This is our daughter. She’s 5 yrs old, mild-moderate autistic, and non-verbal. Here she is on her way to school. Is also currently able to visit her grandparents.

People tend to think in societal terms that the ‘at-risk’ category is mainly pensioners or people with severely ill.

It goes way further than ‘oldies’ or ‘the ill’.

As an example, if the virus got to our daughter, via us or in community, there is the unknown of how it would affect her.
If either or both of us ended up in hospital, she would be without us for duration.

If she needed hospital, I cannot bear to imagine what it would be like for her being in an ICU with her disabilities, not knowing why this was happening or where we were half the time. How frightening would that be? Not being able to communicate it either.

Like thousands of other kids, her first year of primary school was cut short. How the tightened restrictions affected her was regressive behaviourally. She really struggled, and it was hard to handle.

Now the restrictions are manageable for her. She gets to school in the ASD class. Form way better and is learning again.
If virus rates keep up, all this is gone again.

So, it’s not just the elderly or informed who are at risk here.
Yes, work-wise there is nobody unaffected to many different degrees. Myself and my own workplace included.
It’s really tough and nerve-wracking on what lies ahead.

However, I personally am not prepared to be part of some@guinea pig society experiment of herd immunity as some are suggesting we adopt.

Believe me, Scandinavian society and Irish society are ikke liksom hverandre.

My parents both over 70 and have plenty to offer yet too.

Outside of workplace, what’s being asked of us is not great but it’s hardly life in a Syrian refugee camp or in a tube station during the Blitz.

Just stick with it.
This virus is NOT a cold. Nobody knows if it’s ‘seasonal’, and it’s HIGHLY transmissible.

Vaccine will come

Listen to the actual experts.
Not Van Morrison. Not the leftover quarter of The Corrs. Not some online crank with a book to sell or money to make on YouTube.

Wash your hands.
Keep distance.
Wear mask indoors or in closer environment.
That’s all.
Thanks for your time.

PS
This thread will probably self-destruct tomorrow with the delete button.
Having read some of the bilge being opined on all things covid19 lately, just wanted to get this out there.