To say that if you are quite covid risk adverse there are some places it’s best not to go

[Scentsandsensible]

Inspired by a few threads and personal experience.

I’m not saying stay at home and be isolated BUT... if you’re someone who is going to have a panic attack if someone gets within a metre it’s probably best to avoid

• busy shopping centres
• theme parks
• pubs

-restaurants

• busy hotels

I do get that this may sound unfair - but it’s the reality. If you feel vulnerable these probably aren’t the best places to go.

Yes, they should just stay at home

@CharlieSocial I don’t mean they should stay at home - but, complaining that a child got too near to you at the queue at say Alton Towers does seem a bit ridiculous. It’s obviously going to be like that!

No,people in those situations should still beeping well be social distancing,and if they can't manage it they are the ones who should stay home.And the venues should be set up for that and if they can't manage it.....
And if you can't keep your child with you and away from other people,same.

Are people having to wear masks at theme parks? Cos if not it's 2m,anyway.

It's risk AVERSE.
Adverse means something different.
I realise there will be hate for this.

@FiveToFour but the reality is ... they aren’t. So if people are particularly nervous - again taking a risk assessment into account these are places to avoid.

@Hingeandbracket
I’ll be say ‘pacifically’ next!

Totally agree.

So what you’re saying is if you want to stick to social distancing rules put in place in pubs, restaurants, hotels... don’t go because you dont intend to Inconvenience yourself?

Totally agree OP. Whilst we should all be doing our best to maintain social distancing anyone who is vulnerable or simply just very cautious, should not put themselves in situations where they will be made more nervous. (and to make other citizens feel guilty)

I went for dinner with my husband recently and the restaurant had reduced numbers, but the people on the table nearest to us were STILL tutting when we were arrived, when we were
Seated and made us feel uncomfortable the whole time. They shouldn't have come out.

During the heatwave I was at a playground and there was a queue for the ice-cream van. One person was complaining too many people were in the queue. Get a grip and go home you stupid woman.

So yeah, if you're nervous, or are in a vulnerable group, think twice about going out

I think most sensible people who are vulnerable will be avoiding places like that anyway. It'll be the self-entitled minority who will think they can go about as normal.

But people should also be mindful of SD and keep their distance when they can. Just because they're in a theme park or shopping centre doesn't mean that they can invade personal space when they could avoid it by a little forethought and consideration. Obviously if it's busy and you can't avoid getting close, that's different, but whatever the situation, if you can keep far apart, then you should do it.

YANBU. If you’re going to go to places that with the best will in the world still probably won’t be the most social-distance-y, you need to be prepared that you might end up a bit near someone.

Weather was vile yesterday. I had to pop into town for a couple of things with DS. I would have loved to have a coffee and a bite to eat in a cafe but they all looked quite busy and whilst I’m not overly precious, I couldn’t get my head around dealing with a potty training toddler, wet coats, a pushchair, a 30 week pregnant bump AND other people. So we just came home. Simple.

@RoseTintedAtuin not at all - I practice social distancing and I have avoided a lot of the above.

I wish people would be nicer to those of us trying to do the right thing.

We ate at a pub last night and although they had tried very hard, it was an extremely narrow walk between a couple of tables (with lots of old men on them, talking across the gap) to get to the toilets.

I asked my teenagers to pop their masks on as they walked between these old men as a courtesy to them. As my youngest walked past, this guy looked up and loudly said, "don't you think anyone who wears a mask is an idiotic sheep?".

Really unkind especially as the mask protects others and not oneself! I bet they complain about teenagers being rude and lazy at other times, too...

Why? The guidance is 2m or 1m+ if not possible.

Perhaps the people who can't follow the rules of society should stay at home?

My mum has shielded for months. Had chemo. Been in hospital 3 times and now told it's terminal.

Someone like her relies on the public doing what's been asked within the guidance.

It's not too much to ask is it really?

@DoubleDeckerBusRideLover he’s an arsehole.

@itsgettingweird I am so sorry to hear that. My dad is also extremely vulnerable and elderly but like I’m sure your mum is - he’s avoiding the sort of places I’ve mentioned above. They are too risky.

DD is not risk averse and pretty chilled about Covid but after a day at Thorpe Park she threw her clothes in the washing machine and had a shower - she said the lack of care regarding covid transmission was awful.

Even walking down the pavement, it isn’t possible to be 2m apart when passing and people still expect it. Walking in the road isn’t sensible. But passing in the street momentarily is super low risk even at less than 1m (unless they cough right in your face).

Restaurants are far greater risk but it’s allowed and done as per guidelines so best to stay home if anxious or vulnerable. I know I’d not risk it and would prefer my mum to avoid.

We visited a theme park and it was rammed, most people were relaxed and not being careful. I didn’t mind but would advise people avoid if they do. Anywhere with teenagers is risky as they are the most likely to be breaking the guidance for distance.

But people should be careful in supermarkets for example.

@Gardenpad I’m really not surprised. Which is why I wouldn’t go anywhere near a theme park right now.

I don't agree, I think many of those places it is possible to maintain social distancing, there's no reason not to social distance in a queue for a ride. I went to the zoo with DD and hated parts of it. I'm not necessarily risk averse but I do think we need to adhere to the guidelines and too many people weren't, even when it was possible to do so. More people need to adhere the the guidelines so it's safer for us all to enjoy these things.

Oh yeah, Lisa, people totally go and contract cancer or heart conditions so they can feel they're some higher level of human being.

OP, I get what you're saying about Alton Towers and busy pubs- they're usually the kind of place people can choose to avoid, but what about hotels if your employer requires you to travel for work? Should Covid-averse people just sleep in the car?

Muffin Break?

I’m avoiding all the places you mention above because I’m quite risk averse. However, those places are open on the basis of certain guidelines that are supposedly meant to help slow the spread of the virus and so if no one attending those sorts of places is following the guidance the places should close.

It annoys me because it impacts on everyone (even if you do avoid those sorts of places) because the more the virus spreads the more it spreads.

Basically social distancing is too contrary to human nature to sustain longterm. It just is. We're seeing every country struggle with this right now. I don't have any easy answers, but expecting whole societies to do the impossible isn't a good foundation for public health. Its about as realistic as Prohibition back in the 20s or abstinence only sex education.