informal COVID-19 poll re: anxiety [View all]

[steve2470]

As all of you know, the pandemic is a *potential* threat to all of us, especially those of us over age 60/65 and we who have underlying medical conditions. I am in Florida, which is one of the worst affected areas, thanks to our infamously incompetent Governor DeSantis and the "rebels" against mask-wearing (their freedom to get sick and die, I suppose, and infect others).

I am 61 and have no underlying co-morbidities that the CDC says predispose me to more serious illness or death.

People of any age with the following conditions are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19:

Cancer
Chronic kidney disease
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher)
Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
Sickle cell disease
Type 2 diabetes mellitus

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fneed-extra-precautions%2Fgroups-at-higher-risk.html

Of all those disease states, I am pre-diabetic and overweight, but not obese. I *think* I would survive a bout of COVID-19, but do I know this ? Absolutely not.

It's that uncertainty that haunts me. I social distance, avoid large crowds, wash my hands, and wear my mask. Way too many others in my area (central Florida) do not, however.

I am not losing any sleep over this, but yes, it is a low-grade anxiety that I would rather not live with.

Can you identify with this ? If not, you are very lucky, indeed. Thanks.

Steve