If you don't care about catching covid, why?

[yarncakes]

Im asking for my own sanity really. I keep telling myself time and time again that if I get coronavirus then that's the way it is. But then during the night I wake up in a sweat, panicking that I've got it. I've tested negative so I know I haven't but it doesn't help with my health anxiety. I'm more worried about my DS and DH, who are both BAME, with a husband who has a health condition as well. Me on the other hand, touch wood I have no health conditions and I'm fairly fit, in my late 20s. Please tell me why you're not worried and is there anything to worry about?!

I don't want to lock myself away indefinitely. Life is for living. Whilst I accept that initially lockdown needed to happen because our government are a joke who couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery, enough is enough

Totally agree with you about this shower of a government: I think that the situation is so bd here ecause they are ethically & intellectually completely incompetent to keep the citizens of the UK safe.

But ...

The problem with the attitude of "I don't care if I catch COVID-19" is that that might e a decision for you but it has consequences for other people, for whom that is not their decision.

So I hope, for those of you trying to live as normal a life as possible, that you all are taking very great care not to pose a risk to others who may make very different decisions about their willingness to take risks with their lives and health.

This is the thing with C-19 - we all need to behave as if we are the risk to others, and act accordingly.

Because the risk of catching it is low and the risk of getting seriously ill or dying from it is tiny. These are risks I am willing to take to give my kids a normal summer within reason and with sensible precautions. They have missed out on education, holidays, experiences, time with friends for 3 months. The detrimental effect of this is far worse than the risks Covid post to us.

@CatandtheFiddle

I don't want to lock myself away indefinitely. Life is for living. Whilst I accept that initially lockdown needed to happen because our government are a joke who couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery, enough is enough

Totally agree with you about this shower of a government: I think that the situation is so bd here ecause they are ethically & intellectually completely incompetent to keep the citizens of the UK safe.

But ...

The problem with the attitude of "I don't care if I catch COVID-19" is that that might e a decision for you but it has consequences for other people, for whom that is not their decision.

So I hope, for those of you trying to live as normal a life as possible, that you all are taking very great care not to pose a risk to others who may make very different decisions about their willingness to take risks with their lives and health.

This is the thing with C-19 - we all need to behave as if we are the risk to others, and act accordingly.

Absolutely I am. I've written on a few other posts - I am happy to take risks myself , but I have never and would never risk strangers I don't know. I keep my distance , wash hands, will (albeit begrudgingly) cover my face when it's required.

I have broken lockdown seen friends (who have children at school with my daughter so I don't actually see the issue) and I don't care if I get it or not, but no of course I wouldn't risk people I don't know. Wouldn't dream of it

I was worried at the beginning and now I'm more concerned about the effect on our economy, the mental health of our children and the culture of fear the media has created.

I wash my hands, wear a mask and do what I can to protect myself and others but I strongly suspect that when this pandemic is over some very serious questions are going to have to be asked as to how our government has handled this crisis.

I get the not wanting to infect other people. I don’t either, and am sticking to the rules. But surely if the people who are really worried about getting it comply with the rules themselves their risk is lowered anyway?

I don't give a fuck if I get covid19 and die frankly.
We all have to die of something.

I mean I do do the handwashing. ..Face covering etc...staying indoors. ..
But I honestly don't give a flying fuck if I get it and die.

I'm following the guidelines, more or less. Paying lip service really. I'm another who is quite pragmatic about death. It comes to all of us eventually. Seems to me it's only the last 50 years or so that we have become a society that wants to prolong life at all costs.

Because I don't have health anxiety. Or any anxiety, tbh.
I can't understand anxiety so I shouldn't say more.

Because to me Covid is just another virus. I don't spend my days worrying about getting the flu, which can also be debilitating to a lot of people. The odds of dying from it are tiny and I'm pragmatic about death and this kind of thing anyway. If I get it, I get it. I'm not going to live my life ruled by fear

This exactly word for word. I'm being sensible but I cannot control every risk in my life- noone can. Thats like being paralysed with fear that every time you go out in the car that you're going to be involved in a fatal road accident. You CANNOT live your life like that. Thats not living, thats existing and I refuse to merely exist - I'm sorry but you may aswell be dead in that case.

I'm not bothered about catching it either. I don't 'get' the anxiety over it. The chances of getting it in our borough is only that 1 in 1750 have it. And even then the chances of getting it is slim. Most people who do get it, it's minor and they get over it quickly.

Saying that, we have obeyed all the rules to the T. So no wonder we haven't had it!

I find it bizarre that people are making huge efforts and sacrifices to not get Covid eg staying at home, social distancing, but don't make the same effort eg losing weight, to reduce their risk of cancer

I agree, and 3 times as many people die of cancer every year than they have done so far of covid.

But surely if the people who are really worried about getting it comply with the rules themselves their risk is lowered anyway?
Many people have jobs that inevitably bring them into contact with lots of people, so even if they are very cautious about Covid in their private lives, their risk is largely determined by the behaviour of others over whom they have no control, eg I know three teachers (all over 50) who either have medical conditions that put them at higher risk or a partner at very high risk due to a medical condition. They are basically at the mercy of the decisions made by their pupils' families about how they will live their lives. If you choose a high risk lifestyle in relation to Covid, you are also making that choice for other people who may be much higher risk than you.

We’re all healthy. DH is BAME. I’m not full on European but I don’t think my ethnic group/similar ones has been marked as at risk. Regardless we’re all in good health. There’s no reason to believe that it would be a danger to us.

I am not scared of dying of it. Once you’re dead, you’re dead. I am scared of catching it and having lifelong brain damage or lung damage.

Also, I think when it comes to having to do things (go to work) I would accept risks, but I might not take them by choice IYSWIM.

Chickenpox can kill. Flu can kill. People die. I think that if your number is up that's pretty much it. There's little point in fretting.

Those of you who aren't concerned about the individual risk to your health (which I understand, the odds are favourable for me too) - do you not worry at all about the risk to the functioning of society if case numbers go up again?

I'm glad to see that most people in this thread who aren't worried about their own health are still following the guidelines. I sometimes worry when I hear lots of people say they aren't bothered about catching it for themselves, because if they are so relaxed they let themselves become links in chains of transmission, and cases rise, then we'll be back to no school, local lockdowns, routine hospital treatment cancelled and everything like that. That's on top of more people being ill and dying.

I think people who are less worried must be enjoying being out and doing things much more and that's great for them, I'm pleased for people in that position. If their lack of worry goes as far as making them be careless about catching and spreading the virus, though, that's very shortsighted of them. There are lots of non-health effects of having high coronavirus rates, and being robust and healthy or young won't protect against those.

For my own demographic the risks of serious complications are very low . I'd rather catch it to be honest and get it out if the way !
I also understand that there are always exceptions to the rule- but 3 years ago I lost somebody close to me to cancer it was a big shock and I went through major health anxiety. I think I went through every emotion and worse case scenario in my head back then , its left me with a very realistic attitude to life .

I'm glad to see that most people in this thread who aren't worried about their own health are still following the guidelines.

I have been shopping and am eating inside restaurants and would have gone to the pub except the one I like hasn't fully reopened.

All within guidelines but from threads on here what I do is far too much for a lot of people.

There are small local businesses in places like Blackburn at risk of collapse, and careless behaviour that leads to outbreaks and local lockdowns will destroy them.

I’m like most on this thread, following all the rules but trying to have a normal a life as possible and not being ruled by fear. We are on holiday in our caravan at the moment and using all the on site facilities like showers but following the site Covid guidelines. I’m in my early 60s and Healthy so slightly higher risk

I know three teachers (all over 50) who either have medical conditions that put them at higher risk or a partner at very high risk due to a medical condition. They are basically at the mercy of the decisions made by their pupils' families about how they will live their lives. If you choose a high risk lifestyle in relation to Covid, you are also making that choice for other people who may be much higher risk than you

@LilyPond2 This - you put it really well.

I'm heartened to read that many PP on this thread who are not too worried about catching C-19 are nevertheless, aware of the risks they pose to others, and are mitigating & reducing those risks as much as possible.

But there are many others who basically don't seem to give a flying fuck about the risk they pose to others.

I had it in March and it was very mild. Despite me being a bit fat and near 50. I’ve since tested positive for antibodies at work (NHS hospital). DH and DD also had it (DD had it in Feb and didn’t give it to us) mildly, although DD had a prolonged cough.

At work (large NHS trust) 30% of us have antibodies, so presumably more than that were infected. Sadly we lost staff but the death rate was 0.08% all staff and 0.28% if you just count those with antibodies (so really it’ll be lower). We have a high BAME workforce but we’re mostly aged below 65. So the risk is very small indeed for youngish people.