Would you feel safe in a pub setting (re Covid)?

[FurryBlueSlippers]

I'm a regular but have name changed.

I belong to a reading group that meets in a local pub once a month, The pub does get busy with locals and their children, and white van men calling in.

We are due to resume later this month and I'm just not sure about going. There would be around 10 of us at the table, sitting close together inside. I've been double jabbed and I think most of us will have been.

But my partner is clinically vulnerable so that's an added concern.

Am I being overly cautious?

I would but I don’t live with anyone vulnerable.

Do what you feel comfortable with.
I think you sound overly- cautious but I'm not you.

I think you need to do what you and DP are comfortable with.

But I'd try to figure out if it's actually risky for you/DP or if it's just a symptom of having been so careful, for so long, that it feels bigger than it is, iyswim?

I'm CEV and immune suppressed, so although I'm double jabbed there's a good chance the vaccine won't have been as effective for me. Which is a worry. Some days I think fuck it, I've had enough, I need to see people and live again. Other days I want to hide in my house.

Is your DP CV with something that may have affected the vaccine? If not, I think I'd behave as though he were not CV now, if he's comfortable with that.

I wouldn’t, for the time being, CEV husband. If you do, you need an FFP3.

Btw, I’m not a man, I read voraciously, I would dearly love a white van (a van of any hue) to transport my plants: avid gardener too.

Maybe best not to judge a book by its cover (boom, boom 😬)

Agree that you should discuss with your DP. On average at least one of the group won't be vaccinated and I personally wouldn't like to all sit round one table indoors

If it's an early evening event and you have masks, hand sanitiser, your group has it's own table, I personally would attend. I do not have anyone vulnerable at home though and might be worth discussing it with them to see how they feel? Im a bit wary of pubs myself, only because when folk have had a few, inhibitions and boundaries tend to be the first things to go. I also would not go near a pub when sport is being shown. That's just me though.

DH has had cancer, 2 years ago, has had major surgery and may have secondaries, (awaiting further scans) which may need surgery or drug treatment. or may not.

If it were just me, I'd go but am worried I may pick it up and bring it home. I know it's a tiny risk, but.....

I went for my first meal out since last Feb this week. I had been avoiding it as I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy it or wouldn't feel safe. Actually, it was fine, and enjoyable! And it was nice to eat something I hadn't had to cook!

You're double jabbed. This is THE safest you're going to be. If you don't want to be in that kind of setting now, then when? You have to make the choice to either get back to life or avoid such situations forever. Which you choose is entirely up to you of course.

I hope you enjoy it if you go!

FurryBlueSlippers

DH has had cancer, 2 years ago, has had major surgery and may have secondaries, (awaiting further scans) which may need surgery or drug treatment. or may not.

If it were just me, I'd go but am worried I may pick it up and bring it home. I know it's a tiny risk, but.....”

Certainly wouldn’t, then. The book club will be there when he’s sorted. Feet up, takeaway and good film with DH 💐

You're double jabbed. This is THE safest you're going to be. If you don't want to be in that kind of setting now, then when? You have to make the choice to either get back to life or avoid such situations forever. Which you choose is entirely up to you of course.

I'm thinking maybe delaying until more people have been double jabbed and levels are lower- they are predicted to rise after the 19th.

(Vaccine programme is a fantastic step forward and I strongly advocate cautiously opening up now but along with personal responsibility according to our individual circumstances.)

I wouldn't indoors, can they not meet outside? Rates are currently high and living with a ecv person I wouldn't want to risk bringing it home.

@MrsSkylerWhite Thanks for your insights. The next scan is not for another 3 months- watch and wait is the process.

As a couple we are doing things together, like eating outside, travelling by car to family, to meet in small groups, but I'm just not sure about a totally mask-free setting where I'd be walking to the loo past loads of people standing at the bar, etc.

I'd be fine with it. I want life to go back to normal as quickly as possible now we are all jabbed. But your decision to make of course.

I had covid in January and I think the hardest part of it was the fear. I mean I was as poorly as you would be with flu but never with flu has the media make me feel like I could die. It was thr psychological side of it that I found the hardest battle. Also the loneliness of being essentially a leper.

As things are currently I feel safe, especially outside. Come the 19th, I won’t.

I don’t think I would if I were you and my DH was CEV. But I do know three doubled jabbed adults who all have Covid at the moment. They are all feeling ‘ok’, but none of them have any risk factors. I’m feeling like being double jabbed isn’t protecting the most vulnerable at the moment and probably won’t until numbers are significantly lower.
What does your DH think?

In your situation I wouldn't. Cases are going to be higher than they were in January and even double jabbed there is a 10% chance you could catch it and pass it on. I would wait until cases drop again before mixing indoors if I had a vulnerable person living with me.

I’m double jabbed and I’ve had Covid but I’d still rather sit outside at the moment. Got some vulnerable family members who are vaccinated but I would hate it if they got it and it was me who carried it to them.

I think you are being sensible to consider the risks. I don't agree that this is the safest it's ever been. It felt safer to me a few a weeks ago, when I was double jabbed but cases were low. It will feel even less safe after the 19th if masks and distancing are abandoned. At the same time, vaccination is going up and schools will be closing for summer so what I would hope is that in a few weeks it would start to become a little safer again.

I am watching the local case rate and vaccination rate too, and will adjust my expectations accordingly!

I have a similar situation and I feel that if I am meeting up soon, I would prefer it to be outdoors if possible. It doesn't seem worth the risk if it's going to be safer in a few weeks (and was safer a few weeks ago, so at least I have been able to have these meetings over the past couple of months!).

I wouldn’t personally sit indoors with a large group of people if I lived with a vulnerable person. Small groups of family members outside - maybe.

But talking to ur DH is important

coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/interactive-map/vaccinations

This map is useful for looking at recent local rates and vaccination rates which will affect risks.

I don't have CV/ ECV concerns to consider which makes life far sinpler, but living in a neighbourhood with nearly 75% double vaccinated does significantly improve the risk of being somewhere like a pub with someone contagious. If it's a pub attractive to older people who are fully vaccinated, that's a safer environment than a city centre bar with younger people who haven't had that opportunity as yet.
It makes a much more substantial difference than if the rule is to cover your face for 90 seconds while leaving the table for the toilet.

I would feel very nervous about it after 19th July when all regulations end and cases currently increasing massively. I'd feel a lot safer outside. Is there a pub garden or similar where you could sit?

I'd want to be outside on a table. Especially after 19th July assuming the serial killer in all but name Mr Boris Johnson does not change his mind.

I don't think you've said but is your husband vaccinated? Immunocompromised?