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Original poster

Is social distancing over?

75 replies

Trunkella · 21/08/2020 21:23

It’s coming to the end of summer holidays, so I thought I’d take DD to the zoo - first family trip out for a while. I assumed guidelines would be in place, numbers limited - and people would be socially distancing. People wore face masks in designated areas, but no one was keeping to the 2m distancing. If I waited back, people would push past me - or just go in front of me. This was the vast majority of people - and children were allowed to crowd against windows in groups.

OP posts:
Doyouavocado · 21/08/2020 21:26

I thought it was 1metre now? Either way I don’t think I’ve seen anyone social distancing for a while

tigger001 · 21/08/2020 21:29

No, social distancing is not over. 2metres where possible, and 1 metre when not.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcoln · 21/08/2020 21:29

It's still 2 metres in Wales.

tigger001 · 21/08/2020 21:30

What you experienced was selfish people not adhering to the guidelines.

maleficent53 · 21/08/2020 21:31

we are all wearing magic masks now

Original poster
Trunkella · 21/08/2020 21:32

It’s still 2m where possible! The scary thing was NO-ONE was distancing. I’d like to say I observed a few people being considerate - but this absolutely was not the case.

OP posts:
kittensarecute · 21/08/2020 21:44

Sadly, no - it's not over.

Stompythedinosaur · 21/08/2020 21:59

Many people are acting like it's all over. I think people who aren't sticking to the rules are all selfish arseholes tbh.

Original poster
Trunkella · 22/08/2020 07:21

From what I saw yesterday, the vast majority of people are self-centred arseholes? And it’s not just at the zoo. I can’t walk through the park without having to vet the area first for dog crap. There’s litter everywhere - I saw 5 discarded face masks as I walked back to the zoo car park yesterday.

OP posts:
OverTheRainbow88 · 22/08/2020 07:22

People haven’t been doing it in ages, playgrounds full with no distancing, loads of marches... yet no second wave or second peak?

OverTheRainbow88 · 22/08/2020 07:23

I can’t walk through the park without having to vet the area first for dog crap. There’s litter everywhere - I saw 5 discarded face masks as I walked back to the zoo car park yesterday.

Yes this really pisses me off too, my 19 month old picked something of the floor at the playground and when I went over it was a face mask... so Ming

KatherineJaneway · 22/08/2020 07:27

Officially no, however I haven't seen it practiced since end of June where I live.

PurpleDaisies · 22/08/2020 07:30

People haven’t been doing it in ages, playgrounds full with no distancing, loads of marches... yet no second wave or second peak?

Those things are outside. The risk of passing it on outside is pretty much non existent.

minnieok · 22/08/2020 07:42

The litter is doing my head in, people didn't used to drop litter pre covid much! I'm guessing the people who didn't do parks, countryside or camping are venturing out and are filthy basically. People are distancing here in my town but in Birmingham which I was in a month ago it was heaving

Original poster
Trunkella · 22/08/2020 07:46

But the complacency is leading to second spikes - countries in Europe are on the rise. You should still adhere to the guidelines outside or not @PurpleDaisies. It’s not just about personal risk, it’s about protecting others.

OP posts:
Original poster
Trunkella · 22/08/2020 07:49

People aren’t taking responsibility for their own decision making - it’s always someone else’s problem or fault.

OP posts:
Clive222 · 22/08/2020 07:52

@OverTheRainbow88

People haven’t been doing it in ages, playgrounds full with no distancing, loads of marches... yet no second wave or second peak?
There are second waves building up all over uk and Europe. Don’t you listen to the news?
Clive222 · 22/08/2020 07:53

@KatherineJaneway

Officially no, however I haven't seen it practiced since end of June where I live.
Well I hope YOU are practicing it.
Clive222 · 22/08/2020 07:55

OP most people are still social distancing , but the most careful people are probably still not visiting zoos. Nothing wrong in visiting a zoo of course.

Original poster
Trunkella · 22/08/2020 07:59

This was my first day out with mainly other families and children. I’ve been to National Trust properties, and people have pretty much followed the rules. The vast majority of parents were not following rules, and were instilling no sense of distancing with their children.

OP posts:
KitKatastrophe · 22/08/2020 08:00

In my experience, people are social distancing on the high street, in shops, parks and restaurants. However they are not doing it well at all in theme parks or zoos and similar places.

We have been to paultons park (Peppa Pig world). Tickets are "limited" but not much apparently as it was heaving. And no one way systems or anything like that. People werent social distancing. I tried to but its next to impossible when people are standing around all over the place - how are you supposed to get past without getting close than 2m?

Original poster
Trunkella · 22/08/2020 08:06

I’ve tried an indoor swimming pool, and that was amazing - really well managed and it felt completely safe. I naively thought the zoo would be the same! I thought booking numbers would be limited - and viewing the animals would be socially spaced.

OP posts:
middleager · 22/08/2020 08:11

At the supermarket. People feel protected -because of masks (or maybe they've just had enough), so no SD.

Original poster
Trunkella · 22/08/2020 08:14

@KitKatastrophe that exactly right! I felt like I wanted to support the zoo as it must be so difficult for them as a business right now - however I only observed one member of staff monitoring how customers were distancing. This did make a difference - otherwise it was up to individuals and it was a free-for-all!

OP posts:
Namechange2021 · 22/08/2020 08:17

I've noticed this too but as pp said, mainly at family day out type places and therefore we have been extremely selective about where and when we have been.

We have been reading reviews to attractions carefully and choosing to go places outdoors, quieter time slots, and where there are no or well planned queues for attractions and plenty of space to move ourselves away if others aren't. The reviews on social distancing adherance and opportunities were bad for our local zoo, so we chose not to go. So you won't find people like minded to myself there at all.

That said, I have also noticed lots of people choosing to meet up with way family and friends outside of their bubble than rules permit, and allowing their children to interact. I suspect most people think, whats the point since children will be back at school soon. I don't judge but have chosen not to do this.

My point is, everyone seems to be assessing risk differently. The people you see out and about in busier places are probably less nervous to varying degrees. There are probably plenty of people who you won't see at all as they have chosen to remove themselves from situations where they can't be sure others will social distance.