Are you honestly sticking to 2m social distancing?

[thisisthebestoftimes]

From my point of view lowering the social distancing to 1m will make no difference to the R number. I have quite a lot of friends of all ages and no of no one (apart from one family who are shielding so not going out) who is actually sticking to this. We are not hugging and kissing but we are standing pretty close. It's the same with everyone at my work - we wash hands regularly and don't sit too close, but often stand close together.
We did in the beginning of lockdown until probably the end of May/beginning of June.
YABU - I am sticking to 2m
YANBU - I am not sticking to 2m

[notalwaysalondoner]

I think a lot of people forget how far 2m is when they say they’re sticking to it. Most people mean “I’m sticking to my interpretation of 2m” which from what I’ve seen seems to be more like 1-1.5m, but if you asked any of those people they’d estimate they were 2m apart.

For me it’s all about consent - if it’s a friend/family member who is visiting or we’re on a walk and we mutually agree to walk nearish each other, that’s fine. But anyone in the street, in a shop etc I assume they are vulnerable and try and keep as far away as is possible as it’s not fair for me to just assume they don’t want to be 2m apart. I particularly feel this is important when there is a bit of a power imbalance eg. I was with my FIL (same household) the other day when some workmen came round to replace a window. FIL immediately followed them around the house at 0.5-1m distance - they clearly weren’t going to tell him to back off when they’re in his house (and likely based on their age they didn’t care) but I felt it was wrong of FIL to just take that choice away from them and assume it was ok just because it was ok with him.

[walker1891]

I work in a school so I can't but I am meant to be shielding so I don't go anywhere else to have to be 2m away. I stay home at all other times because it is too high a risk for me.

[NotEverythingIsBlackandWhite]

I'm sticking to it.

[JeffVaderneedsatray]

I work in a school. It is impossible to keep 2m away from the children in my care - I can't help them with work etc unless I go closer. Staff are keeping as far apart as we can although the corridors aren't wide enough nor are the loos large enough.

Out and about - yes as much as I can and I can't because others often have no fucking idea how large 2m is. I was queuing outside a shop the other day and a small child had gone in to the shop and taken the bottle of hand sanitiser and was going along the queue with it insisting people let her squirt it onto their hands while her mum and the security guard laughed about how 'cute' it was. I declined and backed away and you would have thought I'd chopped her arm off with the wailing and the looks I got.

I haven't seen my Mum in months so I'm a bit fed up with it all.

[delilahbucket]

I am when out in public wherever possible, although I don't really go anywhere, not even the supermarket. I haven't when seeing a close family member. We're not hugging and we're always outside, but we've been closer than 2m. The only other person they have seen is a sibling of mine, also outside, so we're a small bubble anyway.

[Nanalisa60]

The government will change it to one meter on the 4th July , can’t get hospitality back to work or school back fall time without it going down to one meter.

[petvan]

I'm sticking to it when I can, which is most of the time. I get food delivered so haven't had to go into shops. Most days the only reason I go out is for walking and visiting parks. Usually I can stay 2m away within a park, but walking on pavements it's often difficult, but I make the effort to stay as far as I can on my side - sometimes that might only be 1m or less, but I'm not too worried as it's outdoors and just quickly passing.

[Jakobabear]

Nope. I've worked throughout this pandemic and keeping the 2 meter rule is impossible. As the weeks go on we've noticed that people are definitely becoming more relaxed about it and we've also learned that without floor markers many people don't realise what the 2 meter distance actually is!

[Toddlerteaplease]

Yes unless I'm with my other half or at work. Where social distancing just isn't possible.

[LolaLollypop]

Hmmm not really sticking to it tbh. I try not to walk too close to people and I'm not hugging anyone I see (I.e friends) but I'm not getting out my measuring stick either to make sure there's 2m distance.

[Topseyt]

I use it if/when practical, but I don’t tie myself up in knots in places like the supermarket, where it breaks down more often than not.

Nor do I froth at the mouth or spring back as if I’ve been given an electric shock whenever someone happens to come near me.

[Makegoodchoices]

I’m trying but people are not helping. Strangers in the street seem to be acting as though waiting for people to pass in narrow bits is crazy - two weeks ago it was quite accepted.

And friends and family don’t seem to understand 2m at all. I’m forever taking a step backwards when chatting as they keep moving forward.

[StrawberrySquash]

Yes, as far as possible. I'm WFH, so that's easy. It's only really in shops where it's an issue. I don't get obsessive about it, but I leave space. If I meet friends in the park we stay apart.

[alibongo5]

Yes I am and am worried that so many aren't.

I've been at work the whole time and while we may not have been 100% distancing, we've always tried to, to the extent that at home if anyone approaches, I instinctively step back. And we're now wearing masks in corridors etc when we can't distance.

It hasn't gone away you know.

[wheresmymojo]

Yes and it absolutely pisses me off that lots of people get really close to me when I'm out.

If they don't want to follow the rules, fine, whatever. But they should respect not getting close to other people who do.

[ScissorsBike]

No, prob about 1 metre

[gk6277]

Yes, am sticking to it as best I can, wearing mask in Supermarket where it is more difficult. Worst issue is cyclists on pavements not giving enough room as they pass, even when road nearby is pretty deserted. That does make me angry 😡

[tempnamechange98765]

Not the whole time when I've met up with people. If we're standing talking for a while, we'll keep the 2m distance. But not when walking past etc.

[PurpleFlower1983]

Trying when out in public but I’m not at work (teacher). Little ones just can’t.

[PrincessHoneysuckle]

With friends and strangers yes but with family no.We have been seeing family as normal for a few weeks now

[autopilotpeach]

I try to stay a safe distance but other people dont and they dont seem to care either.. some people have even gravitated towards me when ive moved away.. they think they are immune or extra special or something, only care for themselves.. if they feel ok that is all that matters even if they may be carrying it and not know.. there is a lack of respect...people just act like there is and has been no pandemic at all even older people do.. this lady got offended the other day because i wouldnt go up to pat her dog... looked at me like i was rude, i mean helloooooooo what planet you been living on for the last few months

[DdraigGoch]

Except for those who haven't been leaving the house at all, keeping 2m away from other people at all times is impossible.

Those who are saying that they've stuck rigidly to it (again, except for those who haven't left the house) probably don't know how big 2m really is.

[arianwe]

No. I haven't been sticking to the 2m rule. Everyone I know stuck to it for about 10 weeks, but not any more.

We do live in a town where there have been very very few cases of coronavirus though.

[lynsey91]

Yes I am sticking to it as is DH. Also my parents, siblings, nieces, nephews all sticking to it as are just about all of my friends.

I can well imagine that it is difficult to maintain in supermarkets which is why me and DH go at 9pm when there are hardly any customers there. That's if we can't manage to get a click & collect

[TheMurk]

Nobody is. We aren’t in our family. Had to drive through a couple of towns this evening to run an errand and absolutely everywhere there were groups of kids sat together as normal. Passed police standing with a group of older drunk men, all normal distance. Stopped at a petrol station, all as normal inside the shop.

This is just what you can see out and about. By the sounds of it multiple parties on the go round here tonight and i imagine zero social distancing at these either (most of our houses aren’t really big enough for people to stay 2m apart anyway)