Prepare for a low-key Christmas, England Covid experts warn

[Northerner]

It's worth remembering that relatively few people are even getting covid. Most of them are asymptomatic and only a tiny fraction require hospitalisation and only a fraction of those will die. People really should be able to step back, look at the numbers and stop engaging in mass hysteria. This isn't ebola or the black death.

There's far too much melodrama all round, not helped by the deeply patronising "Don't kill Granny" nonsense.

Anyway, that's my rant over for the day. 🙂

It's the potential consequences of contracting it that govern my behaviour. I'm healthy, but do tick several boxes that would raise my risk of a poor outcome - even if I didn't die, I don't want to spend the remainder of my life with significant long-term effects from long-Covid. So even though the risk of catching it may be small, I weigh what I do and consider 'would it be worth it?'. I remember when I was diagnosed they wanted to give me an angiogram as they suspected a heart attack. I had to sign a consent form as there was a one in 200 possibility of severe brain injury - that didn't sound like great odds to me, particularly as practically everyone on the wards I had been on had had one, so a common procedure. I went ahead and (hopefully obviously!) suffered no problems. However, I learn that there might be one in 80 of us who have the virus (not sure of the most up to date number) it informs my decision whether to go to the shop for some eggs, for example, or go on a bus for a change of scenery - I don't have to do those things, so I choose not to 🙂

 

[pm133]

But those of us who know people who have died would rather not be the ones to spread it to others ‍♀️ I’m delighted for you if you don’t personally know anyone who has died or been seriously ill with it but I am worried about my friends who are currently seriously ill with it. And most of the people I know have got it recently not back in March/April. So I will be continuing to do my part of not spreading it if at all possible.

It's not about whether I personally know people who have contracted it or died from it (and I haven't actually made a comment either way on that). It's about stepping back and considering the risk rationally. Being personally affected or not doesn't change that.

 

[pm133]

It's the potential consequences of contracting it that govern my behaviour. I'm healthy, but do tick several boxes that would raise my risk of a poor outcome - even if I didn't die, I don't want to spend the remainder of my life with significant long-term effects from long-Covid. So even though the risk of catching it may be small, I weigh what I do and consider 'would it be worth it?'. I remember when I was diagnosed they wanted to give me an angiogram as they suspected a heart attack. I had to sign a consent form as there was a one in 200 possibility of severe brain injury - that didn't sound like great odds to me, particularly as practically everyone on the wards I had been on had had one, so a common procedure. I went ahead and (hopefully obviously!) suffered no problems. However, I learn that there might be one in 80 of us who have the virus (not sure of the most up to date number) it informs my decision whether to go to the shop for some eggs, for example, or go on a bus for a change of scenery - I don't have to do those things, so I choose not to 🙂

I'm with you on that last sentence. Anything which allows me to avoid shops or public transport is fine by me 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Trouble is with not giving elderly relatives a hug - some elderly relatives are blooming well missing them!!

We happen to know a chap who is well over 6ft and even with me in high heels, the top of my head is still well below his chin, hence when we meet - he and I have always hugged rather than kissed. I commented in July when considering risking meeting folk we know again soon (outdoors I stress) - I won't know how to react should Ian be there - not hugging him and being hugged is simply an alien concept. It's carrying everything a bit too far for me - come on - we can all avoid breathing on each other whilst hugging and then moving back away as adults, surely? And also avoid meeting anyone indoors as much as possible unless it's medical ! Seeing nursie for blood test next Friday for GP diabetes check, different nursie doing the GP annual D review on 18 Dec. Can you harbour Covid on your feet??

 

[Northerner]

Can you harbour Covid on your feet??

You're OK as long as you don't put your foot in your mouth 😱

 

[Northerner]

I'm with you on that last sentence. Anything which allows me to avoid shops or public transport is fine by me 🙂

It's an easier decision to make than whether I 'bolus for a biscuit'! 😱 🙂

 

[trophywench]

You're OK as long as you don't put your foot in your mouth 😱

Never do that now - I'm simply not that flexible any more Northie! So I reckon Judy's safe with me then ......

 

[mikeydt1]

if we only have 5 days to celebrate this would only take us up to the 30th what happens to new years eve and day?

i am not really bothered as my family have passed on so will be just a normal day for me and has been for the last few years.

 

[Sally71]

I haven’t seen my parents since February or my brother since last Christmas, it's a 3 hour drive to get to them, I don’t really care what days we get it would be nice if we could just see them for a day or two at some point.