Am I just too anxious about new strain?

[PennyForTheme]

I am ECV and I have also lost a elderly family member to Covid. It's hard not to be terrified. Today I had a shopping delivery as it feels safer than going into shops. The delivery driver wore a mask and I wore a mask. He was stood at least 2 meters away and he was stood outside. I was in the doorway bringing in the shopping in. He was gone within 5 minutes. But with the new strain being more transmissible even that didn't feel safe. How risky was it really? And if it's safer than it feels how do I calm my anxiety? Because I'm terrified at the moment of everything.

You were both protecting yourselves with masks, and he was in the fresh air. Both prob feel at risk from each other. No one can know if he had COVID but honestly it seems unlikely you would catch anything. I always let the drivers know to drop shopping in front of my door as I’m disabled and it would take too long for me to unload the baskets. They seem happy enough with that. Is that possible for your if you feel vulnerable?

Also I should add that I don’t order from Sainsburys - only stores that do bagged shopping. Alternatively you can leave your bags outside the door and ask them to fill them which they would do.

Given the fact that you both wore masks, you maintained a 2m+ distance, the driver was outside and you were only in each other's presence for a few minutes, I really do think the risk was extremely low. I think that if the new variant commonly transmitted in those circumstances, the infection rates would be even worse than they currently are!

Thanks Lily I wish there was a way of knowing what 70 percent more transmissible really means. Does it mean that things that used to protect to you (like masks and distance) won't always be enough anymore? The cases were I am are ridiculously high as well. (Tier 4 area). DH normally deals with deliveries etc but it came early and he was out so I sorted it and then panicked about the fact I am supposed to be shielding.

I'm in your position. We have a porch. I leave the porch door open at the beginning of the hour delivery slot.
I have printed instructions on the main door and I leave tray liners on the porch floor for unloading.
I don't open the front door at all but I do crack open a window at a distance to thank whoever delivers.

Then (I'm also worried about the new strain), I'll not open my front door for 5 minutes to ensure the air in my porch has fully changed before going in.

I know this will sound unreasonable but no one can tell me how this new more infectious strain is infecting people. It might be purely aerosol but it could linger longer on surfaces. No one knows right now so I'm not taking any chances.

I would likely need hospital support if I catch covid, and right now I'm not chancing it.

Thank you for the good ideas on how to avoid this happening in the future. Next time DH is unavailable I will use them. Is there any published stuff anywhere on just how "catchable" the new strain is?

It’s hard isn’t it as it feels like March all over again in that we don’t know much about the new strain. My assumption would be that masks, distancing, brief contact plus outdoor contact make having your shopping delivered extremely low risk. However I’m not vulnerable and the and the same questions have crossed my mind too. As someone else suggested I’m sure you could pop a note on your delivery or the door explaining that you’re cev and asking that they leave your shopping at the door. I’m sure you could do this even when your husband is around too. I’m sure we’ll soon get a better sense of how the new variant behaves and as someone else said if it was transmitted in the circumstances you described then I’m sure the rates would be far higher.

Thanks Betty. Yes it does feel like we are in March again and it's hard not to become overly fearful. Or know if you are actually under reacting.