Is anyone else keeping Covid a secret??

[Sadhoot]

I had a very bizarre conversation with my mother this evening. She has Covid, as does the entire household.

She was talking about it in hushed tones, like it's something to be ashamed of, like it's a scandal. She said that "some people" will want nothing to do with you if they find out you have it, so I should keep the fact that I have Covid to myself as well. She's literally not telling anyone except her work, as she has to self-isolate.

Are you in the uk? Its something I've heard of in SE Asia and Latin America where the fear levels are very high but not in the UK.

Porcupineinwaiting

Yes, we're in London!

Granted, EE background but we've been here almost 30 years, for Christ's sake!

I wouldn’t mind certain people knowing, but I wouldn’t plaster it all over Facebook. Would be worried insurance companies could use the information in the future.

Surely by the time she leaves isolation people wont care as she will no longer be contagious?

The problem is, people have started accusing people who have it of not obeying the ‘rules’... when in actual fact it’s a virus, and virus’ spread. It’s what they do, and any (perfectly legitimate) contact with anyone can result in catching it.
It’s been stigmatised, which is ridiculous. We don’t stigmatise people who catch colds!

I would tell close family but probably would not broadcast it, no.
I’d probably tell more people once recovered.
I really wouldn’t want to be known as the one that caused the whole bubble to be sent home from school and I’m sure plenty of parents keep a low profile for this reason.

Keeping the extent of my exposure (at work) a secret so as not to worry family. If I tested positive I would tell them.

Someone in my household has it so we are all currently isolating. I've told the bare minimum people as for some reason I feel really ashamed as well. Like we weren't clever enough to avoid it. Ridiculous I know...

I really wouldn’t want to be known as the one that caused the whole bubble to be sent home from school and I’m sure plenty of parents keep a low profile for this reason

I live in a village where everyone knows everyone... within about 3 mins of DD’s bubble bursting everyone knew who the positive case was. Just one of those things though.

I wouldn’t tell anyone either, I’ve heard and seen nasty comments about how people getting it are ‘idiots who don’t wash their hands/wear masks.’ Which is ridiculous because it’s a virus and viruses spread no matter what, its literally their whole purpose. I do think there is a little bit of stigma around it.

Theres so many obsessed with "the rules" and brandishing everyone "selfish " that some may feel they have done something wrong or broken some law to end up having caught covid

When I tested positive I told who I had to tell for isolating purposes and work. When I returned to work I know people were
Avoiding me and after I tested positive someone else did in work and I know they think it was caught from me.

For the love of Christ, I can't quite believe the ignorance and ridiculous attitudes maybe I was a bit harsh on my mum...

And because I went to pub with my DP they would think that's where I caught it. I had the comment made that if everyone just stopped going pub I wouldn't have caught it

If I had it, I'd isolate, tell people on a need to know basis and otherwise keep it to myself.

Would you tell everyone if you had a cold? Aslong as the people she has been mixing with in work or her bubble know then thats all that need to know. I wouldn't feel embarrassed about having it or the need to keep it a secret but wouldn't feel i had to go posting it all over social media either.

I think if you've been out licking people/door handles then feeling ashamed is justified.

If you've been careful/sensible definitely not.

If you've been reaching/working NHS/other vulnerable workplaces then absolutely not.

@Sadhoot
Feelings of guilt & Shame run deep.

DH has it, we've told the two people who were affected and our familys. I have told work colleagues as Ill be at home for two weeks in which time id quite likely catch it from him. I'm not bothered about people knowing but equally no need to broadcast it.

Why would anyone be ashamed of having this? If I got it, I wouldn’t give a fig who knew! The only exception would be my mother, as I couldn’t stand the hysterics and handwringing.

I'm isolating at the moment due to contact with someone who's just tested positive, so a fair chance I've got it / will have it in the next week. I'm a key worker and if I do have it, I'll only be surprised I've made it to November without getting it earlier, no shame here.

Remember some people are more private than others. I don't take a mobile out with me most of the time and don't use facebook, twitter etc (although I am certainly not keeping off line and hiding myself). Not everyone wants other to know about their sensitive special category personal data (health data) which is why data protection law goes to such lengths to protect this kind of data.

@LauraMipsum fingers crossed for you. I too am a KW married to an operational Police Officer so I, like you, am surprised to have dodged it so far.

Am participating in a testing trial and have just gotten a positive test-am pretty asymptomatic so was shocked.
Have contacted anyone I had contact with.
I have less contact with the world than the rest of my household-none of whom tested positive.
I have not licked any door handles...

We have not kept it secret, there's no shame. We've caught it through school, many, many others are in the same position, or have contracted it at work. Loads of people.still have to go to work. It's a very smug and middle-class position to assume you catch it by being somehow irresponsible and time will likely show those people the error of their thinking.

What I will say is that Covid has the dubious benefit of exposing people’s true colours....