Travelling from Aberdeen (locked down) to Scottish island?

[Malmoan]

My first AIBU as I’m just not getting it!

My brother & his girlfriend are currently in Aberdeen city visiting my parents, having traveled over from Austria. She’s a nurse, gets tested regularly if that’s in anyway relevant.

They are continuing with their plans to travel to a Scottish island (via car ferry journey where they can’t stay in the car) which doesn’t have the infrastructure to cope with an outbreak.

They don’t think the travel restrictions apply to them.

From the Scot gov site:
Travel
People in Aberdeen City are asked not to travel more than 5 miles for leisure, recreation or non-essential purchases. This includes to take holidays in other parts of Scotland or the UK

They have been out in Aberdeen since arriving (though no pubs) including supermarket etc.

They’ll be staying in a family house, on their own.

Under normal circumstances I would think low risk, not my business, but we have several older, vulnerable (including ex-shielded) family members in the village.

So AIBU to think they shouldn’t go, and to have told them this? Or in the words of his girlfriend who’s now feeling unwelcome in the family (and sent a huge self pitying diatribe about communication and kindness on the family WhatsApp) “ how can sisters treat their brother like this”

Family on the island wouldn’t expressly say it either but are NOT impressed.

They shouldn't be travelling, though I assume they'lleant to go home to Austria at some point. So YANBU but each to their own. People with the "it doesn't affect me mentality" are going to do their own thing. A friend is British but lives in Austria, there is no way he would be travelling to the UK right now.

Eurgh typos. *they'll need to go home

They sound stupid.

What is it with selfish people thinking the rules don't apply to them. They should not be going or even considering it, entitled and utterly selfish behaviour.

It’s dreadful bad luck that timing wise they find themselves in Aberdeen which suddenly went it to lock down, I do get that.

But I was wondering if my thoughts on people who take the risk of travelling during an ever changing pandemic situation and then don’t want their plans disrupted are clouding my views.

The girlfriend apparently was saying how much better Austria is handling it to one of my other siblings. Couldn’t make it up!

It's not about 'treating them like anything' it's about not putting people in rural and remote communities at risk.

They are not allowed to travel and to do do would be very selfish.
They sound incredibly self-absorbed

I hope it's not the island where my very elderly parents live.

My Dad has COPD so they are being super careful, but the island is apparently extremely busy with tourists now. I'm hoping the numbers will decrease a bit when the Scottish schools go back, which is soon now. It was such a comfort to me all through lockdown that hardly anyone could get on the ferry. An island with a huge population of elderly people would be devastated if the virus got hold there, and there's only a cottage hospital plus GP clinics on the island itself.

I haven't seen my parents since December and I don't know when I can safely go up there from London. I'm doing this for their safety and that of everyone else up there. To hear of people knowingly breaking quarantine for the sake of a holiday has absolutely enraged me. Utter selfishness.

YANBU - they’re making a very selfish choice if they do go . The travel restrictions very much do apply to them - even more so as they’re considering travelling to the islands, which don’t have much healthcare access at all ...

Fuck no - are they insane? If there was an outbreak in the islands, most of which have a significant retired community and limited access to ICUs, it would be horrendous. I would be raging at them. They need to stay in Aberdeen or go home to Austria.

They absolutely shouldn't be going. To be fair though you can fly in from Spain and if you're a key worker which can be anything from a nurse to an electrician you don't have to isolate. Depends on how you interpret the guidance?

YANBU. Any consequences are going to be suffered by your island family so it's really them that needs to step up and say "due to the current Aberdeen lockdown and huge rise in cases we can no longer have you visit us as we are at a high risk category and we don't want increased Covid risk in our community, never mind our household."

It’s causing a lot of upset amongst all the siblings, and potentially longer term damage to relationships which on the one hand I think is it really worth it, but on the other - why are they putting a holiday above relationships with family.

I’m not sure if it’s stupidly, arrogance or entitlement. They say they have risk assessed themselves. Quick - SAGE employ them now!!

The girlfriend I think is correct about Austria handling it better. I deal with an Austrian supplier and have been in regular contact.

YANBU that they should not go, much as I would be very disappointed in their place.

If you’re talking about Shetland they may encounter pitchforks.

Not Shetland - more west!

No doubt Austria is doing well, but the irony of coming over here and slating how it’s being handled here yet flouting the guidelines?!

Surely they can't be allowed to get on a ferry if going more than 5 miles which they clearly are. The ferry company won't take them.

Why can they not stay in the car on the ferry? I thought the ferry companies were making people stay in cars.

Ffs I have elderly, vulnerable relatives on a similar island. I cannot believe how irresponsible she's being. Fecking idiot. I would do everything I could to prevent her (including a phone call to cal Mac who would undoubtedly refuse travel)

Not on these particular calmac ferries, you absolutely cannot stay on the car deck. Passenger numbers are greatly reduced to enable social distancing measures.

It’s clear to me they’re not allowed but who’s going to physically stop them? Pretty sure it’s not within the ferry company’s remit.

The ferry company can stop them...I was going across to Arran and millport during lockdown and you had to prove you were a key worker or resident to get on the ferry

ButterflyWitch that did cross all of our minds but not quite ready to turn Stasi informer yet...

It’s just so disappointing to witness.

I'm from a Scottish Island and ferries have been vetting who can go. But if its calmac, I'm assuming they are not traveling from Aberdeen? Northlink have guidance in place but I'm not sure if Calmac would, as they aren't actually leaving from Aberdeen.

Yanbu. Not in the slightest.

Yes they’ll be driving for a bit to get to the ferry port, but point of origin will be Aberdeen.

I think I would be less bothered if it was to another part (non remote) part of Scotland. Still not allowed though. The fact that the islands are particularly vulnerable is what’s upsetting me so much. But it’s so low risk and that’s why I wonder if I’m being ridiculous.

You are not being ridiculous at all.

Shetland had the highest number of cases per head of population I think in the world at one point. A small Hebridean Island (I'm guessing) won't have anything like the facilities that Shetland has.

Utterly selfish behaviour. If they go anywhere from Aberdeen right now they should self isolate for 14 days imo.

The Scottish government said those on holiday in Aberdeen could continue and leave as planned but should conform to local rules whilst there. As Aberdeen is the ferry port plenty have to pass through. As for the ferry, they were very quiet last week and as long as they have a cabin, they can easily socially distance (bring dinner on with them, cafe was busy). How family feel is different - but it seems it's an outbreak linked to a pub crawl last month