Tier 3 planned and needed trip abroad

[NottinghamFlorest]

My DSis has had a terrible year. We have had a weekend away planned in a European city with no travel restrictions from the UK. (And where Covid isn't as bad as here). But the city we live in here is now just Tier 3. The rule is 'advised not to leave the area' but just advised not law. Would it still be ok to go? If we social distance the whole time and wear masks? I think it would severely affect her mental health if we had to cancel..

Of course you should go. Mental health is important, even more so right now. If you can self isolate for ten days before you go, even better.

If you wfh and get your food delivered the week before you go, no pub/restaurants/shopping in the preceding 10 days basically then you are likely to be ok, but can you actually be that strict? Then there's the airport but that's the same for everyone.

I personally think it would be an exceptionally bad idea for anyone in a tier 3 area to travel outside of their local area at the moment - the risk of spreading it to other places is too high

@ChaChaCha2012

May I ask why you feel the government advise should not apply to you OP?

It's a recommendation, not a rule. I doubt anybody is following every recommendation to the letter.

The sooner they make it a rule and stop people not giving a shit about anyone but themselves 'doing their own risk assessment' the better

If it's within the law (and it sounds like it is, for both countries) then I'd do it, as it sounds like you are very low risk.

No, it'd be morally wrong to go. Find a hotel within your tier three area and stay there, we are in a tier one area but I still wouldn't go out of the area for a holiday and risk spreading it.

Sorry, but nobody "needs" to go away.

Think about why your area is in Tier 3 ... If people were sensible and didn't think that their needs trump overall public safety, these restrictions might not be needed.

We're all suffering. Those of us who have been very careful, and very thoughtful about the general situation are justified in getting pretty grumpy about this sort of thing even being considered.

It is advice not law. I'd go.

I'm sorry and feel for your sister, but no - you should not go especially if you are in an area with Tier 3 restrictions.
You really cannot self-assess that you or your sister are low risk.

Taken from my governments health website, where we have far less cases than the UK - it is pointed out that the incubation median for Covid is 4.6- 7 days , extending up to 14 days before symptoms appear. And during that time you are infectious.This is the main reason our compulsory hotel quarantine period is so long. Taking a private test the day before leaving is pointless.
You risk exposing everyone on the plane, there and back where you cannot adequately socially distance and could pick it up overseas ( and therefore should quarantine on your return too).
Overseas travel bans may not yet be in place in the UK, but advisory statements are there for a reason.

Perhaps consider a trip within your area. Sometimes a small change of scenery, a different house,or a fancy hotel are enough of a break.
No one 'needs' an overseas trip right now, I'm sorry to say.

How would you be travelling?
Car?
Flight?

If the OP works from home and her only outing is to the shops once a week, and she does not live with anyone else (or, if she does, their life is equally restricted) then yes of course she can self-assess as low risk.

I empathise OP but I don't really think you can go and I think that you know that.try and find a compromise and plan a trip away for next year. Ian convinced that opportunities will improve in the spring .

@NottinghamFlorest

Exactly... it's advice not a rule. And I work from home and only go to shops once a week. Very low risk really.

You cannot be very low risk when the whole country is medium or higher and you live in a very high risk area. I live in a remote very rural house and only go to work but that work is a big risk.