Pandemic denial: Why some people can't accept Covid-19's realities

[Robert59]

With so much information available about the severity of the coronavirus and the need to follow guidelines, some people still refuse to accept reality.
The denial manifests itself in many ways, whether that be refusing to wear a mask or attending large gatherings.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/16/health/pandemic-covid-19-denial-mental-health-wellness/index.html

 

[Don M.]

The comedian, Ron White, gave the answer a few years ago....."You Can't Fix Stupid".

 

[Sunny]

This associated link, about quarantine fatigue, is interesting. Probably many of us are becoming slacker than we should be, just because we're sick of the whole thing. And we find rationalizations. (Sheesh, I'm even ready to break down and get my hair cut!)

One thing the article mentions that I am dubious about, is disinfecting groceries. Does anyone really bother doing that? I don't mean washing produce, which we should do anyway, I mean cleaning off the outsides of boxes, etc.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/08/health/quarantine-fatigue-is-real-coronavirus-wellness/index.html

 

[Barbiegirl]

We stopped wiping down every blessed thing that comes into the house. We still wipe down "high touch" items like our cell phones and credit cards though. Clothes that have been worn in public go straight in the laundry.

Unfortunately we're about to cut our own hair. Will not be posting the "after" photos.

 

[911]

I was tested yesterday. Still waiting on the doctor's call.

 

[gennie]

Why? Many only get their news from a single source that has played the dangers of the virus down since Day One. They think tales of its severity are a hoax perpetuated by politics.

 

[win231]

This associated link, about quarantine fatigue, is interesting. Probably many of us are becoming slacker than we should be, just because we're sick of the whole thing. And we find rationalizations. (Sheesh, I'm even ready to break down and get my hair cut!)

One thing the article mentions that I am dubious about, is disinfecting groceries. Does anyone really bother doing that? I don't mean washing produce, which we should do anyway, I mean cleaning off the outsides of boxes, etc.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/08/health/quarantine-fatigue-is-real-coronavirus-wellness/index.html

No, I have never disinfected boxes of groceries or deliveries & I never believed it was necessary. I've never stayed home, either.
Neither have my friends who are 78 - 86 years old. And they have friends over - as do I. We only wear masks when shopping because it's required, not because we think it protects us or anyone else. We don't "Leave mail out in the sun." None are sick.
I have always washed my hands when I get home, so that's nothing new to me.
Some advice is good; some is ridiculous.
But everyone is entitled to their own level of caution, fear, or what they choose to believe.
Those who criticize others for being less fearful or thinking we're being lied to about some aspects of Covid are the ignorant ones. It reminds me of the nonsense used in past years to sell more flu shots - "If you don't get a flu shot, you're making other people sick."

 

[Aneeda72]

This associated link, about quarantine fatigue, is interesting. Probably many of us are becoming slacker than we should be, just because we're sick of the whole thing. And we find rationalizations. (Sheesh, I'm even ready to break down and get my hair cut!)

One thing the article mentions that I am dubious about, is disinfecting groceries. Does anyone really bother doing that? I don't mean washing produce, which we should do anyway, I mean cleaning off the outsides of boxes, etc.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/08/health/quarantine-fatigue-is-real-coronavirus-wellness/index.html

Yes, I do. And I’ve gotten 2 haircuts since everything opened. Get it cut really really short so I only have to go in every 3 months

 

[Aneeda72]

No, I have never disinfected boxes of groceries or deliveries & I never believed it was necessary. I've never stayed home, either.
Neither have my friends who are 78 - 86 years old. And they have friends over - as do I. We only wear masks when shopping because it's required, not because we think it protects us or anyone else. We don't "Leave mail out in the sun." None are sick.
I have always washed my hands when I get home, so that's nothing new to me.
Some advice is good; some is ridiculous.
But everyone is entitled to their own level of caution, fear, or what they choose to believe.
Those who criticize others for being less fearful or thinking we're being lied to about some aspects of Covid are the stupid ones.

I suppose it’s had bad the virus is where you live or what your preexisting conditions are.

 

[StarSong]

Other than produce, which gets washed right before use, I don't wash groceries. Never have - not even in the beginning of the pandemic. There was no need to. The few non-produce items I purchase go into the back of my garage pantry storage. With stock rotation, they're not used for at least a week after purchase. More often it's a month between purchase and use.

I wash my hands thoroughly after a store run, then again after putting away the groceries. Counters get washed after everything is put away. My hands are washed constantly during meal prep.

DH & I don't wash or change our clothing after being in public. However, we wear masks and gloves for shopping, remove our gloves and put them in a plastic bag, then apply hand sanitizer before getting into the car.

We have a mail slot cut into our garage and the mail collects in a large bin. Unless we're waiting for something, we don't bother with mail on a daily basis.

My husband and I remind each other to keep our guard up when one of us starts slipping.

 

[win231]

I suppose it’s had bad the virus is where you live or what your preexisting conditions are.

I have diabetes (high risk, according to the experts), I'm 67 and (if I believe the mayor & governor), the virus is "Spiking Daily." And around 50 new deaths per day.
Occasionally, they report "Encouraging Results" only when they want to show that their "safety measures" are working....to make us think they are "Just Wonderful," & "What would we ever do without them."

 

[Aneeda72]

I have diabetes (high risk, according to the experts), I'm 67 and (if I believe the mayor & governor), the virus is "Spiking Daily." And around 50 new deaths per day.
Occasionally, they report "Encouraging Results" only when they want to show that their "safety measures" are working....to make us think they are "Just Wonderful," & "What would we ever do without them."

I have diabetics as well, and stage three kidney failure, (in only one kidney cause the other one failed) and heart failure, and MDS (a rare red blood cell cancer), and a lot of other stuff, and I am FAT, so yup, I am wiping those groceries down.

Drowning in my own fluids is not on my bucket list. But, hey, I am ok with you not wiping down your stuff cause I’m not eating at your house.

 

[win231]

I was entertained by a You Tube video a couple of months ago where an MD - a real doctor demonstrated a safe procedure for handling our groceries. He was at his kitchen counter. The counter had a strip of blue tape in the center to divide a "Contaminated Zone" & a "Clean Zone."
Enjoy watching this fool. I certainly did. And What would we do without this hero?

 

[win231]

I have diabetics as well, and stage three kidney failure, (in only one kidney cause the other one failed) and heart failure, and MDS (a rare red blood cell cancer), and a lot of other stuff, and I am FAT, so yup, I am wiping those groceries down.

Drowning in my own fluids is not on my bucket list. But, hey, I am ok with you not wiping down your stuff cause I’m not eating at your house.

Aw, c'mon. Drop by anytime. I have freshly-ground coffee, watermelon & dark chocolate.

 

[Aneeda72]

Aw, c'mon. Drop by anytime. I have freshly-ground coffee, watermelon & dark chocolate.

Well, I like watermelon, two out of three isn’t bad.

 

[Sunny]

Starsong, my routine is almost identical to yours, except that I do pick up the mail in my mailbox every day. I don't think the virus lasts very long on hard surfaces (paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, etc.), so all that "wiping down" is probably unnecessary.

 

[PopsnTuff]

Starsong, my routine is almost identical to yours, except that I do pick up the mail in my mailbox every day. I don't think the virus lasts very long on hard surfaces (paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, etc.), so all that "wiping down" is probably unnecessary.

I'm with both of you on this....after collecting the mail and opening, I wash my hands a little longer for peace of mind....

 

[Judycat]

I sometimes forget there's a deadly virus out there.