Quarantine rules.... I want to scream. This government makes nonsensical rules and yet we can do nothing about it

[CautiousOptimist11]

Ok, please read this thread for what it is... disbelief at the draconian measures under which we are all living THAT MAKE NO SENSE. It is infuriating and upsetting that our lives are so easily manipulated with no means of questioning it. What on earth has happened??

Take away the thought that we all have to put up with difficult things, we have all been through a difficult year etc, some people have lost everything. I get ot, its awful and we must all do our part to help. This is not my point. My point is that it would appear, we have gone down a slippery slope where the government can do pretty much whatever they want.

So my family and I are in quarantine at home after coming home to the UK from a non red list country. Not a holiday.

Let's say we support the quarantine EVEN ALTHOUGH there are so many holes in the system, it starts to lose its sense. The hauliers, flight crew etc - people coming in daily with no quarantine. The fact that you stand with other people from other flights for hours at passport control. That you can technically take public transport home to start your quarantine. That you can go to a test centre for your day 2 and 8 tests, on public transport. That you have to pay £200 for day 4 and 8 tests DESPITE STILL BEING IN QUARANTINE ANYWAY! (And testing before entering UK).

I feel like I have been treated like a criminal. The police came to the door to make sure we were in a couple of days ago, and their attitude was awful. Like we were criminals on house arrest.

But here is the main part of my complaint, the thing that highlights how utterly ridiculous the system is, yet nobody can or does question it.

You have the option test test to release on day 5. Extra money and inconvenience. But if negative, you can leave straight away.

If you don't pay for this extra day 5 test then, after your day 8 test (negative here), you must still wait til MIDNIGHT ON DAY 10 before you can leave the house. Why? Why are you safer after day 5 than day 8? Why not just test everyone on day 8?

I am sitting here on day 10, wondering if the police will come shouting at my door again, also wondering what kind of country I have come back to.

It's so sad

It's bloody glorious in the north west of England where I am today ☀️

@Itsalonghaul

Cold wet dreary Britain?

It is 24c and couldn't be more beautiful now it is spring! Don't let the truth stand in your way

I can assure you not all the UK is basking in a heatwave right now. Looking out my window and it’s currently grey and rainy - but aye, of course you speak for the nation. Also snow forecast for the weekend. 🙄

A lot of fuss about nothing. Ten days will be over soon enough, it's hardly a big deal to stay at home for that period.

It's not about the 10 days.

It's about the rules that dont make sense and the slow erosion of our liberties with NOBODY apparently able to question it. Even some of the comments here makes my point more salient. "It's the way it is, get over it." Why? Why shouldn't I - and you - be of a mind to question these laws, have a healthy discussion around them?

If it were a true 10 day quarantine without all the ridiculous holes and inconsistencies, I would be far more supportive.

How some people assume I am simply complaining about staying home for 10 days is beyond me.

The day 5/day 8 rule makes no sense- that is true.

Quarantine does make sense though- it's to prevent the spread of infection; yes airplane/airport staff should be tested daily too. If you've had both vaccines then it's probably unnecessary (although there are always some people who do not get immunity following the vaccines).

Well you can complain, op but I think others on here have come up with good reasons for the quarantine. It isn't a perfect solution but will go some way to preventing the spread of Covid-19. No doubt airport staff will have been vaccinated and are regularly tested - the only alternative would be to have no airport staff and to shut down airlines completely.

This situation is not going to last forever, it's not going to kill us to put up with it while it does.

Erosion of liberties? It's a pandemic. Pandemics don't care about your freedoms. You don't want a quarantine situation, don't travel.

Will we return to normal at some point? Yes. That's not an erosion of anything. Would you be coming out with this if it was Labour (or whoever) doing exactly the same thing?

Do I agree with all of the rules? No. Do I think that any government could have drafted rules covering every single eventuality and please everyone at the same time? Absolutely not.

As for nobody being able to question it, what exactly are you doing now?

Things like the planned bill to make peaceful protest illegal would be a worry. It is important that we don't just take these things as a given because of Covid.

@CautiousOptimist11
I must admit, I didn't get what the issue was and then I tried to find out and now I totally get it

Bloody ridiculous

I think many of us have been worn down by the past year and the lack of sense of the rules.

I liken it to Stockholm Syndrome (half joking)

Next time vote for a government that is more laid back. One that says "Hey dying is just life man! make your own rules and don't bother us"

Did you forget about voting? That is when you get your say. We don''t have laws that rely on popularity in this country. You're not even required to understand them.

While you're stuck inside you might read what's going on in the other countries.

@StarCat2020

I think many of us have been worn down by the past year and the lack of sense of the rules.

I liken it to Stockholm Syndrome (half joking)

Same. We are going abroad to see family in July. We are dual nationals but also have some rather pressing probate issues that must be settled by the end of July and must be done in person. For our return quarantine in August we have the let of a friend's beautiful cottage.

The OP isn't suggesting no quarantine they are asking why if you pay to take a test on day 5 of your quarantine and it is negative you can immediately leave quarantine. If however you wait until day 8 and the test is negative you are not free to leave. You have to quarantine for a further 2 days. Why? What is the difference?

@sweeneytoddsrazor

Why? What is the difference?

One protocol looks like it is a money spinner for certain labs, the other protocol doesn't...

We are going abroad to see family in July. We are dual nationals but also have some rather pressing probate issues that must be settled by the end of July and must be done in person
Fulfilling legal obligations is one of the exceptions to the no travel rule so enjoy fulfilling your legal obligations and if you family force you to see them whilst you are there then what can you do?

It is madness I agree,,,,,

They don't want to stop rich /connected people who can afford to pay for extra tests, fines (like Stanley Johnson) from travelling overseas. The rules are designed so that regular people don't travel. We have a highly corrupt government who are about making their friends richer and everyone else remain poor so they accept shit like zero hour contracts.

@AngeloMysterioso

Well, how else were they supposed to bend the rules for rich people...

Think you’ve hit the nail on the head.

The first time no-one checked on me, the second time I just got a phone call - I could have told them anything.
I think they also geolocate you during the call to check where you physically are. But not even sure where I read this.

It’s Orwellian and most disturbing

I agree with you OP that the way quarantine is being run sounds illogical. I still agree with quarantining though and I think most people won't sympathise because except in the face of urgent and immediate need to travel due to family illness etc, everyone else took the decision and risk to travel, knowing loads of rules would apply. I think lots of people are angry/ upset at the continuing restrictions on day to day life more than the impact on the few who have chosen to travel. The impact of mental health of living under the sort of restrictions we've had is incredible and I think people are more worried about the impact of that than people staying at home for a week or so after being abroad. Of course, you will find lots of lockdown fanatics who think any price is worth paying and that we should be locked down for years if "necessary".

I think lots of people are angry/ upset at the continuing restrictions on day to day life more than the impact on the few who have chosen to travel.

TBF though it's not always a case of having chosen to travel.

International travel out of/into the UK is still allowed for work reasons and unless a worker is in one of the quarantine exempt groups they're subject to the 2/8 day/ test and release process just as much as a leisure traveller.

Completely agree with you OP.

I do wonder if the people so clearly missing the point in their rush to go on about "Da Roolz End Off" (wtf) or to dump a "witty" sanctimonious sound bite (as one OP brilliantly put it earlier) are actually doing it on purpose to make some sort of point, or really are that obtuse/lacking in basic reading comprehension skills

Everyone who thinks the rules are going to successfully keep other variants out of the UK is beyond deluded. But at least holidaying in Southend will boost the British economy

@PersonaNonGarter

You need to calm down. Your anger is misplaced.

You were aware (or should have been aware) of all these rules when you made your travel
decisions.

Deep breath. And think of those who can’t take a deep breath right now due to coronavirus.

Who should she be angry with?

And that last bit, fucking hell

Nobody can have a problem unless it's covid I guess