Would you go?

[YepNameChanged]

Neighbours have invited a few fir drinks…I counted and roughly it’s about 18 adults. No masks, inside the house and obviously no ventilation as in open windows.
Me and husband are double jabbed but I don’t know how many others are..age group from 40-60

My daughters class has had a positive this week. I’m dithering in my decision…my dad passed away due to Covid so I’m not taking it lightly. But recognise that life has to go in as well…feels too soon to be indoors with that many people..

If you're worried then don't go. You won't enjoy it.

I'd go if I liked them and didn't want to miss out but not if it would feel like an effort regardless of Covid.

Why 'obviously no ventillation' though? If I have people round I always open a window slightly. Heating is on so it doesn't feel cold.

I had a party like that at my house last month. No-one got covid. I did know however that everyone had been vaccinated as they are all my friends!

I think you sound very cautious, worrying about one positive in a class seems like a dream compared to most school outbreaks and 'too soon' seems funny as we head towards the two year anniversary of the start of lockdown one.

Having said that to go from that position to an indoor party with people you don't know may prove difficult. Maybe you need some steps in the middle first.

Isn't the point of being double jabbed a way of returning to normal life?
If there are unvaxed people there surely it's them more at risk?

Your daughters indoors with more people everyday at school.
I would go, but if your really anxious it's not worth it.
We have to move on, your double jabbed.

Yes, I would go

If you're worried I'd stay away

After careful consideration, I would go. I'm triple jabbed. I would expect the majority will be vaccinated and accept that perhaps not all are. I'd know I might still catch it, but it's far less likely that I'd be hospitalized. If I could, I would be careful with who I mixed with for 10 days after. I would do a lateral flow test before going. I think a sensible host would politely suggest/request all guests do a lateral flow test that morning.

In fact I've got a similar thing on Sunday. 35 people inside, doors and windows open, ages 18-80. I'm slightly anxious about it, but I'm going. If I didn't want to, my friends would understand.

I'm really sorry to hear about your dad. You've every right to worry.

Go if you will enjoy it, but not if it makes you anxious.

I will be very anxious-

I’m saying no ventilation because we have been for drinks before Christmas and even though the room was hot with so many people no one opens any windows..maybe they will now

Yes my daughter at school is a huge risk but the school so far had not more than 1-2 cases at a time as the parents are extra careful and so is the school.
Usually the case hadn’t spread..we all do LFTs every other day.

The grownups would have had multiple contact points so feels like the risk is more

I'd ask the neighbours if they are thinking about taking any precautions with Covid e.g. by asking guests to dress warmly because windows will be left open. Or ask suggestively, "should we dress up warm if windows are left open for ventilation?".

It's really hard when there's a choice isn't it?

It must be very hard after losing someone so close to you to Covid.

Would you consider possibly popping round for half an hour? Long enough to show face but short enough to reduce the risks hugely.

@mibbelucieachwell.

I’m going by this- so it’s only 15 mins which seems too short to pop round for..

What constitutes close contact and what constitutes exposure to the coronavirus?

Close contact to COVID-19 occurs when you are within six feet of someone who is showing symptoms of COVID-19, for at least 15 minutes, or an infected person who shows no symptoms but later tests positive for the coronavirus. This is considered exposure regardless of whether one or both parties were wearing a mask.

@orchardgirl4

I'd ask the neighbours if they are thinking about taking any precautions with Covid e.g. by asking guests to dress warmly because windows will be left open. Or ask suggestively, "should we dress up warm if windows are left open for ventilation?".

If I was organising drinks and someone asked me this, I wouldn't really want them to come, as it's clear they would be fretting them whole time, nervously checking to see windows were widely enough open, tentatively edging away from people as they talked, and inwardly tutting if people were getting too close to each other.

Perhaps best if you don't go if it's going to worry you but Covid is going to be around for quite some time
We have basically returned to life before Covid with various Christmas functions ti attend

I would go....but that doesn't really help you 😕

I'm going to a party this weekend and we've all agreed to take a LFT that morning and the host has asked no one turns up if they have any cold symptoms even with a negative test. Seems sensible. Most of the others there will actually have had their boosters as they're older than me (I'm not eligible yet).

I'd go. I don't care about anyone's vaccination status. I hope you make peace with whatever is your decision.

I would go.

However, you need to weigh it up. If the anxiety about it will outweigh the potential fun it might be then it’s not worth it.

If you are worried, don't go. Don't make yourself go for the sake of it. 18 people in a house would bother me too. I can only imagine how having a relative who has passed of covid heightens that - I'm really sorry about your loss 💕

OP, I'm really sorry about your dad.

I've thought all along that the things that are supposed to be fun, need to be fun. Work, exercise, volunteering are different, to me anyway - socialising is for fun and needs to be relaxing. If you won't enjoy it, don't go, don't feel bad, and maybe arrange something you will be able to relax at, a group walk, smaller gathering inside...... Yes, life has to go on, but transitions are hard and sometimes we need a little longer to adjust, and that is fine. I've just been boosted (early 50s) and will definitely do more indoor socialising now.

I'd be reassured if the hosts asked everyone to do an lfd on the day, because it shows they are thinking about mitigating the risks. If they don't mention anything...not so much. Depending what your local rates are.

@orchardgirl4

I'd ask the neighbours if they are thinking about taking any precautions with Covid e.g. by asking guests to dress warmly because windows will be left open. Or ask suggestively, "should we dress up warm if windows are left open for ventilation?".

🙄

I’d go in a heartbeat but I’m not you & im not worried. I’m at kids birthday parties pretty much every weekend in packed halls & softplays of 30 kids plus all their mums. I’m out eating in busy restaurants, I go the cinema, I go to gym classes 🤷🏼‍♀️ I enjoy a crowd.

But you don’t. And life is too short to do something that really worries you. If I was your neighbour, I would fully understand if you told me you felt anxious & not up for crowds at the moment. But it might be worth starting to approach busier places & work up to feeling more confident in them maybe? What’s your Christmas plans? Tends to be a fairly social time!

Drinks with masks would be entertaining to watch....

It’s your choice obviously OP but saying your child’s school has only had a few cases because everyone is being cautious- you know that’s more luck right? In our town we’ve got schools that have had a few or no cases and one school that had a major outbreak last half term. The parents at that school are no less cautious or worse at following the rules - delta just got into one class and the spread was massive.

We're only doing risky things that we really want to do and are worth it for us - so dinner out with close friends we haven't seen in ages yes, but drinks with neighbours no. But we've been cautious throughout, lost relatives to Covid and are nearing being eligible for a booster, so immunity is waning.

It's fine to still be cautious. Covid hasn't gone away.