To be confused and torn? Matt Hancock said one thing, Government website says another....

[Bluesheep8]

I'm in one of the locally 'locked down' areas. The one that was announced on Twitter at something past 9 2 weeks ago.
Matt Hancock was interviwed on BBC breakfast the following morning and clearly saud that residents in these areas CANNOT go to someone else's house or garden, or have anyone else in theirs. When questioned as to whether people could travel out of the area and go in someone else's house and garden, he said YES.
Conversely,The government website says we CAN'T go in a house or garden in another area. I'm torn about visiting family...WIBU to?

I think the guidance (at least for the local restrictions here, announced last night) is that you can go into Gardens but not indoors. It is so confusing and realistically people will be doing their own risk assessments due to the confusion.

BBC says can't meet in gardens in Preston...

The government website says we CAN'T go in a house or garden in another area. I'm torn about visiting family...WIBU to?
Totally unreasonable.

No-one can prove you looked at the government website can they?

I think the only danger would be if your family have a toxic relationship with neighbours who might call someone. Even less if it is out of the area.

Hancock clearly said not to meet in gardens in my area but can do so out of the area. Gov't website says we can't. So I'm now having an ongoing debate with family about it.
I just want to do the right thing.

I remember this. Hancock got it wrong, the website is right.
If there’s a contradiction between what someone says on the telly etc, and what the .gov site says about any restrictions etc, you can be 99.9% certain that the person made a mistake.
(I’m in Greater Manchester, so under the same restrictions as you mention)

I would certainly visit family in another area. The new rules are complicated and confusing. You can meet in a crowded pub, but not a back garden. Your mum can't pop round, but if she's your cleaner, she can. Just do what feels right to you.

And, if you think about it, Hancock said this two weeks ago. If he was right and the website was wrong they would have updated the website.
It’s been updated many times already with clarifications and examples.
Whoever is hanging their hat on what Hancock said in your family debate is grasping at straws (perfectly understandable under the circumstances)

Seems a joke if you can leave the area and visit elsewhere. Surely this defeats the objective?

The website is the thing to rely on, not what someone said two weeks ago. He might have got it wrong or the guidance might have changed since then.

Don't visit. It's a non essential trip. Reducing the spread of the virus is the essential thing.

But surely if you're in a high risk area then you shouldn't be travelling to other areas anyway?otherwise it defeats the point of local lockdowns.

Common sense says that if you're locked down in your area you shouldn't be travelling to others.

Or you could take the Cummings approach and invent a new kind of common sense

The whole thing is a joke. I can travel to my parents town and go from pub to pub all day long if I so choose. But I can't sit in their garden.
I know some people still would but I would just never forgive myself if one of my parents became ill with covid and I had visited when I wasn't meant to, even though it couldn't really be proven that it was due to that.
Also, prior to local lockdown I had been able to visit my father in a care home- outside, 2m away and wearing a mask. I now can't do that because of where I live.

Just take a sick child with you and use the Cummings defence...

I would choose which rule to follow based on whether the family visit was to my parents, who I love and miss, or my inlaws, who... not so much

Non essential travel outside local lockdown areas isn't confusing surely? It means exactly what it says.

Non essential travel outside local lockdown areas isn't confusing surely? It means exactly what it says.

I know for a fact that my parents town is full of visitors from 'locked down' areas. Two people I work with were only there last week. That's why I'm so upset about having to explain to them that I can't see them in their garden.

Seems a joke if you can leave the area and visit elsewhere. Surely this defeats the objective?

Yep.

@NYMM

Non essential travel outside local lockdown areas isn't confusing surely? It means exactly what it says.

But those in areas with additional restrictions haven't been told only to make essential trips.

It's still fine to go on holiday and stay in a hotel in areas within and outside of these areas. You just shouldn't stay at someone's house or go in their garden.

We aren't back in lockdown.

@NYMM

Non essential travel outside local lockdown areas isn't confusing surely? It means exactly what it says.

But we haven't been told no non essential travel to other areas. That's what's so weird.

I can let go for a drink with my neighbour in Manchester, but I can travel to leeds and go to the pub with strangers there?

The Government website is clear though...

^You shouldn't socialise with people you do not live with in other indoor public venues – such as pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions. You may attend these venues with people you live with (or are in a support bubble with), but should avoid interaction with individuals or groups from other households. If you run such a business or organise events on their premises, you should take steps to ensure people do not interact with people they do not live with, in line with COVID-19 secure guidance
visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances. Care homes should restrict visits to these circumstances.^

It doesn't matter what others do......

www.gov.uk/guidance/north-west-of-england-local-restrictions-what-you-can-and-cannot-dolocal-restrictions

My DD and family live in an area with new restrictions and she is coming to stay near me in 2 weeks time. We both know they can’t come in my garden or house but we can both meet on the beach. That’s just how it is at the moment.

@NYMM

The Government website is clear though...

^You shouldn't socialise with people you do not live with in other indoor public venues – such as pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attractions. You may attend these venues with people you live with (or are in a support bubble with), but should avoid interaction with individuals or groups from other households. If you run such a business or organise events on their premises, you should take steps to ensure people do not interact with people they do not live with, in line with COVID-19 secure guidance
visit friends or family in care homes, other than in exceptional circumstances. Care homes should restrict visits to these circumstances.^

It doesn't matter what others do......

But that doesn't say only essential travel. You can meet with people you don't live with in public, outdoor places.

My local council have released ward specific data this week. We are in an area that has had additional restrictions imposed yet my ward and two surrounding wards have had zero cases in the last month and only a handful of cases since march. It's very frustrating but we're following the rules. However, I'm not locking myself in my house for the foreseeable when the risk is so low. My local economy reds us to go out and spend money.