Do people think it’s over now?

[SpookyNoise]

I’m surprised at how many people seem to think the lockdown is over and there is no threat from the virus. I’ve had a friend ask us over for dinner in their house, and my son has had a friend ask him over to play. We declined both invites, obviously. Has anyone else got friends who think it’s all over?

[rosie39forever]

Yeah didn't you know, get out to the shops and round to your elderly relatives house and in a few days you'll be able to go to the pub...cos it's gone now🤯

[SpookyNoise]

It’s so frustrating, isn’t it? I haven’t seen my parents for months (it would involve a long journey and an overnight stay), and they seem to think it’s over and think I’m being unreasonable by not visiting. I’m still scared about catching Covid.

[IcedPurple]

We declined both invites, obviously

Unless you've got good reason to believe you or your friends are infected with the virus, then it isn't really obvious.

And while the virus does still pose a threat, it has to be seen alongside other threats and other priorities.

[Cusano34]

I know a lot of people who have been like this from the beginning...a few people have still been sending their children to their parents when they go work...neighbours still having friends round...home hairdressers cutting hair throughout the lockdown etc

I met some friends at the beach a few weeks ago and was the only one sitting on my own blanket at a distance, all the rest hugged etc I felt a bit stupid :/

We didn’t see our parents for 3 months until this week and we’ve met them outside once. It was fine but really hard to keep a two year old at 2 meters away!

[SpookyNoise]

Doesn’t going into someone’s house go against current guidelines?

[rosie39forever]

Luckily my parents live nearby and are getting quite ratty with me because I refuse to 'just have a little sit in their conservatory' because the newspapers and neighbours are telling them that it's ok now and we can return to normal, but I could never forgive myself if I passed it on to them as they are late 70s and my dad in particular isn't too Healthy. I'd rather they were annoyed with me than spend their last days alone in intensive care.

[WinningEveryDay]

I don't think it's over and i'm not breaking guidelines but I certainly don't think it's a huge threat and wouldn't give a shit about what anyone else is doing.

[Cusano34]

Also, most of my family are in Italy and it’s been really strange to see their photos in bars and restaurants, days at the beach, allowed into other peoples houses, gatherings indoors etc it actually makes me feel a bit anxious just looking at it...! Although they did a proper lockdown for a long time before they started to open up which is what I think we should have done in this country

[rosie39forever]

Going into someone else's house is currently illegal and carries a £1000 fine.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

There are people who are at extremes at both ends of the spectrum: those who are too complacent and believe Covid has gone away; and those who are still terrified of it and are certain they’ll catch it and die if somebody comes within a meter of them.

The reality is somewhere in the middle: community transmission is now very low, there’s very little evidence it spreads outdoors, and it’s reckoned only around one in 2,000 people have it. In all probability it is low risk to visit people. If it’s fine for people to have their cleaner in to clean their house (which is allowed) then logic should tell you it should also be fine to have your friend or mum visit your house.

At this stage I’m all for letting people assess their own level of risk and act accordingly, which is what I and everyone I know has been doing for the past couple of weeks. If you still believe yourself to be at risk then you can make your decision to stay indoors and keep away from people and if anyone judges you for that hats what should be the problem, not simply that they have made a different decision to you.

[SpookyNoise]

@rosie39forever that’s what I thought. Maybe other people don’t realise this.

[IcedPurple]

Doesn’t going into someone’s house go against current guidelines?

Not if you stay in the garden.

Even so, 'guidelines' are somewhat arbitrary and very rarely enforced. Unless you've particular reason to believe you and/or your friends are infected, the chances of you catching Covid from them at this stage are very low.

[SpookyNoise]

Staying in someone’s garden isn’t going into their house.

[rosie39forever]

Going into someone else's house who isn't in a bubble with you is currently not a guideline it's a law.

[Sunnydayshereatlast]

We haven't changed our living since easing. Our home town is inundated with visitors and our figures are rising..

[IcedPurple]

Staying in someone’s garden isn’t going into their house

So if you'd suggested meeting them in their garden and they'd said yes, would you have gone? If the 'rules' allow you to go into their house next month, will you do so? Is your only concern here following the 'guidelines' or do you believe there is a genuine risk of becoming infected if you or your child visit your friends?

[rosie39forever]

I'm personally not terrified of Covid because although I'm 50 I'm fit and healthy, it's the risk to elderly and vulnerable family members I'm concerned about regardless of our shitty government's guidelines.

[SpookyNoise]

A bit of both - I don’t want to be ill (and run the risk of making other people ill), and I don’t want a fine.

[IcedPurple]

I'm personally not terrified of Covid because although I'm 50 I'm fit and healthy, it's the risk to elderly and vulnerable family members I'm concerned about regardless of our shitty government's guidelines

But community transmission is very low now. Unless you have particular reason to think your friends have Covid, the chances of you contracting it from them are minute.

Obviously you are entitled to make your own risk assessments. But others will estimate the - currently very low - risk very differently, and that doesn't make them irresponsible or ill-informed.

[rosie39forever]

For me to go into my parents house there would have to be far fewer deaths, as it stands an excess of a thousand people per week are still losing their lives to the virus in the U.K. so that figure would have to be considerably lower.

[BluebellForest836]

It’s still around but a lot of people have just decided to carry on as normal now. The risk of me dying from it is ridiculously low and I’m not bothered about the risk. Life as normal now

[rosie39forever]

@BluebellForest836 that is a real problem for me the I'm alright jack, it won't make me ill so I'm going to do what I fancy attitudes because you aren't taking into account the people you could infect all be unintentionally. It's not all about you it's about the whole of society.

[larrygrylls]

I don’t think people understand the Maths, but a virus does. It care, it will still obey it.

Right now, the risk of being infected is tiny. It is very safe to see people. However, this tiny risk now seems stable, not diminishing (an r of about 1). If enough people take this tiny risk, next week it will still be tiny, but a little less tiny, and even less tiny the following week. In a couple of months it will be significant again, and we will need another lockdown.

Sadly, we are not a very communitarian minded nation right now, so people will do what they want. My bet is another lockdown in September-November.

[IcedPurple]

It's not all about you it's about the whole of society

Yes, and society can't go on with people living in fear, secluded from their loved ones; with businesses shuttered up and thousands losing their jobs; with children uneducated and many non Covid medical issues neglected.

Covid is a concern but it is not the only concern. You can lock yourself up indefinitely if you like, but other people are looking forward to getting on with their lives and keeping the economy from collapsing.

[Bol87]

OP. There are so many of these bloody threads. No. Obviously it’s not over. I’d say a good chunk of the population are still following the rules more or less. Some aren’t. And frankly, that’s their choice. Don’t sit there being the neighbourhood Covid police. You do you. I following the rules mostly. The only thing I’m ‘breaking’ is I’m not overly worrying about being 2m apart. I keep a distance but I’m not throwing myself into the road to avoid someone. And I’ve allowed my 3 year old to play with another 3 year old in the garden. Its just not possibly to socially distance young children. Both myself & my friend did distance & agreed we were happy for our kids to play.

I’m not remotely worried about catching it, I’ll take my chances. I’m 32 & healthy. So is my OH & my children. I of course do not wish to spread it to the vulnerable but in theory, they should be taking serious precautions, be that shielding, following the rules to the letter & keeping well apart from others.

It sounds like your concerns are coming from the fact you are terrified of catching it. Is there a reason? Are you vulnerable? Elderly? Or are you in the low risk group where actually statistically there’s an equal or higher chance you’ll die from something else this year than Covid? Life is not without risk. The whole point of lockdown was to get us to a point where life could return to normal slowly. The virus ain’t going anywhere. But it’s fairly controlled now & the NHS has plenty of capacity to treat the seriously ill.