Is it prudent to go to Mass during corona outbreak?

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Kima said:
Well, they say that if you sit near (less than 1-2 meters) from someone who´s infected for more than 15 minutes straight you are likely to be infected
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Is that because you are breathing near them?

If they do not cough or sneeze, then I thought theoretically one would not get sick?

Nice comment from an article here. (The article may have disappeared, but the comments remain!)
• I say three Hail Marys while washing my hands. Hopefully that way both my physical and spiritual wellbeing is taken care of.
Jo Burden
Marlow, Buckinghamshire
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🙂

@PennyinCanada same article, different comment: heard that money can also be a source of germs!
 
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Because at Mass you are nearer to other people for a longer period of time with less space to sneeze in.
CoffeeFanatic said:
If you aren’t sick, or haven’t directly been exposed, or don’t have the risk factors that would make potential exposure potentially deadly for you (like a decreased immune system), then there is no more harm in going to mass than to a trip to the grocery store or a local restaurant.
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What constitutes direct exposure, and how would you know if someone near you had been exposed unbeknownst to them?

For me, I live with someone who would probably become very sick or quite possibly die if they caught the disease. I am concerned about this.
 
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Do you go to your job and work right now? You’re in close quarters with others at your place of work too.

The fact is, with infectious diseases you often don’t if someone was exposed until they get sick. The media has fear mongered this to death. Eight-five percent of people who are exposed will be fine.
 
I’m that person in our family. Suppressed immune system.

My job has me working with the public. Right now, I am using anti-bacterial gel and washing my hands as often as possible. And wiping down my counter. I am standing behind the counter, away from people. And I am avoiding shaking hands and hugging.

But there hasn’t been a confirmed case in our state. Once that happens, I’m not sure what I am going to do.
 
And 15 percent won’t be.

Bet some of your family and friends are part of that 15%.

I am.
 
This is actually reassuring to me 🙂 It is good to know that it’s ok to not panic and hide!
 
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maryjk said:
I’m that person in our family. Suppressed immune system.

My job has me working with the public. Right now, I am using anti-bacterial gel and washing my hands as often as possible. And wiping down my counter. I am standing behind the counter, away from people. And I am avoiding shaking hands and hugging.

But there hasn’t been a confirmed case in our state. Once that happens, I’m not sure what I am going to do.
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Another bit of authoritative advice I heard is that having a gulp of water regularly can assist in washing the virus into the stomach where acid destroys it. It’s only bad if it makes it’s way into the respiratory system
 
I see my doctor tomorrow.

I’m sure he will give me plenty of advice.:grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:
 
Wash the virus into the stomach? I think that’s been discredited.
The Houston Health Department and local doctors said it is false.

Dr. Susan Wootton, an infectious disease expert at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, said there is no data to support this claim.

“Staying well-hydrated and getting enough rest is important when recovering from any viral infection,” Wootton said.

The CDC said you can prevent the spread of this coronavirus by avoiding exposure.

You should wash your hands with soap and water, and try not to touch your face.

and from the BBC

Drinking water every 15 minutes​

One post, copied and pasted by multiple Facebook accounts, quotes a “Japanese doctor” who recommends drinking water every 15 minutes to flush out any virus that might have entered the mouth. A version in Arabic has been shared more than 250,000 times.

Professor Trudie Lang at the University of Oxford says there is “no biological mechanism” that would support the idea that you can just wash a respiratory virus down into your stomach and kill it.

Infections like coronaviruses enter the body via the respiratory tract when you breathe in. Some of them might go into your mouth, but even constantly drinking water isn’t going to prevent you from catching the virus.

Nonetheless, drinking water and staying hydrated is generally good medical advice.
 
There are fewer than 1,000 cases known in the US; and that is among some 328,200,000 people, give or take a couple.

The virus appears to be highly infectious, and there are a number of cases where no one is currently able to determine how the individual caught it. That does not mean they were not around someone who had it; only that no one is making connections with known cases.

It appears that some people will catch it and be a carrier, but may not exhibit symptoms.

It also appears that some people will catch it and have symptoms mild enough that they may not recognize they have it.

Looking at the flu - as opposed to corona virus - the CDC estimates that about 10 to 14 percent of the population will catch the flu this season. Of those, about 47% will see a doctor. Of those, about 2.5% will be hospitalized, and of those, about 5 1/2 to 8 percent will die; or out of 34 to 49 million with the flu, about 20,000 to 52,000 will die. The elderly are likely to take it the hardest and be most likely to die of the flu.

Statistics of the corona virus are not sufficient to make estimates with anything approaching reliability. Of 12 deaths in Washington state, 10 were elderly (and if I recall, all in a retirement setting, as several had traveled to Asia.

If you are elderly - particularly over 80; immune suppressed, or otherwise in poor health, you are greatest at risk; youth seem to be the lowest risk of death.
 
If you feel in particular threat such as if you are immunosuppressed, I think it would be prudent to not go. If you take care of a vulnerable person such as elderly parents or a spouse going through chemo, it would likely be prudent not to go. If you are generally fit and healthy with no particular risk factors, my personal decision would be to attend mass.

I recently had flu (over a month ago) which developed into pneumonia. While I recovered generally my lungs are still week so I am taking extra precautions. I spoke to my priest last month and we came up with a plan that I will attend daily weekday mass when there are far fewer people but I will not go on the weekend until flu season ends…basically through Lent. I am also caretaker for an elderly relative and am concerned about exposing her. It is not perfect but we actually made this plan before Corona Virus was a concern, just based on flu season concerns. My elderly relative watches mass on TV during flu season because she is in fragile health and over 80.
 
CoffeeFanatic said:
The media has fear mongered this to death. Eight-five percent of people who are exposed will be fine.
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Perhaps, but that means 15% will not be…may not matter to anyone, unless their elderly parents become one of the 15%.

The trouble with the 85% who are exposed but fine, does not mean they are not transmitting the virus.

If you have an inkling you have been exposed to someone with the virus, or if you are symptomatic (even if you attribute it to the flu, the common cold, allergies) STAY HOME…from work, from events, from Mass.

These are not unreasonable steps until the medical community has a handle on the situation…the media is not fear mongering, they are merely giving warning.
 
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A short update to you all: My diocese has canceled ALL Masses all until Palm Sunday.
 
Emeraldlady said:
Another bit of authoritative advice I heard is that having a gulp of water regularly can assist in washing the virus into the stomach where acid destroys it. It’s only bad if it makes it’s way into the respiratory system
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This has proven to be as untrue as the cocaine and alcohol stories
 
This is an opinion piece, but it has a great graphic.

There are plenty of other news stories with the same information.

As those stories state, we must “flatten the curve” of sick people. Otherwise we could be overwhelmed and our infected won’t have a hospital to go to.
 
Question, what if one is sick but live with elderly parents? My dad also just had pneumonia late last year. So I do not want to be sick in order not to be contagious to others especially those more vulnerable. Is this a good reason to refrain from Mass, in as much as I want to go since I am also a daily Mass goer?
 
If it is prudent you stay in your home to mitigate risk to yourself because of your own health conditions, or if it is prudent stay in your home to mitigate the risk to others pending the outcome of test results (or even test availability) to verify whether or not you are carrying the virus, then NO, it would NOT BE prudent to go to Mass, and you could forego Mass obligations with a clear conscience.
 
I continue to reference our diocesan website for updates. I have cancer and thus a compromised immune system and some of my teen kids are being treated for their tumours. We have a surgery scheduled next week for one and we all have upcoming oncology appointments. I’m not much of a worrier by nature, but I too have agonised over attending Mass and Bible studies/meetings. I went last night and last weekend, but I’m leaning toward staying home for awhile. Our diocesan website has provided solid, clear advice and information. Perhaps you can start there?

Sometimes it is most charitable to stay home, as much as we desire Our Lord. I understand the angst of fellow Catholics. Be safe, everyone.
 
My son is already questioning whether he should go.

He does say that if he goes he is waiting in the back or staying away from everyone.

I have an auto immune and I will not be attending. But if he attends and gets sick, he will bring it home to me.

His university just cancelled in person classes and everything will be on line.
 
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