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Original poster

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

142 replies

yarncakes · 19/07/2020 09:37

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?!

OP posts:
PhilCornwall1 · 19/07/2020 13:56

I'm not scared at all by this virus. I should be shielding, but took the decision not to from the beginning. I live in constant pain and life is tough enough with this, so I need some kind of life. My life has been reduced as it is, so I have to make the most of it, however long that is.

I have been told if I catch it, the outcome will more than likely be, in my specialists words, "a grave outcome", but the same could well be said if I caught the flu, as I basically have next to no immune system and a dose of that will land me in hospital.

I discussed this at length with my wife and she said if I'm at peace with that decision, she 100% supports me.

PhilSwagielka · 19/07/2020 14:09

Because me dying would not be a great loss.

TheAdventuresoftheWishingChair · 19/07/2020 15:37

Why are other employees being given various forms of protection and it's only teachers who aren't?

Well, I think if I was in government I would be supplying face visors to all teachers to be honest with you, and providing very clear guidelines about things like regular hand washing. My post wasn't about PPE. With regards other professions, it is far easier to do things like install plexiglass screens (buses, shops, hairdressers). The situation is far more complex in schools so you can't easily make comparisons.

Isotope456 · 19/07/2020 16:55

Like a lot of people, I'd rather not get it. However, given the risk it poses to me personally, I'm not willing to hide under the bed until they find a treatment or vaccine. I'm quite happy to go about my business, taking sensible, proportionate precautions, and otherwise get back to normal. At some point we just have to learn to live with the increased risk, so if I get it, I get it.

Fuckinellitsme · 19/07/2020 17:08

It's not that I don't care about catching it - I have an autoimmune condition which makes me higher risk - but I don't want to have my life ruled by the possibility of catching it, either (which as it stands is around a 1 in 4000 chance). I stuck to lockdown - I went to the supermarket two or three times a week (I don't drive and couldn't get online deliveries so that was the minimum I could manage) and that was it for almost 3 months. I make sure I keep my distance from others and wash my hands when I get home as well as sanitising regularly while out.

However. I cannot and will not let fear rule my life. For the first couple of weeks of lockdown I was terrified and my quality of life was practically nil - I didn't sleep, couldn't eat, was worried (literally) sick. That was not sustainable and it was pointless - if you do all you can to protect yourself, there's nothing more you can do. Given we'll all be living under this cloud for a long time, there comes a point where you just have to crack on.

I don't have any friends or relatives to pass it on to and although I'm 47 and higher risk, DH is only 36 and fit and healthy so the chances of complications were he to catch it are vanishingly small. I suppose not having elderly/vulnerable people in your life takes away much of the worry.

When I was diagnosed with RA 10 years ago I wobbled for a few weeks, but then decided to just get on with it, because whatever will be will be. I did all I could to keep healthy but otherwise just take the meds and get on with it. That's all you can do. And this is much the same.

Catspaw123 · 19/07/2020 17:12

I think I had it in February horrid virus, all the right symptoms. However. My risk level very low and bluntly being stuck at home will destroy my mental health. I want to go on days out, holidays meals out, normal stuff. That's more important to me, quality of life.

Needmoremummyjuice · 19/07/2020 17:33

The statistics suggest that at my age with no comorbities or underlying health conditions if I got covid I would be unwell for a few days or even be asymptomatic. However I am respectful of the rules to protect those around me for who this wouldn’t be the case. Having worked in intensive care over several flu seasons there are unfortunately people who succumb to flu/sepsis etc who on paper shouldn’t because they are young etc but it is a risk of any illness. What I worry about more is that we have had minimal/no routine screening for some cancers and health conditions for coming up 5 months, the attendance at urgent hospital appointments has been massively reduced due to the fear of attending hospital, the economic situation the country is in and the massively overwhelming mental health crisis we are going to have to face. I am also concerned how we will approach winter with the usual annual flu season. Every year 10000’s of people succumb to flu yet people have previously been very blasé about going around with coughs and colds, not having flu jabs when eligible etc. Working in a hospital in winter is always horrendous and things just start to get ‘back to normal’ after the last few months we will then enter the winter season (as we do every year) and everything is going to go tits up again. I also worry that so many people have become obsessed with excessive hygiene and the impact this will have on our immune systems-don’t get me wrong I like a good standard of hygiene and appropriate hand washing etc but the amount of antibacterial cleaning and sanitising going on for some people will have a negative impact in the long term IMO.

Mumoflittles · 19/07/2020 17:41

Because risk to my family is minimal & Im not putting mine & my childrens life on hold.

crosseyedMary · 19/07/2020 17:46

If the government didn't mind putting me at risk
you speak as if you think the gvt cares about you as an individual..

lifeafter50 · 19/07/2020 18:05

Because risk to my family is minimal & Im not putting mine & my childrens life on hold.
This.
Look at the stats.
Inefficient quango PHE has dramatically overstated the risk of dying / shockingly poor service from them.

crosseyedMary · 19/07/2020 18:37

dramatically overstated the risk of dying
what about the long term health issues?

PhilCornwall1 · 19/07/2020 18:43

@crosseyedMary

dramatically overstated the risk of dying what about the long term health issues?
Potentially overstated too? Who knows. A lot will come out in time and some will be surprised at the "revelations", some won't be.

It's a case of wait and see on a lot of this to be honest.

Trinketsfor20 · 19/07/2020 18:44

I am BAME. I gave birth at the start of this shit show and I also have a pre school age older child.

I am living my life absolutely as normally as possible. I have always followed the guidance but not one step more. I will do as they have advised but not one bit more.

I do not feel anxious about the virus for I feel being paralysed by it is no way to live.

I follow the restrictions and I do all that is permitted. I have been to hairdressers; spouse and I have dined out, I go shopping. I sanitise, wear mask and socially distance too:

Not one iota more or less than what’s Guided. I am living my life sanely and calmly.

DidSheReallySayThat20 · 19/07/2020 18:56

Because I don't want to live a restricted life being told what I can and can't do.. Obviously within reason. I'm not a hugger or whatever anyway so chances of being that close with anyone other than my household is slim to none.
But if I want to go to a friends whilst another household is there then I'll make that judgement.

I know this is a new virus.. But I so veru rarely get ill. Other than maybe once a Yr, norm Oct time. The sniffles for maybe 2 days. ( my parents are the same as are my dcs.) and it's never bad enough to feel I can't do day to day things as I would normally. I know that doesn't mean to say If I was to catch covid I wouldn't be very ill but I like to think the chance is slim. Even if I'm being naieve

PhilSwagielka · 19/07/2020 19:20

I'd also add that me not being arsed about the possibility of dying of COVID doesn't mean I don't wear a mask, wash my hands etc. I'm not that selfish.

moita · 20/07/2020 08:13

I'm not worried because the chances it will kill me are much lower than other things out there. I don't want to catch it and pass it on to vulnerable people so I'm social distancing and wearing a mask etc etc.

mylittlesandwich · 20/07/2020 09:08

I don't really care if I get it, chances are I will be fine. I do however care if DS gets it. Chances are he would be fine too but he's only 8 months old and I'd hate to see him fight it. I also don't think I'd cope well with 2 weeks locked back in the house so I'm socially distancing and mask wearing.

BackInTime · 20/07/2020 09:09

I think the chances of catching it are low and even if I did I am not in a high risk category. I also think that they know a lot more about how to treat serious cases than they did a few month ago. I think it is important to put risk into proportion. Would you stop going travelling by car if the deaths and accident rates were reported each day? Would you stop going out because of fears about cancer or other health issues which are just as if not more serious. Having said this, I will obey mask wearing and social distancing requirements to protect others more vulnerable.

openplankitchen · 20/07/2020 09:11

I'm not more worried about getting covid than eg getting cancer. I'm much more worried about being killed in an aeroplane crash which I know isn't logical at all! But as humans we aren't good at interpreting risk.

I think the Death Stats are panicking people because we're not used to it. We're also less used to infectious disease that can kill us compared to previous generations.

I think it's a huge mistake for the government to mandate face coverings. It adds to the feeling that the outside world is no longer 'safe' (not that it ever was!)

Plus some of the poor teachers are getting very anxious way beyond the actual threat of the virus. Their unions sadly aren't helping to reassure them

okiedokieme · 20/07/2020 09:37

I have had Covid (probably, they weren't testing then) it was very mild and only real symptom was loss of taste and smell for an extended period, still not perfect. Dp had a fever for 2 days and was pretty achy but neither of us had a cough or breathing issues. 80% of people have few or no symptoms. The vast majority who have got really sick were elderly (80+) or had significant underlying medical conditions.

Anon778833 · 20/07/2020 10:10

It’s not that I ‘don’t care’ but I’m not going to live in fear of something that might or might not happen. That’s no good for anyone’s health in itself.

FrugiFan · 20/07/2020 15:24

@Splodgetastic

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.
Do you worry about that from other viruses too? Covid isnt the only virus which can (in a small number of cases) cause brain damage - flu and chickenpox can lead to encephalitis. Chicken pox can lead to paralysis and stroke. Meningitis often causes brain damage. Do you have a flu jab every year and chicken pox jab? Do you live in fear of these diseases too, or just covid?
FrugiFan · 20/07/2020 15:33

@BakedBlossoms

It isn't that I'm not worried about catching it but I'm not worried enough to sacrifice my life for a year or more until there is a vaccine.
This. I would rather enjoy my life and risk it. I wont out strangers at risk, though. I'm abiding by social distancing and will wear a mask. If I have symptoms I will self isolate and have a test. But I won't sit at home, never seeing family or friends, avoiding holidays, pubs and cafes to avoid it. All of those things enrich my life.
Greydrapex · 20/07/2020 16:33

Not worried at all. Look at the statistics for someone your age.

Kazzyhoward · 20/07/2020 16:41

the attendance at urgent hospital appointments has been massively reduced due to the fear of attending hospital

Ah yes. Patient blaming again. The reality is that much of the NHS put up the shutters. It's not that people are frightened, it's that clinics, treatments, appointments, etc have all but been cancelled. My OH still hasn't had his cancer treatment restarted after it was stopped mid-cycle in March - he's not frightened of going in for appointments, etc - the oncology dept shut down for several weeks! I had my regular GP blood test cancelled in early April, I've been phoning every month to try to get it rescheduled - finally, today, they said they're starting to do them again and booked me in - for September! - for a blood test that they always used to say was essential and used to chase me up if I didn't make an appointment. The NHS needs to get it's act together and stop the patient blaming.