Covid19 and socialising

pinkyeye

I have met up with family mostly but I've a large family so quite a lot of contact I suppose. We do socially distance and wash hands, sanitise etc. 7 months is too long to stay away from family. My mother is dying so I refuse to stay away from her. She says she'd rather die of Covid than spend her last months alone.

I've met with two friends in their house when I went for dinner.

Haven't been to the pub but I wouldn't have been a big pub goer anyway so no loss. Been to Eddie Rockets once but it was incredibly uncomfortable because my grandson was with us, he's only 2 so wasn't really sitting still and everyone was watching so I wouldn't be repeating that experience. Rather get a takeaway and eat at home. Staff almost threw the food at you and ran. Plastic knifes, forks etc. I know why it's necessary but just not a pleasant experience.

Gang from work have arranged a night out tomorrow night with a bus and all and I just can't believe how irresponsible they are given I work in a Nursing Home but all I can do is throw my eyes up to heaven at them. It's not banned under current restrictions in my area (Cork) so what can you do?

ShineOn7

pinkyeye wrote: »

Gang from work have arranged a night out tomorrow night with a bus

Wow

Wish I had more

Just .... wow

TheBlackPill

pinkyeye wrote: »

Gang from work have arranged a night out tomorrow night with a bus and all and I just can't believe how irresponsible they are given I work in a Nursing Home but all I can do is throw my eyes up to heaven at them. It's not banned under current restrictions in my area (Cork) so what can you do?

P45s all around. inform an Bord Analtras if any are registered nurses. Letter complaint to your line manager voicing your objections so is on record. And contact HIQA now

pinkyeye

TheBlackPill wrote: »

P45s all around. inform an Bord Analtras if any are registered nurses. Letter complaint to your line manager voicing your objections so is on record. And contact HIQA now

I don't have the power to issue anyone with a P45. I have already informed the HR manager and she says there's nothing we can do because it's outside work hours and not against current regulations?

ShineOn7

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Wtf?

Heard immunity, a comment that lets you know a crackpot is afoot.

Last time I heard that in the media was Boris Johnson on about it before he nearly killed half the country and had to lock down heavily soon after

TheBlackPill

pinkyeye wrote: »

I don't have the power to issue anyone with a P45. I have already informed the HR manager and she says there's nothing we can do because it's outside work hours and not against current regulations?

that's a cop out from the manager, but you are right not under your control. at a minimum the employer should be demanding they self isolate on either unpaid leave or annual leave for 2 weeks after their junket. An Bord Analtrais if any are registered nurses, will be very interested and can impose sanctions. HIQA will also investigate. This behaviour is absolutely nuts when caring for nursing home residents
The PPC can only deal with written complaints. If you wish to make a complaint, please put your complaint in writing and post to:

PPC Division
Fitness to Practise Department
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
18-20 Carysfort Avenue
Blackrock
Co. Dublin
General Information and feedback. (021) 240 9300. info@hiqa.ie.

pinkyeye

TheBlackPill wrote: »

that's a cop out from the manager, but you are right not under your control. at a minimum the employer should be demanding they self isolate on either unpaid leave or annual leave for 2 weeks after their junket. An Bord Analtrais if any are registered nurses, will be very interested and can impose sanctions. HIQA will also investigate. This behaviour is absolutely nuts when caring for nursing home residents
The PPC can only deal with written complaints. If you wish to make a complaint, please put your complaint in writing and post to:

PPC Division
Fitness to Practise Department
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
18-20 Carysfort Avenue
Blackrock
Co. Dublin
General Information and feedback. (021) 240 9300. info@hiqa.ie.

I'm not sure if any of the registered nurses are actually going, I'll try to find out. I agree with you, it's nuts behaviour, especially as the cases in Cork are on the rise.

I actually couldn't believe when they mentioned the bus today and said out loud "did I hear right, your're actually all going in a bus together?".

pinkyeye

The problem is at the moment that insisting that 20 staff self isolate would mean that residents wouldn't have any care so it's a very fine balancing act.

It's so stressful because I'm constantly worried if someone does test positive and staff have to self isolate how are the residents going to be looked after? Can't go for agency staff because they're going from place to place.

SNNUS

Get out and live rather than existing.

TheBlackPill

pinkyeye wrote: »

The problem is at the moment that insisting that 20 staff self isolate would mean that residents wouldn't have any care so it's a very fine balancing act.

It's so stressful because I'm constantly worried if someone does test positive and staff have to self isolate how are the residents going to be looked after? Can't go for agency staff because they're going from place to place.

Its much easier to organise alternative care for the residents if there is no covid in the unit. They can be split across many other nursing homes. Once there is covid they havr to be moved as a block or not at all.The hse will have to step in. Its also much easier to stop the work do before it happens. HIQA have shut nursing homes before.

TheBlackPill

SNNUS wrote: »

Get out and live rather than existing.

Find alternative employment to looking after the elderly first

In some ways it's made a difference, mostly it has given a mental load, a kind of pressure to be mindful.

A group of us used to get together every two or three months for drinks and games. I really miss that. One of my very good friends has a serious condition which would put her in the at risk category, we've seen each other once in the past year. Usually we'd have a night away for a few drinks or I'd stay in her house. That's just not possible now. Another good friend lives in the UK so we see each other less as she has only been able to get home once.

My fiancee and me tend to do things just the two of us. I do go for lunch once a fortnight or that with someone in work. I consider them a close contact now. Then there's another friend who I would meet for a coffee and call in to, but not as much as pre Covid.

It's different now. Covid has created an anxiety in me no doubt but I can't live in a world where I don't see other people. Just simple things like sitting alongside someone and having a chat.
I wish it would just disappear and leave us all to get on with our lives.

tonysopprano

TheBlackPill wrote: »

that's a cop out from the manager, but you are right not under your control. at a minimum the employer should be demanding they self isolate on either unpaid leave or annual leave for 2 weeks after their junket. An Bord Analtrais if any are registered nurses, will be very interested and can impose sanctions. HIQA will also investigate. This behaviour is absolutely nuts when caring for nursing home residents
The PPC can only deal with written complaints. If you wish to make a complaint, please put your complaint in writing and post to:

PPC Division
Fitness to Practise Department
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
18-20 Carysfort Avenue
Blackrock
Co. Dublin
General Information and feedback. (021) 240 9300. info@hiqa.ie.

Stasi uniforms and patches can be bought on ebay for all you aspiring socialist spies and quisling wannabes

TheBlackPill

tonysopprano wrote: »

Stasi uniforms and patches can be bought on ebay for all you aspiring socialist spies and quisling wannabes

Thanks for the update Tony. Will look them up. Tell me how would you feel if an elderly loved one was a resident in the above unit?

Jackman25

I go to the pub most weekends for one evening. Lock-in when they are shut like now in Dublin. Take in the odd GAA or soccer game and meet a few there.
Meet siblings every odd month or so and parents too (with suitable distancing, outdoors etc as they are somewhat elderly).

ginoginelli

I have no problem meeting up with people outside and keeping distance, but indoors..forget about it.

We were told back in March how dangerous restaurants pubs and any indoors social settings were. Then it was decided that these places were too important to the economy and we were urged back under false pretenses. Now cases have have exploded and we are are being told yet again how dangerous they are.

I will be sticking to socializing outdoors until this mess is over.

TheBlackPill

Just thinking if the work meeting hasn't happened yet there will be no consequences for people if they cancel it now

GarIT

pinkyeye wrote: »

I don't have the power to issue anyone with a P45. I have already informed the HR manager and she says there's nothing we can do because it's outside work hours and not against current regulations?

If they sit at a table and there are people from more than 3 households then they are breaking the guidelines.

Tenzor07

ginoginelli wrote: »

indoors..forget about it.
We were told back in March how dangerous restaurants pubs and any indoors social settings were.
told yet again how dangerous they are.

Pubs and restaurants don't kill people, people do...

AdamD

Met up with people most weekends since the initial lockdown ended. Dunno how people get by otherwise. Not everyone lives with family or is in a relationship. Working from home makes it even worse, stuck in my room 5 days a week, come Friday there's no way I'm sitting in there alone for another 2 days.

TheBlackPill

AdamD wrote: »

Met up with people most weekends since the initial lockdown ended. Dunno how people get by otherwise. Not everyone lives with family or is in a relationship. Working from home makes it even worse, stuck in my room 5 days a week, come Friday there's no way I'm sitting in there alone for another 2 days.

I really feel for you. But why does it have to be loads of people? Limit to select friend or family members. loads of people meeting up with loads of people because they find boredom difficult is what is spreading this disease

robinbird

SusanC10 wrote: »

I have met 3 different friends once each since March. All have been outdoors.
I am struggling with it all tbh.

I have lost other friends (group) too because I didn't want to break the restrictions in place at the time on two separate occasions. I didn't phrase it like that either - I simply said that I wasn't ready personally for that particular social activity at that point. They have now set up a separate WhatsApp group and no longer communicate with me which is hurtful but their choice.

Nathan Shallow Moon wrote: »

I haven't met any friends since march (even socially distant), haven't eaten in any restaurant or even entered a pub since early march either and can't see that changing for some time.

I'm not finding it too bad, I meet close family members, beers at home every weekend night, zoom quizzes up to recently (which I miss but others got tired of them) etc.

GarIT wrote: »

I haven't seen any friends since February. I've left the house less than once a month this year. It's slowly driving me mad but I'm trying to do my best to prevent the spread.

Until the Airports are closed and a stricter lockdown is brought in I won't feel safe outside.

Think it is very sad that the fear and anxiety that has been generated has led to people living their lives like this. Living live has never been risk free but this is the other extreme.
I eat out regularly, socialise, meet friends, work in open office environment and live life not much differently that before other than taking precautions when with elderly relatives that may be at higher risk of adverse effects.
I accept I might get it and be a bit sick but also that I might be hit by a bus crossing the street or a falling tree or a bolt of lightning.

People that live their life in fear are only living half a life.

Minier81

GarIT wrote: »

If they sit at a table and there are people from more than 3 households then they are breaking the guidelines.

As of midnight last night if they sit at the table with people from more than one other household they are breaking the guidelines.

ax530

I am keeping number contacts low, <6.
Try to have my children living as normally at they can so majority of my contacts are via their activities.
Walk with 2-3 others once a week also.
I don't necessarily think my aim for keeping contacts low is from a fear of getting covid myself but more so to be 'part of the solution' if everyone keeps low number contacts the virus finds it harder to get around thus better life for everyone.
Fine if going out dinner twice a week but try go same person and don't go to another event.
Family members annoyed with me as won't have 'just 3' visiting my however my issue is those 3 are visiting a different house every day and meeting friends for dinner at weekend...

Pauliedragon

Minier81 wrote: »

As of midnight last night if they sit at the table with people from more than one other household they are breaking the guidelines.

I could be wrong but I thought that rule was for household visits only.

Minier81

Pauliedragon wrote: »

I could be wrong but I thought that rule was for household visits only.

It extends to general gatherings too actually
"Other settings outside your home or garden
Members of different households can continue to meet socially in other settings.
A maximum of 6 people from 1 household other than your own can meet indoors and 15 people outdoors."

Interestingly it may even not be within guidance to have dinner with people from another house at all:
"Maximum numbers in restaurants and cafes linked to capacity of establishment, taking account of public health advice, but with individual groups limited to 6 people from the same household."

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/18e18-level-2/

TheBlackPill

robinbird wrote: »

Think it is very sad that the fear and anxiety that has been generated has led to people living their lives like this. Living live has never been risk free but this is the other extreme.
I eat out regularly, socialise, meet friends, work in open office environment and live life not much differently that before other than taking precautions when with elderly relatives that may be at higher risk of adverse effects.
I accept I might get it and be a bit sick but also that I might be hit by a bus crossing the street or a falling tree or a bolt of lightning.

People that live their life in fear are only living half a life.

None of the posters you quote seem to be living in fear from their posts. They are being responsible adults that are looking out for themselves and the people around them. Your regular eating out and meeting friends, indirectly puts other people at risk. Again I ask, how often do people need these luxuries?, and why do they think their leisure/luxuries trump everybody else's right to get over this plague?
I know two healthcare workers who contracted covid due to lack of PPE. One 38 and the other 41.. one developed myocarditis 6 weeks after the initial infection, the other has lost sense of taste and smell for 6 months. Its not as harmless as you think to young people

Hand in Your Pants

Would absolutely love to work from home tbh. Some of the people on this forum don't know how good they have it. At least I still have a job I suppose.

Hand in Your Pants

robinbird wrote: »

Think it is very sad that the fear and anxiety that has been generated has led to people living their lives like this. Living live has never been risk free but this is the other extreme.
I eat out regularly, socialise, meet friends, work in open office environment and live life not much differently that before other than taking precautions when with elderly relatives that may be at higher risk of adverse effects.
I accept I might get it and be a bit sick but also that I might be hit by a bus crossing the street or a falling tree or a bolt of lightning.

People that live their life in fear are only living half a life.

Me too. Have worked in office and travelled daily since January. No mask use until mandated, rarely use sanitizers, have never washed mask or cleaned down groceries, continue to meet friends, but do respect social distancing in general, do not cough or sneeze on anyone, am careful around older folk, and do understand that other people have their own fears and concerns around loved ones and themselves.

It's astonishing the variety of experiences people have.

hmmm

The middle ground for me is to meet people outside and avoid unnecessary social gatherings. I'm happy to go for a walk or a hike with a group, and will meet vulnerable relatives outdoors, but I'm not meeting people indoors and I'm doing my best to maintain a bit of distance at all times. It's not so difficult really.

It'd be harder if I was a teenager or in my twenties, I appreciate that - even for them, if they moved their gatherings outside it would dramatically reduces their risk of spreading or contracting the virus.