Conflicting advice on social distancing

[Deadsouls]

A friend of mine has just told me that she is going with her boyfriend to visit and stay with his grandmother.

They both live and work in London and leaving in case of a possible lockdown.

However, my understanding was that we are meant to stay away from elderly relatives. And that we are being asked to stay put and not mix with others who may be more vulnerable.

But clearly people, like my friend, are still doing things like visiting and staying with relatives.
On the other hand, my colleague who lives in London is not going back for mother's day to visit her parents (they don't live in London) as her father is in a high risk group.

I honestly don't know what the correct advice is.

You are meant to stay away from elderly relatives for sure, and in fact everyone. You are not meant to travel unless necessary
Your friend is wrong, your colleague is right.

Those over 70 should not have non-essential visitors. If your friends grandparents can’t function without personal care etc obviously they need someone.

Your friends should isolate for two weeks and if they’re not showing symptoms then go to stay.

That's what I thought! I can't understand what my friend and her boyfriend are thinking.

But also think the government is being somewhat vague and only making 'suggestions' so people are confused.

What is the conflicting advice? All the government advice says the same thing. No non essential social contact.

@PurpleDaisies

Because the government have so far only made requests in the hope that people will comply, as opposed to enforcing it, people such as my friend and her boyfriend are still taking risks such as the one described.

Those “requests” have been completely consistent. No non essential social contact for anyone.

What you’re calling a “request” is guidance for stopping the spread of coronavirus and limiting deaths. Only selfish arseholes ignore it.

I live with two elderly parents and could work but refuse to because I will be putting them in danger and couldn't live with myself if I passed on the virus and basically killed one or both of them prematurely.

It's quite simple but when we have such a stumblebum for a leader it's understandable people are not taking any notice.

Boris is a twat. I can’t stand him. But this isn’t him. This is public health England and the NHS telling people what to do. Have people really not heard about what social distancing means? It’s all over the news.

That’s nice your friend and her boyfriend are going to visit their elderly, frail relative, having left the main centre of the infected area.

And potentially kill her with the virus.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Stupid selfish people.

Love is knowing who you want to visit. And putting them first so NOT visiting them. The way the majority of us are.

They do know they can be carriers, ie have no symptoms but still can spread the virus to others unintentionally don’t they?