Is a UK cottage holiday safe?

[confused202]

I’m sorry if this is an odd question but I’ve a cottage booked for a week in South Devon in June- I was really looking forward to it! With things the way they are do you think it will be safe to go by then? Thank you

FFS it's in bloody June!!!

I think it depends where it is. I’ve just booked a Lake District cottage for June as we cannot go to our boat in France.
We’ll drive without an overnight stop, take food and drink for journeys and a self catering pack.
We’ll walk, swim, eat in the garden miles away from anyone else.

If it’s an apartment or villa on a complex, I’d not go.

I honestly could not give a flying fuck if you think I was rude. If people behave like idiots they deserve to be treated like idiots.

Cherry, if you or anyone in your party has the virus without realising, you would be shedding virus into surfaces. The local cleaner then comes in, she touches or breathes in your virus. She then goes home and infects her whole family....ad inf.
Do you not see the problem ? Any movement of people is also a movement of the virus. This increases death rate. Do you really want to risk that just to have a holiday ?

We're away this week in a cabin on a park we brought everything we needed with us and did a clean of the place when we got here and put everything in the dishwasher before we used it.

We have been for short walks around the park, not been near other people.

The small bar is still open but we haven't been in.

Also not safe for you, as rural healthcare is dire, and communities older, so if you needed to be hospitalised for anything at all, you would be in an overcrowded, barely functioning hospital.

A bit besides the point, but our local rural hospital was the only hospital in the country to meet the A&E waiting time targets. Just wanted to point out that rural doesn’t always equal dire.

Anyway, you probably shouldn’t go. Especially if you’re in an area with a lot of the virus, say London. You may well be spreading it to an area that isn’t yet badly affected.

June’s a way off, but as things are it looks unlikely that it’ll be safe for you to go.

@Princessfaffalot I couldn’t give a flying fuck about you either, FYI. Calm down dear.

SirVixofVixHall Currently have the virus so hopefully likely to be immune by June. No we aren’t about to risk anyone catching it. The virus cannot be breathed in from inanimate objects. There is a slight risk from infected hard surfaces but we’d, obviously, disinfect before leaving. It’s summer so likely to be a shortened life outside the body.

By June, there may well be further restrictions or a significant worsening of situation so we’d rethink but on current risk we’d go and take mitigating steps.,

Why single me out then?

I'm a bit confused by what I've read here and on Mumsnet today. So we're limiting social contact but if you have a fever or a persistent cough you have to isolate. My husband and I have safeguarded our over 70's relatives and made the right arrangements. I'm assuming that as a relatively healthy 40 something I am expected to get the virus and recover as part of the 80% in the country that will do so.

We're not on enforced lockdown yet so I'm limiting social contact i.e working from home, not going shopping every day but I do have a hair appointment on Saturday and I will go because my salon have made what I think are the correct precautions on deep cleaning, sanitiser etc. And I want to support local businesses.

But Mumsnet today has made me feel that I'm a super spreader if I leave the house. If by July we're still not in lockdown but not consciously risk taking then we'll go on our trip and use more precautions on hygiene than normal. That's ok. Right??

I live in South Devon, and personally I wouldn't bother. I've been stuck in for days (pregnant). The weathers been crappy, there were confirmed cases down here weeks ago, and quite honestly, I'd rather be stuck in my own house than someone else's where the hygiene could be questionable.

I just don't see it as any kind of holiday, sorry. Some restaurants are still opening, saying they'll open the window, so it's fine. In 2 weeks we'll be flooded with cases. And I'm not sure there's any bog roll to be had in the county anymore.

@Dollyparton3 everyone is supposed to be social distancing. This means limiting all unnecessary social interaction and when undertaking necessary action to try keep the distance of 2 metres/6 feet between us and other people.

Can you please tell me why getting your hair done is a necessary social interaction and how you plan to keep 2 metres away from the person doing your hair?

If you would like to support local business why don’t you purchase a voucher for your local salon to use in the future? Or is the support local business just an excuse you’re using to justify not adhering to the government guidelines designed to save lives as you want to get your hair done? (Note: want not need)

I agree @Aspoonfullofjam people just aren't grasping this at all. Going to the hairdressers is out for me for now.

We are also booked for a Cornwall holiday cottage in June - as things stand we intend to go.

It's a detached cottage with a large garden. We would be travelling by car so no social contact with others.

Unless the government bans driving, bans staying at holiday cottages, or imposes a lockdown we will be going unless one of us is unwell.

There's no hiding from this Virus, most of us are going to get it.

OP - probably best not to go as from these posts sounds like the locals might lynch you.
That natural antipathy towards out of towners rearing it’s head...

Personally I’d stay in London - at least there are some half decent hospitals that aren’t an hours drive down a farm track.

@dameofdilemma it's actually about people like you understanding that rural/coastal communities don't have the same level of healthcare services as large conurbations. You will be adding to the load. We already have a larger than average elderly population. So how about being responsible and understanding what no unnecessary travel means? Entitled much?

I've got a holiday booked in April and the owner of the cottage said to come and that's theres loads to do (most things are already shut). If WE cancel we will lose the best part of a grand...!!

I think it would be selfish for you to go, people are going about their daily business symptomless and it would be harrowing should you bring coronavirus to the country side. Sorry but not essential and i would cancel for everyones sakes. Especially the NHS that is already under great strain as it is

And to be perfectly frank, local people really don't give a shit about 2nd home owners losing out, the same as 2nd home owners not giving a shit about pricing local people out of the housing market.

I’d love to just decamp
Somewere else right now

We were booked to go first week of Easter hols but obv won't be happening. Hoping to change to Oct half term...

@StewedFruit we asked about delaying (not even in school holidays) and they said don't be silly basically

What’s the point of driving for hours to self isolate like you’d have to do at home?

Social distancing is not the same thing, and how do you know where to do it safely in a new area?

You're right. But I do think some people will do it just for the principle of not losing the money.

There's a piece in today's Guardian about people in rural France taking against fleeing Parisians. There's much resentment and unpleasant posts on their SM. The government in some areas has banned holiday rentals. Good job too! I live in a so far 'clean' area, UK, but it's an area chock full of second homes, holiday cottages, chalets etc. I fear an influx of city dwellers coming to my neck of the woods. I'm in my own personal lockdown due to severe lung problems (& I'm no spring chicken, either) so actually I'm scared, but trying to be sensible. I want to keep walking my dog in the surrounding countryside for as long as it's allowed, it's my only consolation for being in isolation from my family. If we get the normal holiday numbers it would be impossible to avoid bumping into other people. There may be acres of space, but access points and places to park cars are few. Something people overlook when talking about being in open countryside.