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What is your tolerated level of risk? (Coronavirus)

House Cat

Ideal_Rock
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Feb 22, 2009
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4,602
It seems that everyone has their own definition of safety vs. risk when it comes to this virus. I’ve been thinking that we’ve all been educated enough when it comes to transmission, social distancing, washing, and wearing masks but there are still people out there who are living life as if there weren’t a virus floating around. I think it all comes down to risk tolerance. For instance, some people are fine with gathering with others while not wearing a mask as long as they are outside. Some people are ok with getting their hair done. What is your tolerance for risk? After you go out and about, are you worried that you contracted the virus? If you don’t worry, what helps you to let it go?

I do only essential outings, which are doctors appointments. We’ve also gone boating once. Groceries are delivered. Anything else is delivered by amazon. If I can’t order it and have it delivered, i go without. In other words, i have a very low tolerance for risk.
 

dk168

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Jul 7, 2013
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Since restrictions in England and UK started to ease, I had done the following, :
  • Resumed having monthly hair cut (3 times to date)
  • Participated in outdoor choir practices
  • Drank seated outside a pub
  • Ate inside restaurants a few times
  • Went to have my teeth scaled and polished
  • Drank seated inside the same pub
  • Participated in indoor choir practice just once last Monday
  • Went to a cinema in weekday afternoon when it was very quiet
  • Went to the dentist for a filling
  • Helped in a charity shop, working outside under cover by the door, to control the number of shoppers inside, dispense hand gels and to ensure masks are being worn and worn properly
I decided to stop participating in indoor choir practice until further notice, as I do not feel comfortable about it, with singing indoors being one of the highest risks. Besides, I still am not fully convinced that we could be considered as an "educational institution" to be entirely honest.

I still avoid going to do my grocery shopping at busy times, and continue to shop either very early or very late.

If the pub I go to is too crowded for my liking inside, then I would remain outside.

I would not go to a cinema when it is busy, like Friday and Saturday evenings.

I only had issues with one restaurant where I thought their tables were too close for comfort. However, I was seated at tables where social distancing was applied on each occasion (3 times - the first time on my own, then with a friend, then with 4 other friends). I did raise my concerns with the management, as did one of my friends on a separate trip on her own to collect a takeaway.

I have not enlarged my support bubbles, and am avoiding unnecessary trips especially to restaurants and cinema in a nearby town that is a current Covid hotspot, and am wary of the need for social distancing when I am out and about.

I am trying to embrace the new normal as much as I can, while being mindful that life must go on.

DK :))
 

MeowMeow

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Nov 27, 2009
Messages
1,645
Pretty low tolerance. Essential outtings only. The only difference is we have to do pick up groceries. Ordering all groceries online isn't within our means. We order online instead and then they put it in the trunk. Husband HAS to go to work a few days a week. No choices about it. He usually does groceries on an office day. The rest of us stay home unless there is an emergency. It's a rule too that if any of us have to leave that person comes immediately home and showers. Outside clothes are not allowed anywhere except the washer. This is how it will be for us for the foreseeable future.

I just wish cleaning products were more available. Bleach sprays, paper towels, and bleach wipes are still hard to find. Especially wipes. I have not been able to get any since March.
 

stracci2000

Ideal_Rock
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Jun 26, 2007
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8,345
I am not too worried about it any more.
I wear the mask and sometimes gloves. I wash my hands frequently and try not to get too close to people.
I think I have gotten numb to all the bad news.
 

nala

Ideal_Rock
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Oct 23, 2011
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7,045
Being married to an essential kind of boosts your risk tolerance bc the alternative is to live in paranoia and that is where i draw the line. No sense is agonizing over a fear that may never materialize. Our risk tolerance is high but we are very careful and we read and research before we engage in risky behavior. So we protect my elderly mom and respect others behavioral guidelines as in we don’t push them into doing anything they consider risky. I’m glad my loved ones are essentials bc it has prevented me from living in a bubble and from viewing the world as If my life is more worthy than theirs bc I get paid to work from home. Many do not have that luxury so We like to support their businesses responsibly.
 

lyra

Ideal_Rock
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Jul 13, 2007
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My tolerance for risk has gone up, although I implement safety precautions. My mental state was deteriorating a lot. I'm okay with the grocery store because it is very regimented and has lots of distancing and mandatory masks.

We are seeing numbers go up again, although it's all been traced to younger people and others flaunting the social gathering rules. We do no social gatherings. I haven't had a hair cut yet. I never dined outside or inside. All stores have social distancing and mandatory masks. I don't touch things unless I'm buying it. I expect I may have to isolate again, but I need to get out of the house for now.
 

autumngems

Ideal_Rock
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Jul 24, 2003
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2,600
Wear my mask everywhere. I do the grocery shopping and try to only go once a week. I do see others flaunting the social gathering rules. (Bars that serve food are allowed to be open and they are crazy crowded, no distancing enforced)
Everyone at work wears a mask as it's a military community and its required.
Numbers for our county went up 30 in a week.
 

123ducklings

Brilliant_Rock
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Jun 10, 2020
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914
Pretty low tolerance. Essential outtings only. The only difference is we have to do pick up groceries. Ordering all groceries online isn't within our means. We order online instead and then they put it in the trunk. Husband HAS to go to work a few days a week. No choices about it. He usually does groceries on an office day. The rest of us stay home unless there is an emergency. It's a rule too that if any of us have to leave that person comes immediately home and showers. Outside clothes are not allowed anywhere except the washer. This is how it will be for us for the foreseeable future.

I just wish cleaning products were more available. Bleach sprays, paper towels, and bleach wipes are still hard to find. Especially wipes. I have not been able to get any since March.

This is us — husband has to go into work. He also does grocery shopping once a week or once every two weeks.

The riskiest thing has been that my mom (recently widowed) visits every couple of weeks and my aunt (single, no children) visits once or twice a week. Both without masks. It makes me uncomfortable because neither of them have been as cautious as we are, but they really need and rely on visiting us for social interaction and mental well-being so I’ve accepted this risk.

I think it’s impossible to generalize. All the young people I know have really hunkered down at home, and are strict about masks for essential work. In my area it’s people of my parents’ generation (who are the most vulnerable!) that have been going out the most and disregarding masks and distancing.
 

Big Fat Facets

Brilliant_Rock
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Jun 7, 2019
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when shelter in place and lockdown, first started, in march, we had our groceries delivered through whole foods and amazon, that lasted for several months. we just far prefer to select our own produce and groceries.

we have only left the house for groceries, once a week. one other time, for scheduled car maintenance.

all product gets a castille soap solution wipe down, on the porch, before it enters the home

when we leave the house, its mask, gloves, eye protection, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and spray

upon returning home, we shower, shampoo, brush teeth, rinse and gargle with salt water solution.

anything worn out, gets tossed in the washing machine, anything that cannot be washed gets quarantined.

no take out, no seeing friends, no massage appointments, no acupuncture, nada, nothing

our state and county have relaxed and have been opening up businesses. but we still live a "shelter in place" and "lockdown" life

until, we get an "all clear" from all the governing authoritative disease agencies, we will carry on this way, indefinitely ... not easy though ...

i'd say we fall into the low tolerance for risk
 
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Tartansparkles

Brilliant_Rock
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Feb 23, 2017
Messages
928
Medium risk. We're hand washing, wearing masks in all indoor spaces and keep 2m apart. I avoid crowded spaces indoors, but I avoided them anyway.
 

Arcadian

Ideal_Rock
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9,086
I'm in a room of 8 right now..... not happy but I gotta do it.
 

OoohShiny

Ideal_Rock
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Apr 25, 2014
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8,228
High personal tolerance for risk.

I would resume normal (proper normal) life tomorrow if they lifted all the restrictions, as I think most/all of my friends would.
 

Gussie

Ideal_Rock
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Apr 20, 2017
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3,700
I wear a mask, wash my hands often, and avoid crowds. I have been to restaurants, had my hair and nails done, shopped a bit, and seen a few friends. I shop for groceries at times that are less crowded. Medium risk I suppose. I don't think it is necessary for me to stay in a bubble but I try to be reasonably cautious and avoid any high risk situations.
 

Elizabeth35

Brilliant_Rock
Joined
Sep 24, 2011
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754
Fairly cautious. Have met with friends outdoors, with masks AND 6' apart 3 times. Ate at outdoor dining last week while our home was being shown. We were at least 10' from the nearest people so I was fine with that.
90% of groceries are delivered with occasional pick ups at the vegetable market or run into a store during senior hours. I have been to Home Depot a few times to get items for garden or repairs--wearing a mask and staying away from people, and using hand sanitizer as soon as I get back in my car.

I have had in-patient surgery and a couple Dr. visits and will get my mammogram this week. DH had a routine colonoscopy. I am not willing to delay normal medical tests and visits. We will get our flu shots next week.

I get my hair cut and colored while wearing a mask, and my stylist wears a mask. Her salon is in her home so only a couple customers a day (one at a time) and she disinfects in between.

When we get home we wash our hands but do not change clothes. We quarantine or wipe down grocery deliveries but my understanding is that is not really necessary.
 

MakingTheGrade

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Mar 2, 2009
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12,936
I work in an emergency room so pretty high risk just due to the nature of my job seeing patients in that setting.

Outside of that I’m probably medium risk. I mask and sanitize and maintain social distance.

I do outdoor dine occasionally which is about the riskiest thing I do and it’s pretty low risk (in my opinion) given the table distances and the open ventilation of being outdoors.
 

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Jun 8, 2008
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53,978
I think we are cautious and my tolerance for risk is generally quite low. My DH's tolerance for risk is considerably higher.

Despite my low risk tolerance we are still cycling. I feel that is minimum risk though not zero risk and I have a mask with me so when we use the restrooms we put on our masks.

We are doing our own grocery shopping with masks on the entire time.

We still walk around the neighborhood but we are able to keep our distance from people.

I still attend my doctor visits. I have no choice. I wear a mask the entire time and am very careful not to touch my face and I wash my hands as soon as I can and have hand sanitizer with me at all times.

I have not had my hair cut since January 2020. Greg has had his hair cut once so far since Covid (in July or August I don't remember) but he wore a mask the entire time as did his barber.

Greg had kidney stone surgery this summer. He had no choice. Fortunately it went well and no one came down with Covid 19.

We had to attend my MIL's funeral in July. Church and cemetery and funeral home. It was stressful. First of all losing my MIL like that wasn't expected. She had cancer but she was given 5 years with treatment. The treatment killed her. Second of all add Covid to the mix and it was challenging. Her 2 youngest sons insisted we hold the funeral and didn't want to put it off til after the pandemic. We told our friends not to come but they did come. So many people attended the entire day and I am so relieved no one got Covid from it. In the Church the priest and the singers (yes there was singing can you believe it? During a pandemic) did not wear a mask. At the funeral home no one was 6 feet away. Too many people. Everyone did wear a mask however. But we were all too close. It really was lucky no one got sick. Thank goodness.

We social distanced outside in our backyard with my parents last month (first time we saw them since Covid).

We don't wipe down groceries or deliveries. We don't change clothes when we get back home.

I did get one delivery that required men to come into the house and put a weight machine together (took a few hours) but after they left I aired out the room and ran a little ozone machine to clear anything lurking in the room/air.

We also had to have the HVAC guy come and fix our AC. He was outside mainly and when he came into the house he wore his mask.

We had to get our dishwasher repaired as well. The repair guy was quick and wore a mask the entire time.

I social distanced outside in my backyard once with a friend. Just once and I don't plan on doing it again. That was about 2 months ago. We stayed 10 feet apart the whole visit.

It's very interesting how different we all are. I was surprised that some of our friends are gathering and not social distancing and not wearing masks thinking they are safe outside. One friend posted 60 photos on FB of one gathering and I just SMH. Two of my friends who attended are teachers. I don't know where their common sense went. I hope they remain well. It happened last weekend.
 

missy

Super_Ideal_Rock
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Jun 8, 2008
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53,978
I forgot one of our outings. We went to our favorite jewelry shoppe last month. We were the only ones in the shoppe besides the owner and assistant and we all wore masks. We didn't stay too long and the door was open for ventilation the entire visit. We were all quite cautious. I don't think they are going to make it business wise. The owner told us she lost money so far this year and it isn't looking good. Another great small business that is probably not going to make it. :(
 

1ofakind

Brilliant_Rock
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Aug 22, 2012
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1,126
Medium risk. Mask, wash and sanitize hands, avoiding groups where social distance is not possible or people are not masked. We have been out to eat a bit, try to go at off hours if dining inside. I'm not flying yet but have taken road several trips and stayed in hotels. Not vacationing exactly so at the other end of the trip still being careful. I went to an outdoor wedding with few people wearing masks, kept my distance except for a few minutes for family photos.
 

Bron357

Ideal_Rock
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Jan 22, 2014
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6,532
I think it depends on the amount of virus near you!
Here in Sydney, Australia we are extremely fortunate that we have had no major spike in cases and there has been no recorded cases in my local environment. So my level of concern is modest.
Nevertheless I am only doing essential outings, grocery shopping at off peak times, not catching public transport, I wear a mask, don’t touch anything and wash hands frequently. We’ve only socialised with immediate family though DD has socialised with her frIends in accordance with restrictions. I wouldn’t go to a crowded public place or a cinema just to be on the safe side.
 

Myshinybestlife

Shiny_Rock
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Dec 15, 2019
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293
As a medical personnel working in Infectious Diseases, my risk tolerance is heightened by how sick my 'sicker ' patients are. I do ask my patients how they think they may have been exposed. I do hear a range of ---- I have been very cautious to--- I dont want to live my life in fear. This makes me more cautious than most. So no plane rides and mask every where. I am also aware that life needs to get back to some level of normalcy hopefully soon.
 

foxinsox

Ideal_Rock
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We're at level 1 where I am in NZ. I'm still doing contact tracing and washing my hands frequently. I'm working from home most of the time because I have a good set up at home and my job could wholly be done from home since my colleagues are all in different cities. I'm not wearing a mask but I'm not hanging out in very big groups either. I feel like we're very low risk currently.
 

mellowyellowgirl

Ideal_Rock
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May 17, 2014
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6,176
Moderate but that's because I'm in Australia.

All the usual social distancing, handwashing, wearing masks on trains, not touching surfaces etc

We have had a few gatherings with friends, always abiding by the legal limit of people.

We eat out at least once a week. You need to scan your phone so they can track you and everyone's temperature is taken. We only go to the venues that do this.

I think the main reason why we're comfortable living a "Covid Normal" life is because DS8 has been to school for more than a term now and we figure if he hasn't killed us yet, sensible precautions for everything else should be ok.

I avoid catching the bus and only catch the train sparingly so that's about where my limit is.
 

Slickk

Ideal_Rock
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Jan 3, 2013
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NYC suburbs. Still very careful but slowly getting back some to some sense of normalcy. Mask all day at work with students on hybrid/in person/remote. I food shop and do necessary errands with the mask and that’s all. I don’t wipe down my purchases but I do change my clothes after work.
I actually do not mind the lack of social events as I never really enjoyed large crowds anyway and now I have a good excuse.
 

lilmosun

Ideal_Rock
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Jun 30, 2014
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2,394
Low tolerance so I can spend time with my mom, who is 85 and living on her own. I go down every 6 weeks give or take. It's a 7 1/2 hour drive that I do with only a stop for gas in NJ (so I don't even have to pump). I bring snacks and nurse 1 drink the whole way to avoid bathroom stops.

My outings for the last 6 months have consisted of:
- A few get together with friends - outdoors/masks/social distancing
- One hair appt - I've always had long hair but it was driving me crazy. So I took the first appt on a weekday (I was the only customer) - came in with my hair washed/wet and told them to just "cut it all off...no one sees me and it'll grow back". So I should be all set for a year :)
- Doctors appt/lab
- A pedicure - only because I have bad feet and my toes were a mess after 5 months of doing it myself. The salon I go to has always been super clean but I was truly amazed at all the things they did to the place and precautions they took to keep everyone safe. By far the best I've seen anywhere. (Ironically enough the blood lab had the least precautions.)

Other than that, I've had everything delivered or curbside pickup since March. Fortunately, I can work from home although I desperately miss going downtown into the office.

I do think I will make a dental appt at some point. I typically have my teeth cleaned every 3 months and now it's been 8.

The rest of my family has developed more of an average tolerance as time goes on. So I am going to take a Covid test before visiting my mom on future visits just to be safe.
 

inne

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Sep 12, 2019
Messages
148
My tolerance level is quite low. My husband and I both work remotely - I always have, he is doing it due to COVID. We order the vast majority of things we need, and I have only been inside a shop 3 times since March. I have virtual drs appointments. We have met up with friends twice for a walk in the woods (2 meters apart) a few months ago and we've met my in-laws in their very large backyard twice over the summer. Aside from that, we're mostly just by ourselves - we go for a lot of hikes, go swimming in the lake, etc. and there's rarely anyone around.

I do go to the barn to ride. We're a small group of 10 riders and in the beginning we had a very strict schedule and distancing policies. Over time, we've become a lot more relaxed, partially because it's extremely difficult to distance 100% of the time in that environment and we've all decided that this will be our version of a bubble - we heavily restrict other areas of our lives so we can be pretty normal around each other. I do worry about that - it only takes one person to get infected and I suspect that as time goes on, some people will stop taking precautions without telling the rest of us. But realistically, it's pretty much this or taking our horses out of training, which would be an absolute last resort for a variety of reasons.

I wouldn't fly or go to a restaurant or see a movie or take an Uber or even stay at a busy hotel right now. I am finally going to spend 2 nights at a very quiet hotel in a very quiet city this weekend because I'm really going bananas at home, to the point where I'm starting to be a bit concerned about my emotional health. The only contact we'll have with anyone at the hotel is presumably going to be check-in. To find that place, my whole thought process basically had to be "where does no one want to visit? that's where I'll go!" :)
 
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