Please help - trip booked - perspective needed!

[Perspectiveneeded1]

My partner and I have booked a 3 day trip to Manchester next Monday (2nd August). We've both had a difficult year for various reasons, and I've been looking forward to this one trip for months!

DH is now saying he doesn't think we should go. His reason is that the Covid rates in the Manchester area are still high (we are based in the South East), and he doesn't want to risk us having to get pinged and losing work due to isolation. I'm absolutely devastated at the prospect of us not going . I'm trying to persuade him, as cases are falling and we are both double vaccinated now! I also offered to test every 2 days to make sure, before and during the trip and avoid public transport alongside wearing masks indoors etc.

The thing is, DH suffers with health anxiety alongside OCD, so it's really hard to tell whether he's being sensible and I'm letting my emotions take over my rationality, or whether he's being a bit over the top about it and the trip will be fine! To make it worse, around me seems to be going on trips and I would be heartbroken if we couldn't go.

We have 2 days to decide whether to go or not.

Please, lovely people of Mumsnet, can you offer your perspectives?

YABU - Don't go. It's not worth the risk.
YANBU - You should go.

I wouldn’t risk losing work for a day trip.

I’m not convinced case numbers are falling as schools aren’t open so high school children not testing plus many not testing even with symptoms as they want to away or events etc. They can only report actual tests.

Just go. Why even have the app? It’s shit. Delete it and you won’t get pinged.

(Waits for predictable OMG THAT IS WHY WE ARE IN THIS MESS OTT responses from the usual suspects…)

@icecreamandcandyfloss It's not a day trip, it's 3 days. In my view, we are just as likely to be pinged in our local Tesco than in Manchester city centre!

Turn of the Bluetooth - voila - no pinging!

Mines been off for months. Not allowed it on for school and was only going to supermarket and ds swimming training and kept forgetting to re activate it. I've been double jabbed since April and just decided as LFT twice weekly I'd done all I could.

The app is only advisory anyway. It pings when you've passed someone who tests positive, Tand T is the only accurate way of knowing you're a close contact.

You can turn off contact tracing. It’s an option in the app. Or delete the app. Or turn off Bluetooth. Any of those things.

Also, another thought- just go by yourself and leave DH at home.

Delete the bloody app

Switch the app off and give false details when you log in to places, most aren't bothering to check anymore anyway.

Manchester city centre is dead. Chances of seeing anyone slim

Delete the app. You won’t get pinged.

Another one saying delete the app and go!

Thank you so much for your input everyone. I think you've helped calm DH's nerves a bit. He is refusing to delete the app because he thinks hell be "a hypocrite" (I think he listens to too much R4!)... But I will try and persuade him to leave his phone at the hotel when we go out. Haha.

Rates in Manchester are now falling.
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/latest-greater-manchester-covid-infection-21159615

I don't have the app

He's free to keep the app, but if he gets pinged you won't be isolating as well.

Manchester is great. Have a lovely trip.

There is no longer any need to use the app to scan into places so you can just delete it , or alternatively turn off the contact tracing . That way you won't get pinged.

If he doesn't want to go can you take a friend instead?

Another vote here for JUST TURN OFF THE BLUETOOTH TRACING on the app.

But if keep it, you know that it is not a legal requirement to isolate if you get pinged by the app? Only if you are contacted by Test and Trace.

Why even have the app? It’s shit. Delete it and you won’t get pinged.

The app is crap & by SERCO, so that's a good reference. Not.

But we're not in this mess because people don't have the app. We're in this mess because people don't test themselves, won't have the vaccine. won't mask up or socially distance.

@Perspectiveneeded1 are you both double vaccinated? When was your last negative LFT? Grab a box of LFT test kits from your local chemist, test each day, wear masks, wash your hands, don't go into crowded bars, avoid huge indoor crowds, and have a great time!

We're in this mess because

Sorry I'm wrong - we're mainly in a mess because we have a government that's shambolic. Most people are doing their best under the circumstances.

I’ve travelled all over the country in last 4 months for work and pleasure- all bustling city centres. I also work closely with children. I also have two teenagers. I’m sensible but not too cautious. Not one of us has caught it. Now me and DH are both double jabbed and kids have first but that wasn’t always the case. Go and enjoy

Omg. Delete the app.

I live near Manchester and have never been pinged.

Come. It’s fab.

Get to Manchester! We live there it’s not a germ pit it’s an amazing vibrant city full of generally sensible lovely people! You’ll have a ball.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

I wouldn’t risk losing work for a day trip.

I’m not convinced case numbers are falling as schools aren’t open so high school children not testing plus many not testing even with symptoms as they want to away or events etc. They can only report actual tests.

Except the decline in cases is far bigger than the decline in testing, and test positivity rate is falling, which points to the actual number of cases falling.

Honestly. Delete the app, it’s pointless and do go.

I was in Manchester City centre for the weekend just gone (from elsewhere in the country).
Almost everyone (certainly the majority) were wearing face masks in certain public places like shops, museums and definitely in the vast majority on the trains and trams.

Generally people weren’t in bars and restaurants but the staff mostly were and any customer who did, didn’t seem odd or irrational.

So if you / DH feel more comfortable still wearing a mask, you won’t be the odd ones out.

It was a lovely weekend and felt very happy and freeing.

Enjoy yourselves.