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Original poster

Exercise could be banned - Matt Hancock

703 replies

LittleRen · 05/04/2020 10:44

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52172035

"Matt Hancock told the BBC's Andrew Marr that the government would "take action" if further measures are needed to bring the coronavirus under control.

It comes after reports of groups of people gathering in parks during sunny weather this weekend."

So do we think this will happen - normally this is how it goes, the threat comes, and a week later it's reality. It's a shame that people still flouted the rules this weekend :(

I can't see a thread on this already but please let me know if there is one!!

OP posts:
Seventyone72seventy3 · 05/04/2020 11:07

I think it's likely. It's happened in so many other places when it's become obvious that it's not enough if people are still allowed out to exercise.

Stellamboscha · 05/04/2020 11:08

And what is wrong with sunbathing if they keep a 'safe distance'.
VitaminD is good for physical and mental health.Or is it fear of 'burdening' the NHS with sunburn cases?

Matildathehun77 · 05/04/2020 11:08

Yes sadly I think this will happen in the next week or so unless the figures take an unexpected dive. I'll be devastated as my daily walks are a lifeline.... but I can see why it needs to happen and am luckier than many as I have a decent sized garden.
Fuming with the people who won't stick to the rules and then bleat about our "rights being taken away" though. Just stay at home, you've been asked nicely, you'll be forced next..... grrrr Angry

Branster · 05/04/2020 11:10

I’m glad you created this thread OP. Saw the news not long ago on the guardian blog and I was a bit sad about it but not at all surprised. The threat seemed to work in Germany but I doubt a threat alone would work here.
I think it depends on whether the government want to suppress this virus, or whether they actually still want to take the herd immunity path to some extent, but don't want to look culpable for the results. There may be some advantage to them saying, "We told you there would be lots of infections if you went out, and you all did it anyway," if it gets more people infected more quickly.
There’s a good point made above. In yesterday’s Times (which I haven’t read on purpose), front page title of an article was along the lines of ‘PM adviser asking Boris to reconsider herd immunity’. Changing strategies, tightening rules or going back to previous model is always a very real option.

UYScuti · 05/04/2020 11:11

I don't think they will ban exercise because the risk of civil unrest is too high
'further action' does not necessarily mean a ban

Inkpaperstars · 05/04/2020 11:11

I feel slightly hysterical about that I live in a flat and my daily walk is so important. I could honestly cry. I'm so angry with everyone who is flouting the rules.

I am the same.

I wish they could have a step before banning all exercise where they actually have meaningful penalties for the people doing wrong rather than punishing us all.

Stellamboscha · 05/04/2020 11:11

But our rights have been taken away!
mental health is even more important than 'physical' health. What about the mental health 'burden' on the holy NHS?

MumofTinies · 05/04/2020 11:11

But at what point do we say this isn't worth it? Far more people's mental and physical health will suffer (vs those who catch a fatal dose of C-19) if they are cooped up in a small garden-less flat all day for what could be an indefinite time.

This!

I have been keeping to the rules so far, but it will get to the point where I would rather take the fine.

SquishySquirmy · 05/04/2020 11:11

WTF happens to kids in flats?
No sunlight for them?
For how long?

What about their health? (Covid is horrendous but not the only disease out there).

I like to exercise, but I care more about the lack of fresh air and sunlight for many children who do not have a garden. I can do without a long run. Kids can not go months without going outside.

And I like animals but it pisses me off a bit when people think dog walkers should be the exception... Because it's cruel to deprive an animal of outdoor exercise but fine to deprive a child???

I bet Hancock has a garden.

They should enforce the rules we DO have before introducing new ones. Which will get ignored by the same people anyway, so only reduce the movements of the sensible rule followers.

CeciledeVolanges · 05/04/2020 11:13

I don’t understand why the response to “people aren’t complying with existing rules” is “tighten the rules” not “increase enforcement of existing rules”. It’s like responding to people breaking the speed limit by lowering the speed limit rather than issuing more tickets, isn’t it?

RarePackOfLooRoll · 05/04/2020 11:13

Yep and this is all thanks to those idiots that think they can bend the rules because xyz reason or those determined to argue the point that it's ok because what harm.is it doing because x y z.

FFS, all.we had to do was what we were asked to do. But the I'm special because brigade have well and truly fucked everyone else over.

UYScuti · 05/04/2020 11:13

I think the most likely thing is that you have to stay within certain radius of your home, have to have ID with you when you go out or have to agree to have a tracking app on your mobile phone phone so that it can be proved you stick to the guidelines

Makeitgoaway · 05/04/2020 11:13

But the "groups of people gathering in parks" weren't exercising. What they were doing is already banned, so deal with that.

This is more nudge theory (correctly) being used to force people to do the right thing. A full lockdown couldn't be maintained for more than a couple of weeks.

Bearbehind · 05/04/2020 11:13

I have been keeping to the rules so far, but it will get to the point where I would rather take the fine.

FFS - it’s not about the risk of getting a fine!

It’s about the risk of transmitting a virus that could kill someone else

chocolatesaltyballs22 · 05/04/2020 11:14

And what is wrong with sunbathing if they keep a 'safe distance'.
VitaminD is good for physical and mental health.Or is it fear of 'burdening' the NHS with sunburn cases?

How the fuck does that work if everyone flocks to the park to sunbathe? How do you keep your distance? FFS just follow the fucking rules.

ilovebrie8 · 05/04/2020 11:14

@CeibaTree agree you with 100%...

midgebabe · 05/04/2020 11:15

I would also prefer meaningful penalties ( a lot more than £30) to banning outdoor exercise

Bring back the Derbyshire drones

ilovebrie8 · 05/04/2020 11:15

I meant agree with you 100% Smile

Selfsettling3 · 05/04/2020 11:16

I worry this statement is going to more people go out today and for longe do make the most of it while they can.

TestBank · 05/04/2020 11:16

Yes, all those police officers we don't have will be really busy

MumofTinies · 05/04/2020 11:16

Bearbehind I know full well it's not about the fine. But I have suffered terribly with mental ill health in the past, that is more of a threat to me than Corona, I have two kids to look after and to me they come before anyone else.

mrshectic · 05/04/2020 11:16

My brother lives in France, they have to fill out a form to allow one person from the house for food shopping. Plus they have to say specifically what they getting. If they are stopped and they aren't doing what they are supposed to it's an instant hefty fine. There are checkpoints and road blocks everywhere. He too has a dog and they don't have a garden, they can go out the front to let the dog go to the toilet, that's it. They've been that way for weeks now.

If we keep being ignorant to the fact this is serious, they will have to follow suit and ban exercise.

GabsAlot · 05/04/2020 11:16

well i wouldnt be surprised threads ive been on saying i can go out shopping every day if i like etc-people bnding the ruls to their own stisfaction its ridiculous

this weekend people were turned away from the coast one family having driven down from london-thats how stupid people are

Sockwomble · 05/04/2020 11:17

As I said on the other thread if we cannot go out to exercise then our son is going into residential care. I know we wouldn't cope with the level of aggression in that situation and the continuous self injurious behaviour. I know we won't be the only family doing that.

UYScuti · 05/04/2020 11:17

There is only a certain amount of outdoor space for people to use, it seems rational to prioritise exercise over sunbathing/sitting in the outdoors
Those people using outdoor spaces for sunbathing/sitting outdoors make it harder for those who wish to maintain their health by exercising to do so safely