Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be shocked that this isn't common knowledge?

317 replies

DameFanny · 19/10/2020 19:47

If you go to the pub, or a restaurant, you're not supposed to mix households, or be outside your bubble.

I thought this was all pretty clear - you distance from anyone not in your bubble. 2 metres, or 1 metre with screens, masks or something similar.

And I haven't bothered with the pub or whatever because what's the fun in waving at people from behind a screen. But that's not what people are doing is it? They're sharing tables with friends and getting Covid. Even though it's illegal, and the pub/restaurant can be closed down for it.

I thought the people going out were mostly just eating in a different set of walls with their household - or the posturing mask debaters who tell us it's just a sniffle - but I was honestly shocked on another thread that this isn't common knowledge. How many people are breaking the law?

www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/restaurants-offering-takeaway-or-delivery

AIBU to be shocked that this isn't common knowledge?
AIBU to be shocked that this isn't common knowledge?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Walkaround · 20/10/2020 08:18

@SwallowsInSpring - no mask wearing in school classrooms. Only required to consider asking passengers in private cars to wear masks. No masks required while eating, for obvious reasons, yet no restrictions in tier 1 on how many households are mixing at the table, so long as no more than 6 people... No mention of unusually large restaurant tables!!!

SwallowsInSpring · 20/10/2020 08:28

It just feels so muddled doesn’t it? We were sitting there thinking ‘have we got it wrong?’ And you’re right about the classrooms too. I guess that’s why if one person in a school gets a positive test their whole bubble has to Self isolate for 14 days or until a negative test (and see I’m not even sure that’s right, I’d have to check!).

Original poster
DameFanny · 20/10/2020 08:33

Hallie yes I do get that - I thought that accounted for most of the people in pubs, which is why I was taken aback to realise I was wrong

OP posts:
AcornAutumn · 20/10/2020 08:34

So OP, what you’re worried about is social distancing in tier 1 areas?

Original poster
DameFanny · 20/10/2020 08:35

Yes Naturallight - the dangerous thing is how infectious people are before they show any symptoms...

OP posts:
Original poster
DameFanny · 20/10/2020 08:36

No Acorn - because the social distancing is supposed to be the ground floor of any measures, with other allowances or restrictions on top

OP posts:
Walkaround · 20/10/2020 08:39

@DameFanny - but the Government is not trying to remove that risk, just to reduce it. If it wanted to reduce the risk further, by disallowing any household mixing at restaurant tables in tier 1 because it has belatedly realised that restaurant tables are too small for everyone to sit 2m apart (given their inability to eat whilst wearing a mask, so 1m is clearly not good enough...), it could do so. It does not want to, though.

AcornAutumn · 20/10/2020 08:41

@DameFanny

No Acorn - because the social distancing is supposed to be the ground floor of any measures, with other allowances or restrictions on top
Thanks OP. So what are you shocked about? I’m in Tier 2 so no going out anyway.
Aragog · 20/10/2020 09:03

the distance message seems lto have got completely lost somewhere

I don't know anyone who doesn't know the distance thing.

However, I know people who then apply the 1m+ rule when they go to restaurants or for meals in pubs and apply the mitigation of hand hygiene and where they sit round the table.

And in my experience lots of tables do allow for 1m distancing especially if there's only 4 of you and it's two couples, for example.

I think you're showing 'faux concern' of people 'not knowing' the guidance as a disguise for judging people who choose to eat/drink out with friends or family, continuing even after people explain the 1m+ guidance (not law.)

Aragog · 20/10/2020 09:07

The other “misunderstanding” that concerns me is that you can have Covid without displaying any symptoms - or just having a headache - or what you think is a mild cold. And those people are meeting with friends inside with no social distancing.

But those symptoms are not deemed worthy of being eligible for testing or isolation. You will still be expected to be at work or school with those symptoms. That's not a misunderstanding. I am sure many people know you can have Covid without the big 3 symptoms. But if you are expected to work and go to school in such situations then what do you really think will happen?

AcornAutumn · 20/10/2020 09:08

I’m in outer london.

The pavement is covered in 2m signs.

My sister tells me the pubs and restaurants have one way systems and half their tables are blocked off. Isn’t that enough?

Yetiyoga · 20/10/2020 09:16

Not sure where you are op but in England the guidance is 1 metre plus. Do you really expect me and a friend to meet for food and sit at separate tables? That would lose the restaurant even more money. Sitting opposite i feel risks are minimal. If you want to target anything, notice that cases have risen drastically now that schools are back.

NaturalLight · 20/10/2020 09:17

Aragog That’s fine, I agree you still need to go to school and work. But what I mean is that I see a lot of people saying they are still meeting up inside homes. Fair enough if they’ve assessed the risk and think that even though they might have Covid they are happy to break the rules.

Original poster
DameFanny · 20/10/2020 09:47

@Aragog

the distance message seems lto have got completely lost somewhere

I don't know anyone who doesn't know the distance thing.

However, I know people who then apply the 1m+ rule when they go to restaurants or for meals in pubs and apply the mitigation of hand hygiene and where they sit round the table.

And in my experience lots of tables do allow for 1m distancing especially if there's only 4 of you and it's two couples, for example.

I think you're showing 'faux concern' of people 'not knowing' the guidance as a disguise for judging people who choose to eat/drink out with friends or family, continuing even after people explain the 1m+ guidance (not law.)

Not faux concern no, if I was judging you you'd know Wink

But the one metre plus is plus mitigations, and yes, thought people knew that, thought wrong

OP posts:
Original poster
DameFanny · 20/10/2020 09:49

Yes Walkaround - and it only makes sense if you assume the government doesn't mind who gets sick as long as they can blame the victims and have everyone else do so too Sad

OP posts:
Hardbackwriter · 20/10/2020 09:52

I'm laughing at your liberal use of the sad face - as if you're actually distraught (rather than just judgemental) that not everyone makes the same risk assessments as you

Abraid2 · 20/10/2020 09:53

*I know people who then apply the 1m+ rule when they go to restaurants or for meals in pubs and apply the mitigation of hand hygiene and where they sit round the table.

And in my experience lots of tables do allow for 1m distancing especially if there's only 4 of you and it's two couples, for example.*

This is how I sit with my friends when I go into pubs, which isn't often but does still happen. We are not directly facing one another, but angled. There's a metre between us. We use handgels on entry and facemasks while we walk to the table.

In our tier, this is entirely within the law. What's more, it's helping to keep local businesses open.

Aragog · 20/10/2020 09:54

But again - I don't know anyone who doesn't know that it is 1m with mitigation. Everyone I know does know this.

They also know that mitigation doesn't just mean a mask or a screen, and that it can I]mean other measures such as good hand washing and hygiene, sitting side by side and not facing one another, etc.

Aragog · 20/10/2020 10:00

Naturalight - do you really know people who think they have Covid but who are still meeting up with friends and family?

Or do,you mean people who believe they've got a bit of a cold and who have chosen to meet up with friends?

Because they are two very different situations.

Because I did just that. I met with friends - we were careful and followed the 1m+ rules - despite having a bit of a cold. I'd been in work all week. The symptoms were not Covid. To the extent that when I went to the doctors two days later not one medic at the walk in centre, A&E, the GPS next day or the hospital ward I was admitted to suspected Covid. My positive result was a surprise to the dozens of doctors and nurses I had been dealing with for the previous 48 hours.

So yes, I went out with a 'bit of a cold' unsuspecting Covid. Fortunately, so far, it appears no one has caught it from me - hopefully due to the mitigating factors we had in place during our meal. Hopefully no one at work (school) got it either - we've had staff subsequently test positive but none I had close contact with at all (2m plus) and no children I taught have had symptoms or a positive result.

chipsandgin · 20/10/2020 10:25

Rule of 6 for hospitality venues:

www.gov.uk/government/news/venues-required-to-enforce-rule-of-6-nhs-qr-code-posters-and-contact-logs

In tier 1 (medium alert level), groups of up to six people from multiple households can meet up, indoors and out.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/16/what-tier-am-i-in-and-what-am-i-allowed-to-do-englands-covid-rules-explained

The Guardian link explains it clearly. Unless you are in a Tier 2 area you are allowed to go to a restaurant in a group of up to 6 from different households.

Original poster
DameFanny · 20/10/2020 10:29

@Hardbackwriter

I'm laughing at your liberal use of the sad face - as if you're actually distraught (rather than just judgemental) that not everyone makes the same risk assessments as you
Not distraught, saddened. Not judgemental, surprised.

But I'll happily judge you and anyone else who publicly assumes the worst motives in others for no reason - projecting much?

OP posts:
Treesofwood · 20/10/2020 10:37

Aragog Why did you go to A and E? Was it illness or injury?

Aragog · 20/10/2020 10:42

I was sent there by cat 2 ambulance by medics from the walk in centre, due to dangerously high blood pressure reading, accompanied by chest tightness and high heart rate.

Satlie2019 · 20/10/2020 10:57

Yes you can still go to a pub in a tier 1 area in a group of up to 6 people from different households, no one is saying you cannot. You however should socially distance from people who are not in your household (www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing). This is not the responsibility of the venue or something we will be fined for, but our responsibility as decent humans who want to protect the vulnerable in our society (and follow the guidance which has been very clear throughout about the need to socially distance). I am not sure why there is so much confusion on this thread about something so simple, we must socially distance from everyone who is not in our household or social bubble. If we don't follow the guidance the restrictions will get stricter and schools will close.

This is not about people going out with COVID symptoms and spreading it. As everyone knows you may have COVID (and spread it) with no symptoms. Therefore you should socially distance at all times, not just if you are unwell

This is not about whether anyone minds if they catch COVID. Even if you don't mind catching it or giving it to your own family, the parents of the children in your kid's class may mind if they catch it via your child giving it to their child and they have a vulnerable person in their household. If you have to take your child to the GP surgery and the GP catches it that is also a problem. It really is not that hard for us all to sit a bit further away from from our friends when we meet up (it may mean meeting just 1-2 friends in a pub so you can socially distance but in a tier 1 area you can meet 6 if you can find somewhere you can socially distance appropriately).

Also none of us know how we will react to COVID. Young healthy adults have died and many more young adults are now suffering from long COVID symptoms.

Whatsonmymindgrapes · 20/10/2020 11:07

@DameFanny

Going by comments on this and other threads this isn't common knowledge *@Whatsonmymindgrapes*. And I don't know why you find it 'holier than thou' - am I not allowed to see things differently than you?
@DameFanny

A bit hypocritical of you seeing as you’ve started a whole thread about people who think differently to you and how it’s “saddened you”.