Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Risk of catching Covid outside (with Asthma)

32 replies

Strawbsaturno · 23/09/2021 12:08

Is there really any prospect of Covid particles floating in through an open window if neighbours who we know have Covid are coughing outside?
I feel they spectacularly selfish but have been walking around outside, driving around in car, coughing their guts up whilst sat in their garden whilst they were all Covid+.
DS16 bedroom faces their house he’s sits gaming for long next to the window and now he’s coughing badly. He’s on his way home from college to do a test Angry. He does have asthma do coughing isn’t unusual however now he feels feverish too.
He did have Covid in January and has had a jab so fingers crossed he’s not caught it again.
Am I overthinking or could covid float in through his window?

OP posts:
MossyBottom · 23/09/2021 12:10

Pretty slim chance unless you were stood next to them. He's far more likely to get it at college or from friends. I wouldn't worry about it.

Reallybadidea · 23/09/2021 12:14

He's far more likely to catch it at school. You can't expect people not to use their gardens because they have covid. If you're that concerned then get your ds to game somewhere else.

Delatron · 23/09/2021 12:16

I think you’re worrying about the wrong things here.

He’s much more likely to get it from indoors at college. We’ve known outdoor transmission is low for a while now and people are allowed to use their gardens. Probably good for them to get some fresh air abs clear their lungs...

HermioneWeasley · 23/09/2021 12:16

Incredibly unlikely, almost impossible. It’s not selfish for people to use their gardens for fresh air and exercise when they are required to self isolate

Bobholll · 23/09/2021 12:33

They are not being selfish at all. It’s their house & their garden, they are free to use it as the like. Good grief. When my neighbours all had covid in summer, we sat on either side of our fence (we have sloped gardens & so we can easily see each other) and nattered, had a drink. The kids had water fights over the fence & threw balls back & forth. Funnily enough, we didn’t get covid. God forbid people should want to get some fresh air while feeling a bit under the weather. My kids would have gone insane when we had covid if we didn’t use the garden multiple times a day, even though it was December & freezing!

You son is about 1000+x more likely to catch it at school.

You are being ridiculous. I have moderate to severe asthma & I’m not particularly concerned about covid. I’m jabbed. Life goes on.

The only thing your neighbours shouldn’t be doing is driving in their car and potentially ‘walking around’ if you mean outside their house & garden on the street.

TheKeatingFive · 23/09/2021 12:53

Incredibly unlikely, almost impossible. It’s not selfish for people to use their gardens for fresh air and exercise when they are required to self isolate

This.

Try to get some perspective OP.

Original poster
Strawbsaturno · 23/09/2021 13:18

Thank you for your comments, brought me back to earth a bit about the risk.
I totally disagree with those who said its not selfish. These neighbours have been going for walks, drives, chatting to delivery people at the front door, walking up and down the street, talking to neighbours who presumably didn’t know they had Covid, and absolutely choking their guts up whilst being sat on at the front outside, my opinion that’s about completely selfish as you can get. We all had Covid in January and stayed in, yes it was boring as hell but we did it.

OP posts:
TheKeatingFive · 23/09/2021 13:20

These neighbours have been going for walks, drives, chatting to delivery people at the front door, walking up and down the street, talking to neighbours who presumably didn’t know they had Covid, and absolutely choking their guts up whilst being sat on at the front outside

None of those things are likely to spread covid as outdoor transmission is incredibly rare.

Original poster
Strawbsaturno · 23/09/2021 13:28

@TheKeatingFive

These neighbours have been going for walks, drives, chatting to delivery people at the front door, walking up and down the street, talking to neighbours who presumably didn’t know they had Covid, and absolutely choking their guts up whilst being sat on at the front outside

None of those things are likely to spread covid as outdoor transmission is incredibly rare.

Come on….pushing it there!!! The instructions for self isolation are ‘you must stay at home’…. Not go out for a walk and feel free to roam around outside because the risk is low but you’re bored!
OP posts:
TheKeatingFive · 23/09/2021 13:30

Come on….pushing it there!!!

Well you can choose to use your common sense or not. Walking down the street isn’t going to spread covid whatever the rules say.

Original poster
Strawbsaturno · 23/09/2021 13:31

Sorry @TheKeatingFive wish there was an edit button as that came across badly … what I meant is you still aren’t supposed to do these things if you’re Covid+.
Stay in your own garden, ok I can see that, but I wouldn’t if I was coughing as badly as they were.

OP posts:
TheKeatingFive · 23/09/2021 13:33

what I meant is you still aren’t supposed to do these things if you’re Covid+

Ok, sure. But in a world where household contacts don’t even have to isolate, is it surprising that people start taking the big risk of walking down the street?

thewhatsit · 23/09/2021 13:34

Some of the things you’ve mentioned are clearly in violation of isolation rules… but sitting in their garden? And you’re using that as an example of them being selfish?
We all had classic Covid symptoms during the first lockdown (no tests available back then) and spent all day in the garden. Are you seriously suggesting people shouldn’t use their gardens to isolate?

Delatron · 23/09/2021 13:38

But people need fresh air! It’s unhealthy to sit inside all day. The weather has been lovely too. It will have done them good to get outside and get some sunshine and fresh air.

What’s the point in worrying about your neighbours walking up and down their street and coughing in their garden?

Covid is spread by close contact for longer than 15 minutes indoors. Outdoor transmission is negligible. Even coughing!

Your greatest risk here is your son going to college.

SweetBabyCheeses99 · 23/09/2021 13:39

How do you even know they have covid? If you were my neighbour I’d tell you that just to ensure you stayed away from me. Stop spying on them and get on with your own life.

Original poster
Strawbsaturno · 23/09/2021 13:41

@thewhatsit

Some of the things you’ve mentioned are clearly in violation of isolation rules… but sitting in their garden? And you’re using that as an example of them being selfish? We all had classic Covid symptoms during the first lockdown (no tests available back then) and spent all day in the garden. Are you seriously suggesting people shouldn’t use their gardens to isolate?
I’m using the all the behaviours I’ve seen as examples, Sitting in your garden in theory should be ok, however if they’re all coughing and choking whilst being Covid +, no I don’t think that’s ok, I wouldn’t and i didn’t, I agree it’s not against the self isolation rules, but I think it’s inconsiderate. As is talking to a delivery guy in your doorstep for a few minutes and coughing not less than 2m away when Covid + = selfish, going for a walk in the daytime, having a drive, yes I think that’s very selfish.
OP posts:
Original poster
Strawbsaturno · 23/09/2021 13:44

@SweetBabyCheeses99

How do you even know they have covid? If you were my neighbour I’d tell you that just to ensure you stayed away from me. Stop spying on them and get on with your own life.
Wow LOL you know fuck all about me, so take your incorrect hypothesis and STFU.
OP posts:
DurhamDurham · 23/09/2021 13:48

Well that escalated quickly Confused

Original poster
Strawbsaturno · 23/09/2021 13:50

@DurhamDurham

Well that escalated quickly Confused
Yes sorry, but not taking shit from posters making ridiculous personal suggestions. Thanks to everyone else who gave rational answers.
OP posts:
RoseRedRoseBlue · 23/09/2021 13:52

For crying out loud, what is wrong with people? It’s not selfish to use your own garden. You are the selfish one for expecting them not to!

Original poster
Strawbsaturno · 23/09/2021 13:56

I’m saying the same @RoseRedRoseBlue what’s wrong with people… Covid+ and happy to walk around outside coughing their guts up!
Struggling to understand why anyone can be ok with this?

OP posts:
Delatron · 23/09/2021 14:24

When they are having a drive are they getting out of the car or just driving around?

Original poster
Strawbsaturno · 23/09/2021 14:27

@Delatron

When they are having a drive are they getting out of the car or just driving around?
I don’t know, just saw them heading out in the car a few times. Also posting on FB and IG, I know one time they definitely went to McDonald’s.
OP posts:
thewhatsit · 23/09/2021 14:33

Sorry but I really think the garden example diminishes your argument to the point that it’s just not worth bothering with. If you’d just named illegal actions you might have had better responses.

I did cough repeatedly in my own garden when I had suspected Covid. I have absolutely zero guilt and I’m flabbergasted that I am apparently selfish for doing so.

People are often told that if their family members have Covid they should keep windows open all the time which allows the air to circulate. Does this means that they are flushing their Covid germs outside, into the street and straight into other unsuspecting people and are therefore selfish people ..?!

Original poster
Strawbsaturno · 23/09/2021 14:48

@thewhatsit ok, but I was never really out for an argument. I wondered what the risk was, some posters have gone out of their way to get an argument by responding like they did.

OP posts: