To wonder why my garden is more risky than a park bench?

[Iamnotusuallyconfused]

I’m confused about the rules - I’ll admit that and I know it’s boring constantly hearing ‘can I do this’ But I’m confused.

So under the new rules, I can meet my mum in a park and sit on a park bench 2m from her - and probably loads of other strangers.

But I’ve been informed I cannot have her sit in my back garden or drive way 2m away?

AIBU to think my garden is not more risky than a park and do it anyway?

And her and my dad live together, why can I not see them together? If she has it, so does he? Is it breaking the rules if he sits in the car while I walk with her and then they switch? What is this madness?

[EffOrf]

The whole thing is ridiculous especially when half the country is going to work or queueing to get into shops

[WoollyMollyMonkey]

I think someone at one of those briefings (was it Dr Jenny?) said because some people might have small gardens so wouldn’t be able to accommodate the 2m distance, and in some properties you have to go through the house to get in the garden, and they don’t want you to do that.

[TerrapinStation]

My sister is a single mum and hasn’t seen another adult since this started, I’ve offered to go for a walk with her but she’s terrified of getting fined because she’d have to bring my nephew so god knows how long she’s supposed to continue like this

That doesn't make sense, if your sister can go out of the house to go for a walk with you then she can go out for a walk with her child as often as she likes and go shopping, how come she hasn't seen another adult?

[MintyMabel]

The mind boggles. People can't visit their families. However being on a bus tube full of possibly infected people is harmless apparently.

You realise that what you are saying here is “some people have to go out and be around, so why don’t we all just go out”

That is literally the point of this whole exercise. Keep people in who don’t need to go out so that it’s safer for those who do need to go out.

And her and my dad live together, why can I not see them together? If she has it, so does he? Is it breaking the rules if he sits in the car while I walk with her and then they switch? What is this madness?

Read up on viral load.

[itsgettingweird]

Very true woolly although all 66 million people seem to all want their own personal guide and risk assessment from government!
I can't believe people are that daft they can't get rules have to be applied in a way that should mean groups of people are not discriminated against. This won't protect every group and I get that.

But if they said it included gardens the uproar would be about those who don't have gardens, or small gardens or driveways etc.

I get the stay alert message meaning to remember virus is circulating and remember the rules. But I'm concerned a large number of British public aren't self aware enough to actually follow that.
But if everyone continues doing as they please it won't matter. Because well all have to stay home again. And that's simple.

[donquixotedelamancha]

It's behavioural science. In a home setting you are likely to allow them to use the loo as your risk assessment is risk is lower when family.

The problem is that obviously inconsistent rules mean people are much less likely to follow them. Near me it seems like many people think lockdown has ended.

[Teateaandmoretea]

That is literally the point of this whole exercise. Keep people in who don’t need to go out so that it’s safer for those who do need to go out.

^^ exactly this.

[Chicchicchicchiclana]

Obviously, it's because people need to have incredibly simple guidelines to follow.

The Government already dish out hugely over-cautious advice on other matters (re. amount of alcohol you can drink, amount of caffeine a pg woman can have, etc) because they have to take into account the people who don't or won't understand more nuanced advice.

[oldtownroad]

It's not. You have to just use your common sense. My guess is that they don't want to say you can invite people to you garden as they are more likely to then enter your house, use your cups or bathroom etc. Also people without gardens may feel like it's not fair and invite their family into their homes 🤷🏼‍♀️

[PickUpAPickUpAPenguin]

I think it's because she might use your loo or you might offer her a drink or food that you touched (I mean the plate or cup)

[softjellycell]

Because your garden/drive has a house with it. Your Mum feels cold/wants a cup of tea/needs the loo and hey presto, you invite her in to your house and then stay sitting on the sofa together less than 2m apart.

[tamsintamsout]

You realise that what you are saying here is “some people have to go out and be around, so why don’t we all just go out”

Exactly. And don’t get me started on the person who thinks you’re ‘embarrassing yourself’ if you keep the rules.

[EffOrf]

Relative and friends don’t add to the economy is one of the main reasons but a cleaner does so they can come into your house, it’s all about the money

[softjellycell]

That doesn't make sense, if your sister can go out of the house to go for a walk with you then she can go out for a walk with her child as often as she likes and go shopping, how come she hasn't seen another adult?

I haven't seen another adult to have a conversation since March 20th.
shop staff are not going to entertain you having a chat with them, until this week you couldn't meet up with another person and even now you have to do it 1:1 so I still can't as I'd have to take my children with me.

[Iamnotusuallyconfused]

That doesn't make sense, if your sister can go out of the house to go for a walk with you then she can go out for a walk with her child as often as she likes and go shopping, how come she hasn't seen another adult?

Physically seeing another adult on a walk is not the same as properly seeing another adult. And she hasn’t been shopping because people in supermarkets look at you and treat you like you are out to kill them if you have a child with you.

[softjellycell]

Physically seeing another adult on a walk is not the same as properly seeing another adult

I think it can make it worse because it can just highlight how alone you are. Apart from phoning my mother to check she is OK I haven't had so much as a phone call with anybody else.

[Reallynowdear]

We have to listen to, then adhere to the guidelines.

They have to start somewhere.

If we all start fucking with the guidelines, they will be adjusted again.

They are about safety, containment and unnecessarily overloading resources.

There is updated information on the NHS website.

[lanbro]

My sister is a single parent and has been very down recently, and signed off sick with anxiety. Her ds was at his dad's today so I went round. We had a cuppa in the garden and a walk on the beach. Neither of us has been going out and the risk to her mental health outweighed the risk of covid19 in my opinion. Be sensible and do your own risk assessment

[AJPTaylor]

Be sensible
Use your judgement

[TerrapinStation]

I haven't seen another adult to have a conversation since March 20th.....shop staff are not going to entertain you having a chat with them

I'm genuinely surprised, clearly you live nowhere near me, there's been no change at all in the chatiness of shop staff here and on every walk I've been on I've spoken to others I've passed. You can easily carry on a conversation from 2m.

I am also a single parent and have stuck to the rules, supermarket shopping once a week and only going out for a walk once every day and I've spoken to more adults than I normally would. The good weather and general increase in people out walking has lead to a much friendlier atmosphere.

[itsgettingweird]

The biggest issue we have with people not doing what someone put brilliantly above "staying in so those who have to go out can with less risk" - and pushing and pushing for more because they want to xxxxxx - is that we are more likely to need to lockdown again.

This will cause greater issues than a slow release of lockdown and having to wait a few weeks longer than you want for the things you want.

[Chewbecca]

We have a big garden with side access & I think it is fine for folk to come round and sit in our garden with us. They don’t stay long enough to use the loo and my friend (lives alone) who visited for an hour this week brought her own wine and glass. I feel we have put her and ourselves at such minimal risk, I am good with it.

[softjellycell]

We have had our shopping delivered each week of lockdown. We live in a very quiet area, even on the one occasion I went out in the car to the pharmacy I only saw two or three other cars. It might have changed now the guidelines have changed but I haven't been out since last thursday.

[HarderToBreath]

I 100% understand the need for lockdown but these easing of restrictions need to be thought out better surely

It isn’t a question of being better thought out. It’s a question of how many people can comply with it, it’s an experiment. They are seeing how fast the next peak hits and how high the figures rise.

The people saying ‘well surely if this is allowed, then I can do this too?’
are the people who will be driving the biggest rise. Just how the “it’s just a virus, there’s no need to worry” attitude increased the spread & that attitude, along with the slow lock down, caused over 30,000 deaths.

AIBU to think my garden is not more risky than a park and do it anyway?
Meet whoever you want in the garden, go ahead. However who is it you will blame if either of them, or you, get ill?

[LellyMcKelly]

It doesn’t matter. We went to the park today. Nobody understood the meaning of one other person or the concept of two metres. It was a complete free for all.