are doing’, because, essentially, it’s the actions of these people that will spread the virus.

Exactly. Even those who are locked away due to shielding need interactions, i.e. food deliveries, repair men, postal deliverers/couriers, healthcare workers, etc.

My MIL who is shielding had a boiler failure so we had to get British Gas to come out to fix it. Despite assurances over the phone that their engineer would wear gloves and a mask, not use the loo, stay in a different room from MIL, etc., he did none of that. Yes, MIL should have enforced what they had promised but she's old and confused and isn't one to "make a fuss". If a big reputable company like BG can't get their engineers to take pretty simple precautions, it's very worrying.