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Covid

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Original poster

Really worried now

40 replies

ConcernedAuntie · 28/10/2020 09:43

We have been so careful during all this. Wiping down washing, the lot. On Sunday I threw caution to the wind and went to met up with a friend I hadn't seen since January for a coffee and a catch up. We sat at a table for 4 so that we didn't sit opposite each other, wore masks until sitting down, sanitized, etc She has just phoned me to let me know that her husband has this morning received a positive covid test and she is on her way to try and get tested. He obviously hadn't been showing symptoms when she met me or she would not have come. DH and I will of course not be going out anywhere now but I am so scared. I am late 60s. This is the first time I had met anyone else and I feel so stupid. Why did I go? I dropped some shopping off for an elderly neighbour yesterday afternoon. I only stepped inside her door to drop the bags off but wshat if I have given it to her? If I get through this I'm not going out again until there is a vaccine. What are my chances of having caught it?

OP posts:

diplodocusinermine · 28/10/2020 09:49

Please try not to be too concerned. If her husband has only just tested positive, if she's caught it from him there will be a lag of a few days, so chances are she wasn't infected when you met her. The chances of you passing it on to your neighbour are miniscule.

Can you get a test, just to set your mind at rest.

Even with worst case scenario, if you do catch it, chances are you will be fine. Even very elderly people in high risk groups with comorbidities come through this OK.

Redolent · 28/10/2020 09:49

Don't beat yourself up over it. You're two steps removed at this point: he may not have passed it on to her, and she may not have passed it on to you. The majority of people don't pass it on at all (but a minority are superspreaders).

Be sensible, know your risks. You don't have to avoid gong out at all, that's extreme. But covid really is rife now in the UK now, so just avoid indoor meet ups.

GirlCrush · 28/10/2020 09:53

Hopefully you’ll all be fine op

But really, this is how it spreads. It’s how it works. Not much you can do now but I’d get a test

TheAnswerIsCake · 28/10/2020 10:07

@GirlCrush

Hopefully you’ll all be fine op

But really, this is how it spreads. It’s how it works. Not much you can do now but I’d get a test

I’m sorry to pick on your post, but I keep seeing this “just get a test” mantra trotted out and au need to ask WHY?

There is absolutely no point in a test at this stage. If the OP has picked up from her friend, it will likely be too soon to show on a test, so receiving a negative does not remove the risk of getting it. The guidelines on testing are not to test unless you have symptoms and those guidelines are one of the few things which makes sense. Testing following contact (even with a proven positive, which this isn’t yet) serves no useful purpose as you can still go on to develop it during the incubation period. The testing system is shambles enough, but this “just get a test” nonsense really doesn’t help!

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 28/10/2020 10:12

I’d leave any shopping by the door or pop it inside with no contact going forward then less risk to both sides.

If coffee was outdoors, it’s likely a tiny risk compared to an indoor setting. It’s not clear of indoors or outdoors.

TheAnswerIsCake · 28/10/2020 10:12

OP, I’m in a similar boat in that we’d been hugely careful and we saw someone socially for the first time since the end of Feb on Friday. On Sat she developed symptoms and has tested positive. We’re currently symptom free, but obviously isolating for 14 days. It is frustrating when you’ve been so careful, but I’m pragmatic. It goes to show that even when you follow all the guidance, things can still happen. There is no point beating yourself up. Even with all the care in the world, the risk is there and some of us will be unlucky.

The good news though is that your risk here really is low. You don’t yet know that your friend even has it. Many people do not get the virus even when they live with someone who tests positive. If she does have it she would likely have been in early stages and if she did not cough directly on you then the risk is still low.

ScribblingPixie · 28/10/2020 10:14

Try not to worry too much OP. I'm in a similar situation and it's now 11 days since I met up with the person who has tested positive. I have had no symptoms and feel pretty confident that social distancing has worked as it is supposed to. There's no reason why it won't for you too.

HellooJackie · 28/10/2020 10:20

Isn't it always the way! I'd be panicking just like you so can't say don't worry. But if I put my sensible head on she more than likely wasn't infectious when she saw you. She might not even have it in all honesty.

Flamingo30 · 28/10/2020 10:25

Does your friend have symptoms? I thought you were only meant to get a test if you had symptoms even if living with someone positive. I really don't think you don't need to be overly worried at this point as he would have to have passed it to her and she would have needed to be contagious at the point of meeting you. Even then if you were sitting at a distance and using sanitiser etc I think your risk is minimal.

Seeline · 28/10/2020 10:35

You are only meant to get a test if you have one of the 3 symptoms, unless requested by T&T, official sampling, Council etc.

PowerslidePanda · 28/10/2020 10:37

My family had a similar situation. My mum was in close contact with my nan the day that my dad developed symptoms (it was before social distancing). My mum developed symptoms herself 5 days later, but my nan never got it.

dementedpixie · 28/10/2020 10:40

Why is she getting a test? Does she have symptoms? Close contact is seeing someone in the 48 hours before they got symptoms. You are past 48 hours since you saw her plus she hasn't got symptoms

Original poster

ConcernedAuntie · 28/10/2020 10:57

She said she started to feel a bit unwell just before he got his results but was not totally sure that she was talking herself into it. That's why she is trying to get a test.

And no, she didn't cough or sneeze when I was with her.

It was indoors and there were screens between the tables but of course we were on the same table.

Haven't been able to eat anything this morning, my stomach is churning so much. I just feel so stupid. Why, why did I go. Definitely won't be doing it again. Totally panicked.

OP posts:

TheDailyCarbuncle · 28/10/2020 11:13

@ConcernedAuntie

She said she started to feel a bit unwell just before he got his results but was not totally sure that she was talking herself into it. That's why she is trying to get a test.

And no, she didn't cough or sneeze when I was with her.

It was indoors and there were screens between the tables but of course we were on the same table.

Haven't been able to eat anything this morning, my stomach is churning so much. I just feel so stupid. Why, why did I go. Definitely won't be doing it again. Totally panicked.

I'm trying to be sympathetic but seriously, you need to get some perspective. You are overreacting massively.

For one thing, you have no idea if you caught it or not. So there is a strong chance you have literally nothing to worry about (as far as covid is concerned).
But even if you have caught it, you have an absolutely massive chance of being absolutely fine. Even if you were a frail 90 year old you would have an 85% chance of surviving. There is every chance, if you do have it, you will have very very mild symptoms or even no symptoms at all.

God it really fucks me off the way people have been scared so much by the media. Young healthy fit people die every single day in their millions from thousands of different causes - falling down the stairs, throat infections, medication errors. Do you worry endlessly about all those things? No, because the BBC doesn't do tragedy-laden articles about them - you don't even think about them. The only reason you're scared now is because the media has made you feel this is a massive personal threat. IT IS NOT. On a large scale, given whole populations of countries, the numbers of deaths are high. But on a personal level the actual risk to you is very very low.

Calm down.

butterpuffed · 28/10/2020 11:14

You weren't stupid and don't forget you're a couple of steps away so no need to get a test unless your friend tests positive plus you have symptoms.
It's pointless of me to say don't worry as you are. Hope you'll be fine

GabsAlot · 28/10/2020 11:32

youre being ott-say you have ti ok you could be asymptomatic and be fine why wouldnt you go out again

we also dont know when theres goig to be a working vaccine how long are you goin g to stay inside for

Original poster

ConcernedAuntie · 28/10/2020 12:11

But on a personal level the actual risk to you is very very low.

Actually, my risk is not very low. I have kidney disease and high blood pressure. In normal times I gym twice a week, run, zumba and pilates so not affected on a day to day basis but the fact remains that I do have 'underlying health' issues.

I am also worried if I do have it who I pass in on to. My husband is mid 70s and I try to give my elderly neighbour some distanced support. It is not just me I am worried about.

OP posts:

Whatyoucanandcantdo · 28/10/2020 12:21

There's part of me that thinks what are you go to do for the rest of your life? Why aren't you still exercising as that would be a really good way to keep yourself healthy?

A tiny bit of me thought, you might as well have met up with friends safely all summer if you're going to catch it (or not) the first time you go out. Hope you haven't caught it obviously.

I do think you're over reacting and agree that we have lost all balance in this.

OliveTree75 · 28/10/2020 12:43

I agree with the pp why can't you still exercise? Especially running outdoors

GabsAlot · 28/10/2020 12:45

covid wasnt even in the top 10 fro deaths according to the ons yet they dont talk about that in the media

Inthemane · 28/10/2020 12:52

I can understand that this must feel frightening to you, particularly if you have health conditions.

I’m not sure if this helps, but it’s entirely possible your friend doesn’t have Covid, or as a PP suggested, even if she does have it, that she wasn’t infectious when she met you.

If she did have it, the chances of her infecting you at a 1m distance are 13%, so you have an 87% chance of not catching it.

www.itv.com/news/2020-06-01/two-metre-distance-more-effective-than-one-at-curbing-covid-19-spread-study

MadameBlobby · 28/10/2020 12:56

Fingers crossed for you

In the nicest way though your anxiety sounds like it’s going to be much more of a problem for you than Covid. I would seek some help with that if you feel able to x

IfIHadAHeart · 28/10/2020 12:59

I agree with PP, this is life now. Are you going to live the rest of your life hiding away? Unfortunately life has to go on. It sounds like you took sensible, reasonable precautions when you were out and you are unlikely to have caught it. Even if you have, try to remember that for the vast majority of people it is a mild illness.

Mindymomo · 28/10/2020 13:12

I understand you worrying. My adult son is isolating as 5 of his work colleagues have tested positive, 4 last week and 1 this week. My son has had a private test sent by firm and despite them working all day together, only 5 out of 40 became positive. They are all now isolating.

WindChimeTinkle · 28/10/2020 14:32

The media has created an epidemic of over reacting and health anxiety.

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