General Coronavirus (COVID-19) chat

[scifisam]

Ugh at people being all 'Let people take their own risks' - THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS 'YOUR OWN RISK' IN A PANDEMIC.

Well sometimes there is. I mean for people who are clinically vulnerable but still choose to go out. If they wear masks to protect other people, and apply social distancing etc, then they are still taking risks, but to them more than others. And like Lynn said on another thread, an 85-year-old might prefer to take those risks rather than survive a little longer but not live.

 

[Cloo]

Well sometimes there is. I mean for people who are clinically vulnerable but still choose to go out. If they wear masks to protect other people, and apply social distancing etc, then they are still taking risks, but to them more than others. And like Lynn said on another thread, an 85-year-old might prefer to take those risks rather than survive a little longer but not live.

Yeah, that's fair - I was thinking about it because of course some people could say to me 'If you're so concerned then you're free to barricade yourself into your own home, but I'm not gonna', but I don't do that. I do try to be careful when I'm out and about - masks, not going out too often, washing hands, if the rules say no houseguests, then no houseguests.

I think one problem with Christmas though, is we are looking at mass travelling cross country and close contact in homes, in many cases with more than two households meeting together. To my mind it's not a risk it's OK to take.

 

[scifisam]

Yeah, that's fair - I was thinking about it because of course some people could say to me 'If you're so concerned then you're free to barricade yourself into your own home, but I'm not gonna', but I don't do that. I do try to be careful when I'm out and about - masks, not going out too often, washing hands, if the rules say no houseguests, then no houseguests.

I think one problem with Christmas though, is we are looking at mass travelling cross country and close contact in homes, in many cases with more than two households meeting together. To my mind it's not a risk it's OK to take.

I agree. But there are going to be a lot of genuinely tricky decisions, the last Christmas with someone who won't see the next one, for example.

For all the curmudgeons who'll be glad not to have to do the whole Christmas thing, it is actually a big deal for a lot of people.

An old urbanite posted on Facebook about her kids deciding between them which one will quarantine for two weeks before going to their nan, so that she's not alone. That sounds like a good solution if it's available.

 

[Cloo]

An old urbanite posted on Facebook about her kids deciding between them which one will quarantine for two weeks before going to their nan, so that she's not alone. That sounds like a good solution if it's available.

I wondered about that - not an option for people with kids in school though, certainly not secondary school.

As I've mentioned elsewhere, we've stuck with the rules during the big Jewish gatherings when it is also all about getting together with the family, so I can't see why it's so impossible not to just the once not do family Christmas (though I get it sucks horribly for people living alone) but then I don't know how it feels. Like most Jews, our wider family are either living down the road or on another continent, so you're either seeing them all the time or only every few years, which is perhaps different to a typical anglo family where it's quite likely people are spread around the country and I can see that might rather change what family gatherings are like.

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Looking like Brighton & Hove will be going into Tier 2 soon. Was planning on visting family in the Midlands in a few weeks pre crimbo - doubt that’ll happen now.

 

[Teaboy]

I was in a food shop today that I rarely visit and I had flashbacks to lock down. How long the queue was outside and how careful the shop was being with limiting numbers inside at any one time. Here we are now spiraling into the oblivion and no shop is doing any of that. I used to see people using hand gel all the time, not so much these days.

I dunno, everyone has masks on for sure but the really important stuff seems to have been forgotten.

 

[Badgers]

I was in a food shop today that I rarely visit and I had flashbacks to lock down. How long the queue was outside and how careful the shop was being with limiting numbers inside at any one time. Here we are now spiraling into the oblivion and no shop is doing any of that. I used to see people using hand gel all the time, not so much these days.

I dunno, everyone has masks on for sure but the really important stuff seems to have been forgotten.

Have noticed the same. Hardly anyone using the sanitiser going into big and small shops. To be fair mask wearing is better than it was in the spring but the minority who don't are not being challenged on it.

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Local Sainsbury’s rammed, no social distancing, trollies piled high, some shelves soon to be empty. It felt apocalyptic.

 

[frogwoman]

My mum went tesco on Friday and said it was worse than March

 

[frogwoman]

Has anyone been for a hospital appointment during covid? What's it like? I'm kind of freaking out.

 

[Boudicca]

Has anyone been for a hospital appointment during covid? What's it like? I'm kind of freaking out.

Yes, been several times, it's OK, very few people around. I felt much more at risk in Specsavers!

 

[two sheds]

Yep I had a scan, felt very safe - very few people round too. Distancing with the chairs and very quickly in and out .

 

[yield]

Probably one of the safest places to be. Everyone all geared up.

Mum had her eye done a few weeks back. I couldn't go on with her, and she was wheelchaired from the entrance

 

[Espresso]

Has anyone been for a hospital appointment during covid? What's it like? I'm kind of freaking out.

Both of my elderly parents have been in - individually, for separate things - over the last couple of months and both were highly complimentary about how things were done. Dad especially was beside himself with the idea of going in but ended up being kept in for a week and said once he got over himself, he was alright with it and all the staff were excellent.

 

[Mation]

Had to go to the launderette today as the washing machines aren't working at home (big houseshare, hence plural). There's a caff I sometimes go (went) to right next door to it, so thought I might get in my first outsourced English breakfast since before the first lockdown, if there weren't too many people and they were keeping the door open, but the place was closed. I was relieved, as I'd likely have only sat there fretting and regretting my poor/dangerous decision, but I hope they're ok and able to re-open at some point.

Went to the local supermarket instead. No panic buying in evidence.

 

[Badgers]

Has anyone been for a hospital appointment during covid? What's it like? I'm kind of freaking out.

Have been for three.

All well organised. Damn sight safer than going to a supermarket or garden centre.

 

[a_chap]

Went to the local supermarket instead. No panic buying in evidence.

Panic buying Very Much In Evidence Here

It's the old folk I feel sorry for.

I saw one pensioner elbowed out of the way in a frenzy to buy toilet paper.

If only the supermarket had bought enough stock I wouldn't have had to do it.

 

[Mation]

Panic buying Very Much In Evidence Here

It's the old folk I feel sorry for.

I saw one pensioner elbowed out of the way in a frenzy to buy toilet paper.

If only the supermarket had bought enough stock I wouldn't have had to do it.

 

[prunus]

Has anyone been for a hospital appointment during covid? What's it like? I'm kind of freaking out.

Been for a couple of things, and taken my daughter too - absolutely fine, almost no-one there, masks on entry, sanitizer everywhere, one-way systems, staff marshalling people all over the place, controls on numbers in lifts; felt completely safe and that they had everything under control.

 

[editor]

Lordy

 

[Raheem]

Just heard the phrase "Digital Christmas" How depressing!

Fingering a turkey, in other words.

 

[miss direct]

Watching the adverts is surreal these days. (I used to enjoy the adverts when watching British TV from Turkey - give you a snapshot of priorities - they always seemed to be for cars and holidays). If you watch any TV tonight, pay attention to what the adverts are for.

Got my haircut today. I'd been putting it off and was becoming scarecrow like, plus imagine trying to get an appointment in December. Had to wait in a waiting area, about a metre away from a very large woman with no mask on. Turned my body the other way. Then she started coughing...once it was my turn for the cut, I was glad to get away...until two minutes later, when they put her in the chair right next to mine

 

[Numbers]

Just been reading on the BBC that we’re only going to be able to go to the following places in this next lockdown, how are we meant to survive?


Which businesses will be able to remain open in England?
The government has published a list of businesses which will be allowed to remain open in England during the four-week lockdown.
It includes:

• Food retailers including supermarkets and corner shops
• Off-licences and licensed shops selling alcohol
• Pharmacies and chemists
• Newsagents
• Hardware stores
• Building merchants
• Petrol stations, car repair and MOT services
• Bicycle shops
• Taxi and vehicle hire services
• Banks, building societies, credit unions, currency exchanges and other similar financial businesses
• Post Offices
• Funeral directors
• Laundrettes and dry cleaners
• Dental practices, osteopaths, opticians and other medical services
• Veterinary surgeries and pet shops
• Agricultural supplies shops
• Storage and distribution facilities
• Car parks
• Public toilets
• Garden centres

 

[Sunray]

Garden Centers?

 

[scifisam]

Ah, dry cleaners makes more sense now because they've included launderettes. If stores selling washing machines are closed, then some people might have to go out to wash clothes. TBF most people get those delivered, but it can be a lot quicker to buy one in person, especially secondhand (and handwashing isn't always a realistic possibility for more than a few days).

 

[scifisam]

Thought this was the right thread for it: one of my friends who tested positive paid for a private test that also told her her viral load, and it said her viral load was low. Since she's most likely to be the one I caught it from, or we caught it at the same time, I'm wondering if my viral load was also low, and that's why I haven't got it badly.

We were both careful with masks and hand sanitizer etc, so I'm wondering if they actually did protect us from getting very ill even though they didn't stop us getting the disease.

TBF I was sitting opposite her without a mask on for about half an hour, because we were eating, so we weren't completely masked the whole time, but I'd think it would mean we weren't exposed for as long, and weren't as exposed to other people, either spreading or being spread to.

Elbows?

 

[MrSki]

Garden Centers?

No Garden Centres. A lot have farm shops & also sell edible plants that in the long term might be needed. A bit late for Crimbo potatoes but there are other winter veg. Also knock out a lot of the crimbo trees & if you have young kids then that is pretty essential.

 

[Supine]

Thought this was the right thread for it: one of my friends who tested positive paid for a private test that also told her her viral load, and it said her viral load was low. Since she's most likely to be the one I caught it from, or we caught it at the same time, I'm wondering if my viral load was also low, and that's why I haven't got it badly.

We were both careful with masks and hand sanitizer etc, so I'm wondering if they actually did protect us from getting very ill even though they didn't stop us getting the disease.

TBF I was sitting opposite her without a mask on for about half an hour, because we were eating, so we weren't completely masked the whole time, but I'd think it would mean we weren't exposed for as long, and weren't as exposed to other people, either spreading or being spread to.

Elbows?

Viral load varies over time so it depends on where the original spreader was in the infection cycle and also where you was at test time.

Masks and other measures have been clearly shown to reduce load and to therefore give your body more of a chance to learn how to kill covid before it takes you over. They may well have worked, although if it happened while eating without masks then not. Unfortunately there is no way to know exactly the time and circumstance of where the spread occured. It just comes down to percentages and risks.

Good luck either way, hope it works out not too bad.

 

[teuchter]

Ah, dry cleaners makes more sense now because they've included launderettes. If stores selling washing machines are closed, then some people might have to go out to wash clothes. TBF most people get those delivered, but it can be a lot quicker to buy one in person, especially secondhand (and handwashing isn't always a realistic possibility for more than a few days).

Some people don't have space for a washing machine, or live in shared accommodation where one isn't provided.

 

[frogwoman]

I lived above a launderette when I was in Oxford and it was a life saver.