Do people seem more scared

[Orangeblossom77777]

of this new variant of covid?

It's not more severe, just more contagious? So why do people seem more scared, I mean for their own health if they are not vulnerable?

If you read this, it is mild for the majority of people...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52758024

[quote Orangeblossom77777]of this new variant of covid?

It's not more severe, just more contagious? So why do people seem more scared, I mean for their own health if they are not vulnerable?

If you read this, it is mild for the majority of people...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-52758024[/quote]
Because more transmissible means more cases.

More cases means more people in hospitals.

Overwhelmed hospitals means the NHS can’t provide proper care to people.

That’s why people are more scared.

Yes, I understand that, of course, but that doesn't equate to risk on a personal level.

I'm not scared of covid.

But I worry that I will find a lump. Or one of my children will need urgent care. Or that my FIL will have a heart attack.

I worry about the implications of those things with full hospitals.

So why do people seem more scared, I mean for their own health if they are not vulnerable?

I don’t agree that people are more scared for themselves.

There’s no evidence that it’s less severe if you have some, please provide it here and yes I am more worried.

Because it’s easier to catch it. A couple of months ago, going in to a supermarket felt ok, now it seems much higher risk. And because of the implications on the rest of NHS care.

I'm scared of long Covid though. My healthy teen caught Covid and it wasn't a walk in the park for him.

I'm scared of hospitals being overwhelmed so that injuries from a car accident or appendicitis can't be treated.

Also, a relative's brother 59, contracted Covid in hospital after going in with pancreatitis. It triggered a fatal heart attack.

@Mindymomo
OP didn't say the new variant was less severe, just that it was no more severe.

OP, I'm a bit more scared as it is more contagious so, while I might be lucky enough to be mildly affected (who even knows?), I am much more likely to pass it on to more vulnerable members of my family. And of course, I definitely do worry about hospital services being under strain and urgent medical care being unavailable for non Covid illnesses/emergencies.

I Am definitely more worried this time

It does equate to risk on a personal level.

It's very widespread, so now-

More likely to get it
Hospital more likely to be unable to treat people for this And other conditions.

It may be no worse than it was, but you are now far more likely to get it.

Higher risk of catching it, I see, however the risk from the illness is still the same.

It's still mild for the majority of people.

I am scared that I will need routine treatment and catch it in hospital and the at as my viral load wil be huge it will be severe. I worry DH will be hit by a car on his bike and the ambulance through no fault of their own will take longer to get to him and less than normal treatment in hospital.

@Orangeblossom77777 I wish you could see all of the long covid clinics and Facebook groups for NHS staff that haven’t been able to work. “Mild” to you might mean no hospital like most staff but 20% long covid? Mild?

I don’t feel like I’m more likely to get it as we’re in lockdown and I know where the main risks are for picking it up; households mixing, schools, hospitals.
So on a personal level I’m less scared now than I was back in December when cases were rising but kids still in school and mixing was still happening here when we were in tier 2.

I don’t think I’ll pick it up in the supermarket to be honest. I do still think it transmits with close contact indoors for more that 15 minutes. Not breezing past people in the supermarket. I don’t go anywhere else other than outdoor walks and runs.

I’m scared on a national level though. For the NHS and those that have to go out to work etc.

Same. I’m scared my kids will need treatment and there will be a car park full of covid patients in front of them.

I have been in a 'support group' for a health condition I have so yes I know well what a misery fest they can be.

The personal risk is a bit higher if you catch Covid at a time when the NHS is overwhelmed, because if you do happen to get very ill they're less likely to make you well again.

It does actually equate to risk on a personal level since:
A. You and your loved ones are more likely to catch it
B. If you or any of your loved ones need to go into hospital for any reason, there may not be capacity, or safe capacity.
A friend's mum fell on the ice and broke several bones last week. Taken to A&E but the hospital shut to admissions at 5pm due to the number of admissions for both Covid and ice injuries. 30 miles to the next nearest hospital. And this is up north where we have yet to feel the full effect of this new variant and second wave.

I'm not more scared of Covid. I'm extremely worried about me or my family needing hospital care and not being able to access it. It's a terrifying thought really. I think we all are at greater risk now.

My healthy, marathon running brother got Covid, and he was very ill will it.

@Orangeblossom77777

Yes, I understand that, of course, but that doesn't equate to risk on a personal level.

What if your child breaks their arm, or they get appendicitis?

What if you find a breast lump or suddenly get severe chest pain or have a car accident?

They are all personal risks, not covid, but with too much covid you or your kid may not be able to get timely treatment for other run-of-the-mill health issues that need prompt attention.

Because lower risk doesn't mean you won't get very ill

Because if you get very ill when hospitals are overloaded then what would have been "survivable" quickly becomes "fatal"

Not sure why that is so hard to understand?

" at a personal level"

Pretty much sums up all that is wrong and why we are having such a surge.
People are only thinking of themselves and are glossing over the bigger picture.

Just because people aren’t terrified of COVID on a personal level doesn’t mean they are breaking rules and putting other people at risk!

The question was ‘are people more scared of this new variant?’

We are all replying based on personal circumstances but nobody is saying it’s great ok a national level. That wasn’t the question though.

Op, do you realise that article is from may 2020??

I am not scared of catching the virus. I am very low risk. I am scared of DH passing it on unknowingly to a vulnerable person as he works in houses. I am scared of something else happening, like crashing my car on a long drive for a walk somewhere, or my newborn getting some other virus and having a bad temperature, and not being able to receive any treatment because the NHS is so overwhelmed. I am doing nothing except going for a walk because I want to minimise risk of generally needing medical care, and to lower the risk for those who encounter DH daily.