To think it's pointless children being off school if you're going to take them to the park

[CatherineOfAragonsPomegranate]

So many people were urging the government to shut schools due to fears of children transmitting Corona Virus, even though it was pointed out that this would be very hard for some families, put the elderly at possibly more risk due to child care, force some families to stop working, and place Key Worker's under greater strain. Then there is the disruption to the education of the children themselves and the knock on effect to exams.

However yesterday and today, I see the local parks are full of children socialising and playing together. School aged children are now playing together amongst toddlers and preschool children and are also playing with new children not formerly in their cohort. Add to this groups of teens congregating together.

I also notice that whilst they're not going to the gym many people are jogging in groups, and doing large group fitness in the open.

So what is the point of children being off school? In fact is anyone really taking this self isolation business seriously? It does not seem that way to me (London)

AIBU in thinking they may as well have continued going to school, and Boris's original plan regarding only the immuno-compromised and elderly isolating was a more realistic idea?

Parks are fine. Outside is fine.

Near other people is not fine. Playgrounds, therefore, generally not fine unless you're there on your own. And then sanitise hands before and after use.

Surely playing catch is as bad as climbing frames? You're throwing between at least two people so constantly swapping hands on the ball.

Open field, running about catching a ball, exercise class with people spread out, ok. Using play equipment not so much.

^.. This.

It's not rocket science but apparently most of the UK are too numb to realise this.

Hiking in the countryside, fine.
National Trust playground? Nope.

Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty was asked this in one of the briefings this week. He said exercise and fresh air are really important and it's fine to go to the park - even with friends - but important to keep some distance. Trouble is everyone is going to the park now so they are busy. Playgrounds can't be good.

In unclear what to do, we were thinking it's ok to go to parks, country walks etc so long as not on the playground/swings etc and staying away from other people so not meeting friends?

We're planning to walk round a national trust park ground/woodland this weekend with the kids as I thought that was ok?

We’re staying at home. We have a garden we can use. I think it’s pretty selfish to be clogging up public parks when you have access to private outdoor space. I think it is more understandable if you live in a gardenless flat but if you have a garden your child will cope not going to the park. It’s just selfish to not make such a small sacrifice.

We went to the playground today, after making sure there was no one else around. Then came home and washed hands. Was that so bad? Am I missing something? Genuine question. Finding this all very confusing.

Yep we’re sticking to our garden. Last time we went to the park (a few weeks ago) it was so busy.

Leaving for people who need it more.

Haggis the problem is if on the slight chance CV was picked up from a surface and child wiped their eyes or whatever on way home. Very small I’m sure so don’t worry.

I agree, there's blue sky and sunshine today and everyone is at the park having a lovely time. My 70 year old Mother, who is supposed to be staying indoors got the bus into town and went sale shopping because "it's too nice to stay in". What we need is a cold spell and torrential rain for a few days.

I brought my young children to the park yesterday. Tbh I think it was the last time as joggers ran up behind us far too close to us and cyclists did the same. Parents allowed their toddlers to run up to us too instead of calling them back.

Did they cough on you or touch you?

People just say to me ' we are not In lockdown ' I give up.

But... we aren't. We're only being told to isolate at home if we have a symptom.

I think it's fine. I also think all this isolating (for healthy non symptomatic people) is over the top. Everywhere is shutting, even na and aa meetings, its ridiculous - we're grown adults and if we want to go to a meeting and feel we'll enough to should be able to make that choice. Corona isn't stopping anyone shopping is it? I'm also wondering how on earth there's still no loo roll now shops have put limits on them - are the deliveries simply not coming? If not why not?

Anyway. Children are off school of they're not a child of a keyworker, and being stuck home is horrible. It's horrible for us adults. Aren't the sensible guidelines, if you're well that is, to wash and sanitise hands and stay 2metres apart from others? As long as you stay 2m away you're fine. I think going to parks, on walks, getting fresh air is going to be even more important for MH now this isolating business has taken over.
In fact I've arranged to go got a walk with a friend this weekend. We can't go to the cinema as planned, and we can't even sit in Costa and have a coffee cos you can't sit anywhere and eat or drink. So a walk it is Although nandos restaurant is still open. This corona virus and the ensuring panic is a proper nuisance

@Bananacloud I thought exactly the same. We have a week left of isolation if no-one develops any symptoms in that time but then what? We're allowed to go out and sort of start from square one again? And repeat isolation? I don't understand and just want to stay in until it's over which obviously I cant.

I currently have about 20 playing hide and seek in my street...

Whilst people in London are out raving, digs being taken for walks and people jogging I will continue to take my kids out for walks/ bike rides and runs. We are 75% in isolation other than that as all their activities have been cancelled.

We are keeping ourselves to ourselves and not going anywhere but I hate all these threads trying to police other people. People mixing at the park isn't ideal but it has got to be better than hundreds or thousands of children crammed into one building like sardines, sneezing over each other and sharing the same equipment, the same books, the same toilets, the same lack of soap and cold water. They are less likely to spread it when they are not in school even if they go to the park.

Personally, I'd rather be forced indoors by threat of the military for 2-3 weeks and get it OVER with and then be free, than have this stupid half hearted wishy washy "dont go anywhere! but I'm not going to tell you to close shops/pubs/parks" crap.

Just shut everything, get the infection down and then we can go back to normal. This weird purgatory half way house state is helping noone because its not stopping the infection, and it is simultaneously destroying the economy at the same bloody time. Either do it properly or not at all. You cant have both at the same time FFS

I’m in Dublin. Most people I’ve met are practising social distancing. I’ve taken my two children out on their bikes everyday this week they need air and exercise, but many think this is a fuckn holiday.. the sun is out and everyone flocks to the parks 🙄

I won’t be using my local Aldi again. No hand sanitizer at the door. Staff not wearing gloves. The shop was packed yesterday.. not one person had heard of social distancing obviously, people breathing down my neck at the check out.

In comparison the Lidl across the road was only allowing 6 people in at a time. They had to wash their hands and the staff were wearing gloves .

Another positive, I had a postal delivery and the post man was wearing gloves he also rang my doorbell with his elbow 😁

He stood 6 feet from my door and told me they are not asking people to sign for a package at the moment 👍

I've told my teens to stay away from the park. We have a lot of forest nearby, that's a place where they can meet up and socially distance themselves whilst still being together.

Schools should be closed to all but those who really need them.

Parents should be exercising social distancing with their children.

You can visit the park, but only at quiet times and keeping away from others. A walk in the park or the countryside is better, a cycle or a scooter down some quiet lanes is fine. Playing right next to lots of other children is not social distancing though.

Ive been on some works whilst self isolating this week with DH. We've been no where near people. We saw one other man having a walk on the other side of the stream. Getting out for some fresh air was nice, and probably very beneficial.

The park in the distance was fortunately very quiet - no big groups, just one family with a child when we passed.

Dd and pal had organised a sleepover because pal's mum allegedly said OK. I said No. To much grumpiness.
I said they can have a virtual sleepover but be in their own respective homes away from each other.

My own DD is an older teen and she is the one who has had the cough and cold symptoms. She's not seen her friends for a week so far and won't for another week. She has been outside - she no longer has a cough and is on day 5 or 6 of her isolation. She is currently sat in a field listening to a school subject podcast other own. She has kept in touch with friends via Snapchat, Whats App, messaging and FaceTime so far.

She will be maintaining social distancing for a while, even though it is hard. Her grandad is seriously ill with a non-CV related issue. She wants to be able toes him before she no longer can't. So it is important to her to social distance herself from friends and to prioritise her grandparents.

We have been staying in apart from getting food, Dh going to work and DS going to school. School stops for him on Monday. He thinks a quarter of children will in school on Monday and put into large groups including NHS workers kids so would imagine will spread throughout them sooner or later. Wish people who didn't need to wouldn't send kids in. That list was far too long and it should be only if the other parent can't work from home. Just hoping those children don't bring it into the village as its full of elderly but they probably will. Most people here are being sensible, we are rural.

Did they cough on you or touch you?

Are you serious?

Social distancing means 2m apart! It doesn’t mean it is ok to walk or run next to other people if you are not coughing or touching. It is so frustrating that people do not have the ability to comprehend this.

I think one of the reasons they delayed closing schools was because for some people, there is an increased mobility once children are at home. In Italy, that spread the virus as people relocated to coastal areas. Will a similar exodus from London happen? For the people who continue to claim they don't understand what social distancing means? School closures won't stop their refusal to shut down social interaction. It might increase it.