To ask genuinely if you aren't following the rules

[MrsKingfisher]

Why? I'm genuinely curious to know why those who can't get to grips with what's been asked of us all at this time or those who need to find a loophole are doing it.

Not key workers etc etc I'm talking about those who simply cannot do as they've been asked. It's mind boggling how simple rules can be so unclear to so many!

Some of my friends just cannot seem to stay at home, just carrying on as if the rules don't apply to them. I don't get it.

I take my dog out twice a day. I've been lucky enough to get delivery slots for the next three weeks so no supermarket trips. I'm in a flat, he needs to go out more than once a day. I've not been within 2 metres of anyone but my children for two weeks and that will continue for as long as this situation is happening.

I feel like Id be killing 1000 people if I were to take him on the usual 10 min walk in our rural country roads”

Eh?? So have you got it then? Totally over the top and to be honest, these daily press conferences with the three musketeers, 24 hour rolling news and absolute tripe on social media is generating all this hysteria.

Sorry about all the aseholes you're encountering @Vieve1325

Hi @LittleRootie

Why do you think it's counterproductive?

That's a whole thread in its own right but there are clearly appalling macroeconomic, social and political costs to this strategy which I suspect most people do not appreciate and won't appreciate until it's too late. And there are huge ethical problems (in my mind anyway) with the way in which this disaster is being redirected.

(And incidentally I'm completely shocked that those issues seem not to be part of our national dialogue. And by many other aspects of this to be fair!)

I live 1.5 miles from my nearest neighbour but some moron left a lot of rubbish on the other side of the road from my house, I went out to pick it up, there wasn’t anyone around and I wore two pairs of gloves but technically I did break the rules.

I wfh at the moment, DH is classed as a key worker but I really wish he wasn’t.

We are following the rules as far as we can. Where I live (Cambridge), compliance seems to be very good.

However, shopping only once a week just isn't feasible. I am shopping for my own family plus two sets of elderly parents, and the occasional thing for my next door neighbour. I can't physically carry that much shopping all at once anyway (non-driver but shops are within easy walking distance), and it is currently necessary to go to at least two different shops to get all the essentials. Also, there are now limits on the numbers of many items, so if e.g all three households need eggs (they did yesterday), then I can't get 3 boxes of eggs from the same shop on the same day.

That's a whole thread in its own right

Maybe you could start the thread? I would be interested to see that discussion.

We're following the rules, but are watching the neighbours break the rules every day. I'm a bit of a nosy parker, so I always watch the comings and goings on our street. There's one set of neighbours that I've long suspected of drug dealing due to the number of visitors they have who only stay for a couple of minutes each. These people are still coming, and are often not even staying a couple of minutes. He comes out of his house, spends a minute or two "gardening", then goes back inside, then a few minutes later somebody else arrives, "gardens" in the same place and leaves. So I suppose our local drug dealers seem to be trying to do it with contact free drop off and pick up.

Other neighbours seem to be mixing freely with each other, popping into each others houses as normal. At least the kids have stopped knocking on my door to invite dd2 out to play, they have finally got it that she's socially distancing as they should be.

I work at a supermarket and I can see the same customer 5 times a day, first time they buy a pint of milk, second visit Jaffa cakes, 3rd visit a red pepper, 4th visit a cucumber and last visit some green food colouring???

@hammeringinmyhead @SoftSheen

There is no rule that says you can only shop once a week. No-one has ever said that except the usual suspects here on Mumsnet. You can go to the shops as often as is necessary to buy the food you need.

I go the gym every day for at least an hour

I thought the gyms were all closed.

I do think a lot of people are in denial about what's happening. That fits with Kubler Ross where after a bereavement some people go into shock, anger, denial, hurt, pain. And some genuinely don't care or think they are immune - some of the footage I've seen over the weekend - like the Brits in Spain drinking in a pub - was shocking. And many make rational but looser interpretations of the rules to suit them and their families ignoring the cumulative societal impact of doing so.

In terms of the risks now that I and my household are social distancing the keys ones seem to be touching goods and the key pad in the supermarket, being too close to supermarket staff and other shoppers. Another main one is handling a petrol pump. So for that reason I'm limiting driving the car to the supermarket. I am going out for my exercise once a day as it it allowed and gives me something to look forward to. I am very determined about keeping far away from other people. I do not touch anything or sit down or stop whilst I am out. I think this allowance may be withdrawn very soon and I will miss it but we will do online fitness classes. One of the problems I see with people who seem to think they are having a 'safe' walk with a friend or non-household member is that they very rarely manage to maintain a 2 meter distance so I'm sure thats why the government have said don't do it. I am not and nor are any of my friends.

Because I'm a single mum to three. I'm in my last year of a degree. I've been freelancing in my degree subject to supplement my studies and everything has imploded. I've gone out twice in one day because I'm struggling with a mH diagnosis and the therapy provision has been withdrawn. My children's father has chosen not to see them in spite of being allowed to and I'm on my own.

There is no rule that says you can only shop once a week. No-one has ever said that except the usual suspects here on Mumsnet. You can go to the shops as often as is necessary to buy the food you need. but like I sed Jaffa cakes are not essentials. It is better to get a weekly shop than to go the shop 15 times in 3 days.

I actually am doing it and I can't believe it

Day 16 for us. We've both had Coronovirus.

I bent the rules for the first time today and went out for two short (30 minute) walks with my 4 year old and newborn baby (all within 1km of my house). Mainly to try get baby to sleep and stay sane. I walked in the middle of the road (it’s extremely quiet around here) and avoided anyone we saw. Won’t make a routine of it - we usually have one 30 min walk each day. We have totally avoided going out other than that for the last two weeks, include to supermarkets and will do for the latter for another month (using the local greengrocer click and collect only until we really run out of everything). No contact with anyone else despite being desperate for support with baby.

I'm abiding by the rules. The actual ones rather than the made up add ons that people have created.
The point of these rules is to slow down the spread of infection to a level that the health service can (hopefully) deal with. Think how many interactions have stopped; kids not mixing with loads of others at school, no trips to the trafford centre etc, no cinema, restaurant or pub nights, limited shops open most with a limit on customer numbers. I'm not approving of people having parties or sodding off to the peak district with a bbq but taking the dog out twice a day for a short walk and staying away from people shouldn't be a problem.
Disclaimer - I don't have a dog this is an example.

Last week our supermarket shelves were bare. Our walking spaces were crowded. There were gangs of youths congregating - when statistics were conveyed that coronavirus kills the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

This week sees much quieter social spaces and our supermarkets are fully stocked. (Thank you to our supermarkets who are now taking steps to protect customers),maybe because it has become apparent that Covid 19 isn’t fussy who it kills and youngsters are exempt?

We still have gangs of youths congregating and coughing over passers by 😞 I wonder if their parents are happy with the behaviour of the children they dragged up?

*youngsters are NOT exempt

I will have to go shopping more than once a week when the deliveries stop. I didn't know that was against the rules and in any case I have no choice. I cannot fit the food for a week for all of us in the available space.

"I see loads of people walking all in the middle of the road "

I walk in the road sometimes because selfish couples and families walk side by side rather than single file when other people want to pass. The only way to have a distance between me and them is for me to walk in the road or the cycle lane. I really don't want to burden the NHS with an RTA victim, but what am I supposed to do if people don't make space for me?

I am normally very active and out and about, think part time job and supermarket shopping and checking on elderly neighbour, as opposed to the gym.

I have recently completed chemo and radio,however this being confined to barracks is really stressing me out, so on Friday I jumped in my car on my own, drove for five minutes, turned around and came home. I now feel that if I can do that once a week for the next twelve weeks then I can do this. My GP called me to check up on me, I told him I had busted the rules, he said if only everyone's idea of busting the rules was like that, we wouldn't be in this situation.

"There is no rule that says you can only shop once a week. No-one has ever said that except the usual suspects here on Mumsnet. "

I don't drive. Public transport is not allowed. Taxis are allowed, but not a good idea. There's no way I could do just one weekly shop. I used to shop every 2 or 3 days but it's more often now because I need to buy all my meals to have at home. I also need to buy a few extra tins and dried food in case I have to self-isolate.
Panic buyers were slagged off, but they had the right idea.

I have had a few heated arguments with husband who cannot get the fact that he cannot drive somewhere to walk the dog He argues that the countryside is safer but doesn’t see the whole picture!! Ie if he has an accident it will involve the emergency services !! Am actually shocked at how tunnel visioned he is !!