Should I Go ?

[derekpara]

I am due to attend an important 2 hour annaul meeting in three weeks time involving around 30 people in a medium sized hall. This is to be followed by a meal with another 30 people added.

I am late 80s and classified as 'Extremely Vulnerable' with underlying conditions ( Rectal cancer and Atrial Fibfilation). Apart from that I'm fine ! My wife has long-term M.E plus Bronchiectasis and a heart condition. She will not be attending this function.

We are both fully jabbed and boosted and take LFT's twice weekly.
My worry is catching Covid and passing it on to my wife, bearing in mind her breathing problems.

Should I go or not ?

Cheers. D

[naomi24]

If you’re not comfortable and confident to go, don’t go.

[Redhelen72]

Personally I wouldn’t given both you and your wife illness’s.
In the same way there will be those that say yes go.
Unfortunately it is you and you good lady wife decision

[lankeela]

If you go there is a chance you will become infected. If you don't go then you avoid that particular possibility so for me it is a no brainer.

[Bobbisox1]

It’s a risk Derek and like Naomi said, if you feel uncomfortable about going , probably best not to

[New Judge]

Only you can make such a decision. I was at a New Year's Eve bash last week and there was a party of four there, all over 80. We got chatting and they told us that they had all been triple jabbed, some of them had underlying health problems. But they all remarked that they did not know how long they had left to live and were not going to spend what remaining time they had confined to barracks. Instead they were living as life as normally as they could and that involved going out to restaurants and functions like the NYE bash we were at. They had a whale of a time.

Conversely I know of a couple in their early 40s who have barely left the house for almost two years. They used to go out frequently to pubs and restaurants but their weekly treat now consists of a lukewarm takeaway brought round on the back of a scooter. Of course it could be argued that they might expect to live longer than the 80 plusses that we met and want to make the most of it later. But on the other side of the coin they are far less likely to become seriously ill should they catch the virus.

My view is that there is more to life than simply remaining alive but you pays your money and takes your choice.

[MargoTester]

Personally with both your underlying conditions I would not go.

[jennyjoan]

Everybody in my neighbour's house - her mother, granddaughter, son, his wife who live in another house have all got Covid . They did have a party on 27th December for another daughter's 17th. Think this is where they got it.

Grandmother who lives with them is just out of hospital with other underlying issues ie chronic diabetes etc and is testing positive on these LFTs. So don't go - there will be other meetings.

[Kardashev]

from what you say above I'd say don't go.

[barry1010]

I wouldn't. If the meeting is that important maybe you could go to that and keep as far away from others as possible and skip the meal

[Kardashev]

Can you Zoom in to the meeting?

[Barsel]

Would it be possible for you to go to the meeting and not not the meal?
It's possible a lot of people will be wearing a mask at the meeting, but then there are to be another 30 joining you who can't wear a mask while they are eating.
If in doubt, don't go.

[bednobs]

barsel did you have the dreaded virus in the end?

[Barsel]

No bednobs, my PCR was negative.

[TheWinner]

Don't go.

[Barsel]

Thank you for asking bednobs.

[bednobs]

what a relief

[rowanwitch]

In my mind it depends on what you see is most important in life quality or quantity. If it is something you would really enjoy then talk it through with your wife and maybe isolate when you get home but I think there comes a time when you may just decide to hell with it and grab lifes opportunities for fun when they occur. Just be prepared to live with the consequences if something bad happens.
Personally I think a meeting doesn't sound fun enough for the risk

[smurfchops]

Surely you can get Minutes of the Meeting emailed to you afterwards. Don’t risk it.

[derekpara]

All great answers. Thank you all.

I had just about made the decision not to go before I posted the question but you have helped me confirm it.
For my part I would have taken my chances but my wife's breathing problem is so acute I would never be able to forgive myself if I had passed the virus to her.

Cheers. D

[ToraToraTora]

good choice derek.