To have naively thought people were sticking to the rules

[Myfriendanxiety]

We’ve been for a walk at a local country park today- first time in 8 weeks of leaving our village.

I had believed people were sticking to the rules as all my friends and family are, but the place was full of people meeting up who clearly aren’t the same household!

Loads of grandparents out with children and the children’s parents, lots of mum groups with pushchairs, and lots of school age children playing with friends while mums sit and watch.

I understand everyone is fed up now and desperate to see people- but I was so surprised at how many people are clearly ignoring the rules of mixing households.

I am still following the rules! No reason not to as the teens are happy meeting one friend in the park, and I don't want to risk my older relatives by rushing over there.

OP think aboit it logically

You’re allowed to be 2m away from another household in an open space

You might as well meet up with a household you know and be 2m away from them instead of strangers.

I wouldn't know that others were not sticking to the rules if it weren't for MN and occasional article in newspapers. Folks near me still walking in the road to avoid walking past others, half of staff in at work and wearing face masks, socially distanced queues and polite moving out of the way in supermarkets etc is my experience
I have broken the rules - a single and a bit isolated friend has come round to our garden with their own booze for a couple of hours each week since lockdown. I don't see this as different from meeting someone in the street and exchanging pleasantries tbh. I've been out more than once a day for a walk.

Yes I’ve seen several. I also chose to meet a friend recently and it’s not possible to always be 2m apart. Saw loads doing it today, unless lesbian couples with twins in single pushchairs...Some trying to keep apart and forcing us to pass through the gap.

One neighbour had someone over and the other had a hairdressing client in the garden. People are getting fed up. But these people aren’t high risk and I don’t think it makes sense to stop these meet ups. If these people, including us, catch it we won’t end up in hospital in all probabilities. It’s the higher risk people who need to be protected most. A lot of young people are suffering with mental health issues disproportionate to the risk they face from the virus.

I can tell you that my part of London has moved on from Covid-19. The parks were all packed with groups of people.
I suppose people are willing to take their chances given the very slim risk of dying, especially if you are under 40 with no underlying health conditions as many in my neighbourhood appear to be.

YANBU - The UK is the country with the highest number of deaths in Europe at present, second globally. People appear to be happy to mingle with other households but not to return to work or to school. "We only need most people to stick to the rules, not everyone".. Well, at this rate, I don't see how "most people" are sticking to the rules by reading this thread.. Didn't think that people would be so selfish, it's sad

@Writerandreader because the advice is stay at home. I have my food shopping delivered so the only place I have been is to walk around my village.

90% are obeying the rules which is good enough for the intended outcome.

‘The risk isn't that low if the kids are all touching each other and coughing all over each other, sharing drinks, ice creams etc et’

Don’t what your kids are like but ours understand the need it to touch, and don’t share their drinslks or ice creams With other people at the best of times. And I thinking most people realise that a cough means stay at home or in your own household.
And, again, my kids don’t cough over people.

Op - you went out, they went out. Why not just keep yourself to yourself and stay 2 metres always from strangers and you’ll be okay outdoors.

Where I live people are following the rules, although I did see a group of teens out a couple of weeks ago who didn't look like they were one household. But they might have been. Most people seem very anxious and want far more than 2m of space (when I am walking too, not just because I am a sweaty virus shedding "jogger").

But on Tuesday I went out for a run "with" a friend for the first time and we "met" in another town. I saw more people breaking the rules on Tuesday evening than I had in the whole 8 weeks - eg two groups of cyclists clearly not households and a group of 4 runners who didn't look like they were a household (though they could have been a house share). Lots of people in parks, and again some same-age groups so unlikely to be a household.

But it was all outside. Now you might say that if that's going on outside what's going on inside but it was a lovely evening and I suspect people were enjoying the nice weather. The risks are minimal and always have been minimal for young and youngish people with no underlying health conditions.

We need to get back to some degree of normal with track and trace, lots of testing and protecting of the vulnerable.

What I can't answer is how you deal with mixed households - eg 2 fit children with a dad who's had a lung transplant. But there are people far better qualified and paid than I am to come up with solutions and it's about time they did.

We are continually being told by government that rules are being guided by science but can somebody tell me the science behind I can meet my mum or meet my dad but not together even though they live in the same house.

There was a brilliant caricature shared on Facebook yesterday which summed it up for me. A 55+ teacher stood in front of 15 disengaged ( because they have to be socially distanced) pupils of about 10 years old.
Outside of the classroom window were 2 slightly younger children. One was saying, " When can I see Nana again?" and the other child was holding a placard saying 'Love you Nana'.

That teacher could have been me! And the children outside ?
Well, they were 2 of my grandchildren, 8 yr old Henry and 9 yr old Grace who live in the same village as me, just 3 minute walk away.

@bossyrossy I think this rule to designed to keep groups in public small. It’s easier to just say 1 person, it’s clear who isn’t following the rules without excessive counting.

I am taking my 6 year old to have a socially distant walk with my mum in our local park. He has already been told not to hug her. We have not seen her in 3 months and my ds has been increasingly struggling with just our household for company. Not taking my ds2 because he is only 2 and won’t be able to social distant so he will stay with dh.

I think a lot of people were following the rules but it’s been a very long time now so I can’t blame anyone now struggling and breaking rules. The government always said before lockdown started that the nation would only do it for so long then lockdown fatigue would kick in. That’s why they tried to time it for the best time to help the nhs.

We do family zoom most weeks with various members of DH family. We are the only contingent that havent been to other peoples houses , or met up with other households right from the start of lockdown. (All different age demographics)

The advice isn't to stay at home actually now so not sure why people are saying that. You can go out and spend all day outside if you like.

People are making rational calcuations that it's clearly safe to meet in a park because you can now meet someone outside in a park.

Viral risk outside is almost non existent if you stay apart - people's mental health matters too. The government wants lockdown to gradually break down - they want people back at school and work.

I imagine in a week or so we will be allowed to meet in groups - from Thursday in Scotland you can meet with entire households.

Lockdown has been a scary hard time but it will end - I feel some people don't want it to end as it feels safer not to emerge from this - but we will..!

My next door neighbours have had people round since it started , they go out everyday and even had a birthday party Friday night as I was woken up at midnight by their 6 year old shouting goodbye out of the window to about 10 people as they walked up the street out of their house .

I am staying very alert.

@Alsohuman
"Who says a vaccine won’t be suitable for older people? It’s the first I’ve heard of it."

The Oxford team have said it from the start. They don't think that it will be effective in the over 65's, as the flu vaccine isn't. They would hope that enough people get the vaccine and protect the elderly and those who have immune issues.

Then it has been repeated by, Whitty, Valance, JVT and Jenny Harris.

How have you missed it?

They've made it clear that there are no easy answers for the vulnerable. There may not be an answer for care homes, unless we ban visitors who aren't vaccinated. Or we find out that antibodies = immunity.

I don’t know how I’ve missed it.

How is it that the flu vaccine is less effective for older people? They’re prioritised for flu jabs.