Has anyone given up on clubs and groups?

[DevonBelles]

Just wondering...

I belonged to a reading group and a language group. Both involve sitting around a table in close contact with up to 10 people, one in a pub, the other in a booked room.

Since CV we went online but as from this month we are meeting up.

I feel quite unsure of whether to go back.

Age-wise I'm over 60 and DP has some health issues so some of my concern is for him .

I am going about normal day to day things, but am worried about sitting so close to a group of other people (am fine meeting friends 1:1) who may be infected but asymptomatic and many of them have teens at home.

Comments?

Is this living?

I would much rather run a risk of catching an illness I am unlikely to be hospitalised with (double jabbed) than stop doing the things I love. You could drop dead from a heart attack tomorrow OP (in fact it's probably more likely), live a little.

Also, if you have any experience of teens you'd realise they spend most of their time in their room and a pros at social distancing from their parents!

@over2021 Well, that's an opinion at least!

My DP has had cancer recently and although he is in remission, that may not last. I don't want to catch Covid and give it to him.

I have too and I'm similar age to you.
I have 2 things in particular I'd really like to go to but I don't.
I probably would, tho, if I didn't have a relative living with me who has had ME for many years.

MNers are most likely to be a lot younger than you and me, so maybe don't feel so threatened by the virus, but I'm on Gransnet too and people there have very varied attitudes on how 'normal' they are prepared to be these days.

This is a virus that is out to infect. I will not be attending any of my usual group activities until such time that I’m comfortable (when the pandemic is over). I have a family to look after and protect.

Thanks for your views @GrandmaSteglitszch and @AussieMozzieMagnet. There are other ways I can 'live' without going to the groups. I am not desperate to go to either although if covid wasn't around I would.

The issue with the groups is there is a lot a talking at close quarters.

I think if cases start falling significantly I may but at the moment they are still around 39K a day, which is high considering 80% of people have had both jabs.

Yes, I'm giving groups a miss also until things calm down and we know definitely a firebreak is not needed. I'm guessing it will be. October and NHS under strain after that.

@DevonBelles I am younger than you (late 30s) however I am not attending any of my usual indoor groups currently (yoga, pilates, choir). I have had long covid and although now almost totally better it has been 15 months of being unwell, some of which I was very unwell. Quite frankly I don't want it again and will minimise risk for now until I feel either a.) so fed up I want to go back to those groups or b.) covid case numbers have dropped. That said my children (primary age) are in school and doing all their clubs again. I am double vaccinated and have obviously had Covid BUT i feel happier not taking risks where I don't need to do so (for now). My DH is the same, we do stuff with others mainly outdoors, we meet friends for bike rides/walks etc and we do see family inside and close friends too but we all test beforehand. Basically I do what I can to keep us safe but I expect soon enough we will catch it anyway via school.

Tbh I am pretty fine with this now, after 18 months with a hugely reduced quality of life unable to do much at all, I feel grateful that I can do most things I want to now (physically) and I don't really mind that I am not in social groups / pubs / restaurants much. Oddly I have realised I needed it less that I thought and am happy with what I like to term 'a phased return'.

In your situation with someone you are caring for I would also be careful. Of course Covid is rife and can be caught anywhere but it's completely natural you'd want to do your best to protect your partner within reason.

Covid is rife and can be caught anywhere is true but the chance of catching it is much reduced by having as few close interactions with others as possible.

For instance, I think I'd have more chance of catching it by going to the supermarket at busy times every day, than by going at a quiet time once a week.

I also belong to a book group and we've started meeting up again. I also ring church bells in a small tower room, but we wear masks in there, because we are VERY close.

My DH has incurable cancer, but we're both double jabbed and we want to enjoy the life we have left. I'm very careful still (I wear a mask in shops etc) but to be honest either of us could have a heart attack tomorrow so I want to make the most of the time we have, and that includes doing the hobbies I love.

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest. But we all have different risks we are happy with and have to make our own choices. If you aren't happy with the risk, don't go. You don't need to justify yourself to strangers here.

I'm not justifying it @HungryHippo11.

I was doing a straw poll on whether anyone is still holding back from doing group activities. Just a conversation with other people.

I've been on holiday (UK), to dentists, hairdressers, 1:1 meetings with close friends, shopping , short hops on a train, but have yet to join in a large group with other people in a confined space.

Cases are rising quite fast again - far more than a few months back- and although infection might not be so severe with 2 jabs, the efficacy of the 2nd jab now 5 months back will be reduced.

My only regular groups are exercise ones and I've been back outside for months and inside for a slightly shorter time. If I had another group I would go but I think the difference is that I never stopped going out to work or going to shops and neither did my living at home working age DC.

Ime there's a huge difference in approach by those who have worked outside the home throughout.

I think there's a difference between taking the risk with things you have to do (work, school) and things you would like to do (reading group, choir).
You might catch it from the former, but can reduce overall risk a bit by holding off on the latter until cases have gone down (if they do!)
My parents used to go dancing with lots of other old people, that hasn't started back up yet as many are still avoiding those sorts of situations.

I can't really see the point in delaying any activities now, unless you're holding out for a booster. You're going to be exposed to covid at some point anyway. It's not going away.

I have given up on some groups for now, and not on others.
One is whist. I dont fancy sitting around a card table, and passing around a lot of cards between us.
I didnt go that often anyway, so am hanging back for now.

I'm a bit disappointed with the decision that my language class will be online throughout next year, actually. I'd have liked to return to in person teaching.

There was a Slimming World leaflet drop on our estate last Thursday. Unusual for September. We seem to usually get them after Christmas and Easter. They are held in our very stuffy town hall. I wasnt planning on going back (im doing quite well on my own) But if i was i wouldnt if you know what i mean. There is no way i would be sitting in our stuffy town hall with a mask on when they get brought back in and bloody paying for it. Not a chance.

I’m carrying on with outdoor groups, netball, hiking etc. However, I’m not comfortable being with a large group indoors yet, so am giving those a miss.

For me it’s just not worth the risk & I’ve got lots of other stuff to keep me busy.

I think for me, mixing with others is easier if I know the people and what they are doing away from meeting me!
The members of these groups are younger than me by 10 years on average, they are taking more risks, some are working, (I am but only online) and generally they have more contact. Two at least have had to isolate as they were pinged or someone in their family had the virus a while back.

The biggest risk is age and yes, a booster jab would help but that's not looking likely is it?

I'd be happier if there could be some social distancing in my clubs but there can't be- it's sitting round a table, cheek by jowl.

Prof Gilbert, who began designing the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in early 2020 when Covid first emerged in China, said there were no signs of immunity waning in ongoing trials of the vaccine, which started in April 2020.

Blood tests on volunteers who had been vaccinated more than a year ago, showed they had signs of good protection.

www.bbc.com/news/uk-58507436

I've warned people at a group I'm in that I'm a ticking virus bomb waiting to go off - I work in one school and my two teenagers attend another. It's only a matter of time I reckon. Others in the group have fewer contacts than me by some margin.

It wouldn’t bother me personally but you have to make a decision based on your own circumstances. I’m younger than you and I’m not CV nor do I live with anyone who is CV.

I started volunteering at a dementia club last week. It's the first time they have been together in 18 months.
About 15 people came all of them In their 70's.
They were more than happy to meet up.

I have restarted all my activities. In church we are masked from start to finish - a little tricky singing through it, but manageable!
At bridge club, again we wear masks all evening, as we are sitting closely around card tables.
At table tennis club, we play unmasked, but sanitise our hands and all the equipment before and after playing.
So far we have all remained well.
I have been for indoor restaurant meals with friends and family too, with no problems.
After being ill with long Covid for 18 months, and still struggling, I am determined to get my life back.