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Covid

2m social distancing just not going to happen after lockdown

32 replies

FreierFall · 01/05/2020 11:50

Even now many people can't be bothered. Yes queuing outside people do but once inside B&Q, Aldi etc it's just not happening.....at least where I am. Can you imagine walking down a busy high street after lockdown ends and trying to keep 2m away from everyone. Totally unrealistic to expect the population to do it. Heathrow have said social distancing at their airport is basically impossible. Not sure what the solution is though Confused until the vaccine is available (next 6 months fingers crossed)

OP posts:
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Peppafrig · 01/05/2020 11:51

I think as soon as McDonald's and that start to open people will think fuck it and push the rules out the window more and more .

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HandfulOfFlowers · 01/05/2020 11:53

Yeah, many people are at the point where they would rather take their chances with the virus than continue as we are.

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RedAzalea · 01/05/2020 11:54

What happened in b and q? It’s a superior set up.... if people aren’t abiding by it then that’s the British public for you I’m afraid!

There’s no reason not to

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MashedSpud · 01/05/2020 11:58

It's up to us if we want to keep from having another lockdown.

If new infection rates rise we'll end up in lockdown again.

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P1nkHeartLovesCake · 01/05/2020 12:00

People will have to make risk assessments for themselves, because life has to work its way back to normal. Businesses need to open for the economy and I’m assuming most want jobs to go back too. Also many people are really struggling mentally and need to see family etc. This way of life is not natural.

People can not and will not stay home until a vaccine is found, if one is found. Even if they found one tomorrow they would vaccinate the vulnerable first so the vast majority of us would be taking our chances anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️

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mynameiscalypso · 01/05/2020 12:01

I thought I read somewhere this week that the 2m was relatively arbitrary anyway - a bit like '5 a day'

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Bagelsandbrie · 01/05/2020 12:01

People aren’t even doing it round here now (South Norfolk) so even less so as time goes on!

I agree that when McDonald’s etc opens people will see lockdown as over.

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Kingjarvis · 01/05/2020 12:03

Can’t do it where I work. No one cares though

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justtb · 01/05/2020 12:10

Felt like telling people to 'get the eff away from me.' In Aldi a few weeks back. I've avoided doing big shops since! Apparently where my DP works no one seems to care either.. if lockdown ended the rule would just be ignored even more.. because well lockdown has ended and that's enough for some people

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GrimmsFairytales · 01/05/2020 12:11

I thought I read somewhere this week that the 2m was relatively arbitrary anyway

It is to some extent. As they've repeatedly said your risk increases, when spending more than 15 minutes within two metres of an infected person.

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tigger1001 · 01/05/2020 12:26

I noticed yesterday when I was shopping that less and less people are keeping their distance. The most guilty, certainly where I was, seemed to be these wearing masks. People seemed to think it was reasonable to lean over people's trolleys to reach stuff rather than waiting for a minute or two,

It is difficult in some situations to maintain social distance but do think that it needs to be our new normal for quite some time if we want out of lockdown

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Delatron · 01/05/2020 12:35

I do wonder what the risk is for say walking with 0.5 meters of someone versus 2m if you just walk past quickly? As long as they don’t cough on you? I also heard 2m was arbitrary.

If you stand close to someone, indoors talking for 20 minutes then the risk will increase.

Yes it’s like the 5 a day or the 14 units a week advice.

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GrimmsFairytales · 01/05/2020 12:44

Delatron I would imagine the risk would be so negligible, it almost seems daft to call it a risk at all.

It's one of the reasons people huffing and moaning about not being able to get past people in the shops annoys me. Simply walking past someone doesn't automatically mean you'll get the virus, and I think some common sense needs to be applied.

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BigChocFrenzy · 01/05/2020 12:50

"Heathrow have said social distancing at their airport is basically impossible. "

Foreign holidays, especially by air, are one of the things likely to remain banned for many months,
possibly even until there is an effective treatment and / or vaccine

Similarly any activity that involves public gatherings over say 50,
except for some work, public transport and schools - i.e. the essentials

In Germany, we started to relax lockdown 10 days ago,
but before this, Oktoberfest was cancelled,
we were warned that foreign holidays v unlikely this year
and no date even for domestic holidays - travel, hotels etc

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Delatron · 01/05/2020 12:52

Yes, @GrimmsFairytales I think negligible too. We need to use the ‘science’ more.

I’m just wondering about schools and when they eventually go back this is one area they could be more relaxed with. Especially outside in the fresh air. Mainly for the mental health of the kids and also because I doubt they’ll keep apart.

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happysunr1se · 01/05/2020 12:58

I'm wondering how its going to work on trains? Is there gonna be a member of staff at the door telling people where to sit? Telling people, this carriage has 10 people already, sorry u can't get on, and closing the door on people waiting on the platform??

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Eskarina1 · 01/05/2020 13:01

I think if social distancing is ignored, we can expect to go back into lockdown because the impact of the virus being uncontrolled through the population is greater than any other impact. The government can't let millions of people have it at once. It doesn't matter if individuals have had enough. So we need to adapt to what we can do.

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rhowton · 01/05/2020 13:06

Everyone mentioning McDonald's are being unreasonable!! Damn you! I've not had lunch yet and all I want is 3 chicken selects, medium fries, Diet Coke and a galaxy caramel McFlurry!! Oh god! I can't wait!!

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GrimmsFairytales · 01/05/2020 13:12

I think if social distancing is ignored, we can expect to go back into lockdown

I don't think it's as black and white as that. It's not that people will be ignoring social distancing it's that in many situations it's just not possible or practical.

Take the above example about public transport. If you don't drive and work is too far to walk, then you're reliant on it. How realistic is it to have people 2m apart on train / tube platforms, or queues at bus stops blocking the pavement.

Then the bus, train, tube arrives and only a set number can get on. This will be a slower process, and will also have a massive impact on getting to work. Not to mention how impractical it is to expect people to remain socially distanced when getting off at their stop.

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KatherineJaneway · 01/05/2020 13:14

It isn't happening now.

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Eskarina1 · 01/05/2020 13:18

What I mean is, if the infection rate goes up, they will increase restrictions again so if public transport being used means lots of infection they will do something to stop it.

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GrimmsFairytales · 01/05/2020 13:34

What I mean is, if the infection rate goes up, they will increase restrictions again

I understood that. I was pointing out that in many situations social distancing isn't possible or practical. It's not as black and white as your post, saying this will happen because social distancing is being ignored or because people have had enough.

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bellinisurge · 01/05/2020 13:40

Spending my day off making face masks with "funky" fabric for dd and mil/fil and probably myself and dh. God awful things. I despise them but if they what people need to wear to remind each other to at least try continued social distancing, then maybe they'll serve a purpose.
And I have a load of spare odds and ends because I like to sew anyway. M&M fabric face masks, anyone. Confused

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LondonJax · 01/05/2020 14:15

I said to DH only yesterday that I wonder what will happen when most people are back at work so supermarket shops can't be staggered as much as they are at the moment AND we get to to autumn and the rain starts....

I can't imagine everyone being quite so easy going standing in a queue outside Tesco on a Saturday when it's pouring with rain.

Actually, that's also spurred a thought. The supermarkets give a 'vulnerable or NHS shopping time' at the moment which most people are happy with because they have a lot of time in which to do their shopping. Is that still going to stand when everyone goes back to work? If you've got a lot of the country back to their 40-50 hour weeks are they going to be happy to stand aside for other workers or is that going to drift to an end?

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PeachOrchid27 · 01/05/2020 14:19

I’ve just been to the shopping precinct near me. Apart from the queues and the odd face mask wearer it was business as usual. Kids playing football in the precinct. The car park was full. Absolutely no social distancing once inside any of the shops.

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