Is this acceptable during ‘lockdown’?

[GA2012]

I lost a close family member a little over a month ago. He is buried about 11 miles away in a quiet little church in the middle of nowhere. There’s never anyone there apart from services, weddings etc. I would like to visit his grave and put fresh flowers on.. I would visit at around 8-9am in the morning. I feel terrible that I haven’t managed to get up there for a couple weeks.

I’m aware we are told 15 minutes exercise a day.

Obviously we are isolating and not socialising with people but would it be acceptable to visit? It’s a 20 minute drive on rural roads . We’d literally just drive there, visit and come back. There’s never anyone there. It’s a church in the middle of nowhere with only a small hamlet up the road...

If we got there and there was people there we would come back another time..

No. I’m sorry but it would not be acceptable to visit.

Where are you going to get the flowers from?

No as it's a unnecessary journey

The grave doesn't need flowers, only work / food or medical needs are necessary

If everyone just nips out, the roads are packed and we are up shit creek without a paddle

There is no 15 minute rule. This is how misinformation spreads.

I'm very sorry for your loss, but I'm another one who doesn't think this would fit the description of exercise or essential travel.

Don't think this fits the criteria. If you could walk there I would say yes, as it's your exercise.
May seem silly as it doesn't seem like you'll be more exposed to anyone, but those are the guidelines.

The exercise is supposed to be for as short a period as possible according to the government rules and so a three hour walk isn't acceptable. But I haven't seen 15 minutes referenced anywhere

It's not an essential journey though so no.

I cant believe the number of people who think the rules dont apply to them and their circumstances

@Janaih Yes, I was surprised too. I agree with all the other posters though, don’t go, not essential.

No as not essential. I’m so sorry for your loss and feeling you would like to pay respects.
Obviously some more remote would need to make this journey if this was the closest opportunity for food or medical help but that would then be an essential permitted journey.
Good luck op. Some good ideas above re how to honour his memory at home.

If you use it as your exercise for today, it's ok.

My 70yo DM with underlying health issues was adamant she wanted to go visit my grandmother's grave at the cemetery, some 30 miles away. I had to tell her rather bluntly not to risk her already fragile health and that the dead really won't care whether or not there are fresh flowers on the tomb. Same applies here: it's not urgent or essential, plenty of time to go once were out of lockdown.

Hi OP,
Sorry for your loss.

Your loved one would not have wanted you to put yourself at risk to visit their grave.

I was supposed to fly home for a memorial event for DF and won't be going. He loved me. He would understand.

Honestly, the government guidance is so clear and I just don’t understand why people keep coming up with these ridiculous scenarios. Just stay at home. At HOME. For three weeks. That’s it. Not that difficult to understand really. FFS

Of course it's alright OP, you won't be associating with anyone and it is important to you to visit a special place. People are losing all sense of proportion over this.

I am so sorry for your loss, OP. I have to agree with others, this is not an essential journey and you should not go. You could break down, get into an accident, and spread or contract this virus. But don't feel guilty - not tending a graveside during a pandemic does not mean that you loved this person any less, or grieve for them less deeply. Be kind to yourself and don't burden yourself with this guilt at such an unusual time.

As long as you keep your distance

I’m sorry for your loss, but we must all be working out ways to STAY AT HOME, not working out ways to make the rules not apply to our particular situation.

If people keep making excuses for why they need to go out, because it won’t be busy/they’ll be quick etc etc, we will all be lucky to have only lost one family member.

Stay at home. People are dying. The more that ANYONE goes out, the more people will die. It really is that simple

Not essential travel .

I’m apparently a key worker - in a school that’s currently hosting less than a dozen children out of a possible 50-60 deemed vulnerable for one reason or another - which entails going to work on public transport and potentially putting myself and others at a far greater risk, I’d have thought, than someone driving to a remote location for a short while, where they’re highly unlikely to be around anyone else.
Whatever the rights and wrongs, it’s easy to see why people are unsure where they stand in some situations.

Walk there and back?

How would that be any better?

Whatever the rights and wrongs, it’s easy to see why people are unsure where they stand in some situations

There might be a bit of confusion about who should be going to work as a ‘key worker’ but not can go out for non essential journeys FFS

*who can go out

Of course it's alright OP, you won't be associating with anyone and it is important to you to visit a special place. People are losing all sense of proportion over this

You have got to be kidding. Please tell me this was meant tongue in cheek because I csnt believe anyone could genuinely believe this