Works Christmas night out

[Kaylasmum49]

I have my works night out this Saturday, I have been looking forward to it but with the new variant and rising cases I am worried about going. I have very severe health anxiety and due to covid my anxiety has worsened. I am 55, double vaccinated, should be getting my booster very soon. Am I overreacting or is the risk of catching covid from the night out very high?

Do a lateral test before you go, you're vaccinated so should be ok. There's only 6 cases of the new variant in the UK so far so unless you're in one of the areas where it's been detected you're not likely to catch the new variant.
Go and enjoy your night

What does the night out consist of? Has anything been said about people taking a LFT before going?

There's undoubtedly some risk so really it depends whether your desire to go on the night out outweighs your fear of catching the virus. If you would be on tenterhooks throughout the evening, it probably wouldn't be worth it as you wouldn't enjoy it anyway.

Thanks for the replies,

I don’t think I will go even though I really want to but covid scares me so much.

I hadn’t been on a night out since 2019. Went out ONE time a couple of weeks ago. Caught Covid despite being double vaccinated! The vaccine probably stopped me becoming seriously ill but it was still nasty. I won’t be going out again.

What a rediculous comment @Cariah - you’ve had it now & have protection for a good while. Also, you got it & you were fine. Poorly but fine. Just like any other nasty illnesses that go around. If you take that attitude, you’ll never leave the house again in case you catch a nasty illness .. may as well not be alive. How boring & lonely.

I can’t wait for all the parties & meals I have in December. I’m so excited after nothing last year! But I don’t have health anxiety & I'm not scared of covid. I’ve had it twice & while I was quite ill the second time, it’s not gona stop me from living life. We all get ill. You feel miserable & then recover. Life is for living. Not hiding. Wear a mask, get vaccinated, lateral flow & carry on.

The new variant doesn't have severe effects as far as they know at the moment. Nobody, even in Africa, has been hospitalised.

I'd go.

I think, by the weekend business will be cancelling their dos all over the place. They won't want to be the employer that lit their staff at risk.

I think people will carry on going to things they want to go to but lots of people will decide a works do is a risk too far

You need to alter your mindset. You will catch covid, that is almost certain. And multiple times throughout your life. Everyone will. Have all the vaccines offered and live your life. Of course be cautious and follow any guidance, and if you want to avoid contact to ensure you're well for Christmas (as many are doing) then fair enough. But please don't live in fear. There are many other worse illnesses and nobody knows how long they have. It sounds like you'd really enjoy it.

@Bobholll thank god there are other people that feel the same way I do! Well said.

I am increasingly feeling the same way, and I don’t usually get anxious about these things. I’m secretly hoping ours will be cancelled (but was really looking forward to it)

BTW Jenny Harries had the following to say today:
www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/30/omicron-variant-festive-socialising-uk-health-official-caution

Risk depends what sort of night out it is, how many people, what sort of environment etc.
I'm not going to my works do because it's the Friday before Xmas and whilst I'm somewhat resigned to catching covid at some point I don't want my Xmas disrupted if I do get ill and I don't want to risk passing it on to my elderly and more vulnerable parents who I'll be visiting. If it was earlier in the month I'd probably have gone but last Xmas was lonely enough!

Ive been out to lots of bars/restaurants/parties and haven't caught covid.

@Underparmummy

Ive been out to lots of bars/restaurants/parties and haven't caught covid.

But lots of people have so your statement doesn't mean anything.

I am double vaccinated and caught covid on holiday on the south coast.

People will probably go to their own parties but judging from threads on here, not necessarily covid related, people love an excuse not to go to a work party

@girlmom21

The new variant doesn't have severe effects as far as they know at the moment. Nobody, even in Africa, has been hospitalised.

I'd go.

Have you read the news and how the stock markets are taking a dip because they are now saying the efficacy of vaccination is going to be less.

people love an excuse not to go to a work party
That's also partly why I'm not going ;)

I was never going to mine. Felt a bit sad.
Not so much to do with covid but more to do with money and using
the funds for other things I would choose to do more.
However covid was also a thought. Now its a definite thought.

@emmathedilemma

people love an excuse not to go to a work party That's also partly why I'm not going ;)

Me too.

You’ll be fine - go out and enjoy yourself

Also been invited to a family get together at New Year. Not going to go to that if things are looking a bit worrying.

@Cariah

I hadn’t been on a night out since 2019. Went out ONE time a couple of weeks ago. Caught Covid despite being double vaccinated! The vaccine probably stopped me becoming seriously ill but it was still nasty. I won’t be going out again.

What? EVER? You're never going out again? Wow

I’ve been to crowded gigs, bars, theatre, art galleries and I work as a teacher in an FE college.

My daughters had covid with very little social distancing in the house (she’s 10), and I’ve shared an office with 2 colleagues who’ve had covid.

I haven’t caught covid.

Catching it can be quite random. We will all have it at some point, I guess and we have to learn to live with it now, as it’s not going away. Vaccinations are working, hospital admissions aren’t drastically out of control

If you’re anxious, then obviously don’t go. It’s a shame that fear of covid is stopping people from properly living, but ultimately, it’s your life and your choice.

If you'd asked my opinion 5 days ago, I'd say your being ridiculous. Having had covid since Friday, I swear I never, ever want to go out again. I feel (t) dreadful. 47, double jabbed.... I've never felt this ill. If Santa gave me a free pass to the whole of the West End Musicals I'd tell him to stick it up his beard. . I feel that poorly. ~and so very sorry for myself~

But you’ll get better @Shouldbeworkingnotreadingtalk - it is miserable & you do feel like absolute shite but it’s not forever. I also felt horrific after a recent bout of norovirus. I felt like I was dying at one point on my 600th vomit of the day. It’s taken me 2 weeks to recover & im still not 100%. But will I stop going to softplay or taking my kids to birthday parties or activities in case I catch it again? No.. life goes on. As it did in 2019.

I’m baffled why people are so scared of this new variant when we know nothing about it. If it is indeed mild, it doesn’t matter that it escapes the vaccines as it won’t make you seriously ill anyway!

DH’s employer has cancelled their Christmas party next weekend. It’s 14 days before Christmas so if anyone catches Covid it’ll take a few days for symptoms to start and then the 10 day isolation period will probably mean isolating on Christmas Day. Nobody wants to take that risk now there’s a new variant. Everyone I know is purposely staying home in December to avoid ruining the big day.