AIBU to go for a coffee at friends house ?

[Giffgaff99]

I'll drive there and back. Is it safe in the current virus climate? Friend is not ill that she knows of

I do understand, I also understand peoples need o work. I understand that even next wk the nursery will be open for certain children so will schools so they will all be in social situations. I understand that I will not be going swimming or to a play centre but probably will go to a rather busy/crowded supermarket. The irony of it all is not lost on me.

Olawisk I am failing to follow your logic. You seem to be saying that because people see other people at work it doesn't matter if they see people out of work as well, is that right? Do you understand that the aim is to reduce social contact to essential contact only in order to reduce the number of interactions in order to reduce the number of opportunities for transmission, with meeting inside being far worse than meeting outside. We can debate whether working is essential in the current climate (I think the Government is getting the balance right, or would be if we could be sure people are complying, because of the scale of the other problems if the economy collapses), but it is about drastically reducing the number of social contacts as each one is an opportunity for transmission. Even at work you should be practising social distancing so far as is possible in your role.

No.

I would if friend was happy to aswell and doesnt live with anyone vulnerable but I am a teacher who will be working indefinitely to support many children across he county I've never even met so social distancing is pretty much non existent for me . I'm not actually seeing friends at the moment though.

Msgiggles30 I genuinely don't get why you would consider it OK? It is about limiting the number of social contacts in order to reduce opportunities for transmission. That you work with children with whom it is impossible to practise social distancing makes no difference as to whether you should be having unnecessary social contact with a friend.

Presumably some of the people talking about selfishness are the same ones who emptied the supermarket shelves? Forcing others to hunt round the supermarkets to put a meal on the table? If you're having to do that anyway then meeting one friend is not going to make any significant difference.

Glad you have seen sense but I find it so sad that there are so many totally selfish people. I cannot understand why anyone would even consider socializing. How can anyone not understand that not following government advice will of course mean blood on their hands because it will add to deaths and tragically it is possible lots of those will be NHS workers. It is not an exaggeration or over reaction. Personally I would suggest those who continue to socialize should be the ones refused a ventilator not those with T1 diabetes or recovering from cancer through no fault of their own.

Time for lockdown. I have a family member who doesn’t care about it. Doing everything as normal. Total tool. We need a lockdown because people just won’t listen.

My tuppence as a health care professional: You might both be fine now... But given that there's an incubation period where someone is infectious before they start experiencing symotoms (and this is potentially when people are most infectious) you'd be silly to risk it. The advice is clear: socially distance and avoid all unnecessary journeys.

I'm glad there's so many sensible people saying don't go. Seriously the NHS gonna be screwed soon and I'm so worried for people needing hospital treatment. 😢

If you're having to do that anyway then meeting one friend is not going to make any significant difference.

This is the attitude that increases the spread of the virus.

Every time people limit social contact, the number of people who are potentially infected reduces. This is how we make this outbreak less bad.

Buying food is essential. Meeting for coffee is not.

www.boredpanda.com/coronavirus-outbreak-stages-italy-jason-yanowitz/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=BPFacebook

Me and my best friend are doing ‘FaceTime and a brew’. Can’t you do something similar?

For heavens sake, this is insane, on what planet is “coffee at a friends house” = to “essential?” Elsewhere I have been arguing against more draconian measures but it that’s the ‘devil may care’ selfish attitude people are taking, then maybe they are needed.

I would limit contact unless essential. I would FaceTime friend for now

littlejalapeno You don't thing more than a couple of meters away in an open air space might be enough in light of all of the contact methods out there?
Reckless is me taking the government up on a instant job opportunity to return to nursing and taking that home to my family. And yes I would if needed. So not worried about her turning up in my garden and me hanging out in a very separate part of my garden. FFS.

*think

@June2007
I do understand, I also understand peoples need o work. I understand that even next wk the nursery will be open for certain children so will schools so they will all be in social situations. I understand that I will not be going swimming or to a play centre but probably will go to a rather busy/crowded supermarket. The irony of it all is not lost on me.
What you don't understand is that this reduction in contact is all about REDUCING the amount of people that you come into contact with. You won't be as close to people in a supermarket as you would be to people in your home. You won't share cups or mugs, they won't be in your home touching your door handles, they'll just be in a queue with you.
The U.K. will be on lockdown soon because idiots are unable to differentiate between Essential and NON Essential contact.

Just read this plea to take social distancing seriously

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3854344-I-didnt-sign-up-for-this

Ffs just don't, we have all stopped that in Ireland

A pal texted me earlier to say that she was crossing the road from people she knew more for the reason she hadn't washed or had make up on

Everything from the supermarket shortages to the spread of the disease itself is the product of people thinking 'it couldn't hurt'.

By definition, if you're asking this question here, you have access to one of the most powerful communication tools in human history. Connect your computer or phone to the largest screen you have (e.g. TV) have them do the same and enjoy a nice, long video call while you both enjoy your coffee.

@elfycat no I don’t think it’s enough. What don’t you understand about it being non essential? I would have thought that as a nurse you would have an enhanced understanding of and respect for what the WHO and CDC and medical professionals across the world are asking us to do. Please please please rethink this.

I get both points of view. However, at the same time, I have no childcare from Monday, although an NHS worker our school is only looking after if both parents are "key workers" therefore, my friend is looking after my kids and we will have coffee when I pick them up. And in fact, to thank her, I will invite her for dinner occasionally. If she's having my kids our germs are mixing. If she doesn't have my kids and we strictly isolate, I don't go to work some of the days (my husband can sometimes work from home we will have to juggle it between us ) and that's the NHS another nurse down.

We will all be on lockdown very soon like so many other countries because of this kind of behaviour, some people are simply not getting it or simply not caring.
It is very simple - stay at home unless you absolutely can't avoid going out, for food, medication etc.
No one should be out socialising at all.
Why is that so hard to understand?
These unaware or simply selfish people will cause more cases of CV than there needs to be, will spread it faster than it needs to, causing the NHS to collapse.
A cup of coffee could directly lead to an avoidable transmission of CV and take up of an ICU bed which a sick child may desperately need through no fault of their own.
I am in isolation for 12 weeks, the pre school I've run for 20 years will close tomorrow, I can't see my 4 daughters & 3 grandchildren, my elderly mother is in isolation on her own & I can't help her, my stepdad's in hospital under palliative care & no visitors are allowed on his ward.
Lots of my family are vulnerable and struggling with the horror of it all.
So yes it is bloody hard and bloody scary for us all but we have to work together as one to beat this, we can't get this wrong.

Not just reducing the number of people you come into contact with, but reducing the number of times you come into contact even with the same person. Unless you can be sure you are both virus free (you can't)and that neither of you have been close to anyone else since discovering that you are virus free, then it is a possible opportunity for transmission. That is why each interaction has to be essential.. That you were close to seven people in the supermarket isn't great, but buying food is essential. Meeting up with those seven for a coffee afterwards is a second opportunity to transmit (if it didn't happen in the supermarket) and is an unnecessary interaction.