Quick help needed - advice on risk level of car journey to and from non-essential doctors appointment

[iwanttolookbetter]

Just wondering what the risk is in the following situation.

Considering going to a non-essential doctors appointment today and getting a lift there and back with my Dad who is 70. Don't expect it to last more than 15 minutes or so and will only have contact with the doctor. If I did pick up Covid could I pass it on to my Dad in the car on the way back (if so what would be the risk level?) or would it not have had enough time to incubate with me?

If it's not essential, then I wouldn't personally. No point in exposing yourself of your dad to any risk however small.

this is a situation where mask wearing could be helpful.

why do you think only the journey back would be chance to give him covid? It's not a zombie disease, you don't become infectious to others 20 minutes after you were first exposed yourself.

It's probably lower risk for your dad to go in car with you than on the bus with strangers.

Well no it wouldn’t have time to incubate and for you to be infectious. The risk is if you’ve been exposed over the last few weeks and are pre or asymptomatic? You probably shouldn’t share a car with your Dad at the moment as I think this is against the advice. Only meet one other person outside.

So the risk is not the doctors appointment per se but what you may already be incubating and what the current advice is.

I'm presuming you do need to go to the doctors for a reason and would still go. Alhough non essential the drs have still considered it important enough to I've you your appointment.
You can have the windows open and wear face coverings to reduce the risk and dont talk facing each other in the car (not difficult when someone is driving!!!)

www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers#private-cars-and-other-vehicles

Why are you going if it's non-essential? Can you not get public transport there if you really have to go? You shouldn't be sharing a car with another household right now.

This is a totally unnecessary risk to be taking with your father. You could be infected and asymptomatic, for all you know. Or you could pick up traces of the virus in the GP's and take them back into/onto the car.

You can and should attend medical appointments, people on the thread actually questioning if someone should attend a medical appointment is just utterly bonkers, actually dangerous in fact, it's much more likely that the OP's father is harmed by avoiding a medical appointment than covid here.

OP, you cannot get covid and give it to your father during the time, but you may of course have it before, the measures in the gov site, and your private car and you in a mask - assuming you're taking full precautions the rest of time and are symptomless is likely lower risk in covid terms than anything practical.

Isn’t the appointment for the OP? So she’s wanting a lift from her Dad? Or have I misunderstood?

Follow the guidance on safer car sharing and you will probably be fine which is as much as we can say for any situation at the moment.

Thanks everyone - I decided just to go (on my Mum's urging) although I'd have rather got the train to be honest. But we're not supposed to be using public transport at all where I am so I thought this was the legitimate way to do it although it feels less safe to me. I sat in the back with my mask on on the way back. My Dad (and Mum) are my bubble and I don't see anyone else apart from them (other than the minimal contact I've had at the supermarket). I saw them at the weekend as I always do. Glad it sounds like I'm unlikely to have incubated it in that time - I may isolate for a while now.

Well you didn't mention that they're your bubble!

Sitting in the back with your mask on was the right thing to do.

Well you didn't mention that they're your bubble!
Doesnt make any difference regarding OPs question about how dangerous the car journey to the doctors would be. Being in a bubble doesnt make it impossible for the virus to transmit from one person to another.

No but if you are in a bubble you are essentially 1 household so dont need to socially distance and if one of you has symptoms you all need to self isolate.
So the difference would be between
A. I want to go in the car with a friend I dont live with
B I want to go in a car with my child

I'm glad you went op it is really important at the moment to attend medical appointments. People on mumsnet should not be determining what medical care is essential or non essential