AIBU to think people who tested positive should stay indoors?

[Fuchsake]

My neighbour and his wife have tested positive for coronavirus. They’re “self isolating” which basically means sitting out in the back garden all day. The houses are small terraces so the gardens are tiny and theirs borders three others. One neighbour (me) has small DC, the lady out the back is elderly and extremely vulnerable so has been shielding for five weeks, and the neighbour on the other side is recovering from a stroke. Their seating area is against the fence and my DCs sandpit is against the other side of fence so less than 2m away.

Everyone is having to stay in so these selfish twats don’t infect them. My littlest one is screaming to play outdoors and can’t because there are infected people literally on the other side of the fence. AIBU to tell them to stop being so selfish?

[BiggerBoat1]

The guidance isn't to stay 2m away if there's a solid fence in between you.

Oh dear

[Makeitgoaway]

Vulnerable people haven't been told to stay at home because 2m isn't enough, it's because if they go out, there's a likelihood that 2m can't always be maintained but mostly, if you go out, you're touching things other people have touched.

Where is "the news" saying 2m isn't enough? WHO advice is 1m

[PurpleDaisies]

And the news has been saying that 2m is insufficient anyway.

Has it? The social distancing advice has changed?

[NailsNeedDoing]

So what’s wrong with just politely asking them if they’re ok, if they need anything, and at the same time, letting them know you’re worried and asking if you can have a garden rota?

While I agree the risk is extremely low, if you’re worried then you’re worried, so nicely do something about it instead of slagging them off.

Them wanting to use their garden is no more selfish than you wanting you uses your garden. They didn’t get infected on purpose.

[forkfun]

I live in a semi-detached house. I suspect I sleep less than 2m from my neighbor. There's only a solid wall between us. Will I be safe??????

[Thighmageddon]

I'm terrified of catching it being high risk and have been ventilated before and trust me that's a horrific experience.

However I'm fairly sure at least one of my neighbours has had it given her cough and she'd been sat outside getting some sun. I still went out to hang my washing out because I knew the risk of catching it over the fence was very slim.

People do still need some fresh air and you can't police someone legitimately sitting in their garden when you don't know if your or your kids have it asymptomatically.

[Makeitgoaway]

The level of selfishness that people want to use this virus to justify is astonishing.

Here we have a nurse who has become ill in the course of their work and you want to prevent them using their garden to recuperate before going back to do more nursing.

If you're worried, stay indoors but really your child's need to use the sandpit trumps their desire to sit outdoors to recover?

[bamboothrough]

How tall is the fence?

[Fuchsake]

m.independent.ie/world-news/coronavirus/two-metres-not-enough-when-social-distancing-39083182.html

Yes I think the desire of one couple to sit outdoors is trumped by three other families with children wanting to use their gardens.

[Floatyboat]

I suspect the op just wanted to have her feelings of resentment validated and she is not really interested in reassuring rationality.

[BiggerBoat1]

I live in a semi-detached house. I suspect I sleep less than 2m from my neighbor. There's only a solid wall between us. Will I be safe??????

Shit. Same here. Should I wear a mask to bed?

[buttcrackmcheese]

Yabu

[Soubriquet]

So because you have children, you’re more important?

No

They have the right to use their garden just like you have the right to use yours

Just use the damn garden

[Makeitgoaway]

I live in a semi-detached house. I suspect I sleep less than 2m from my neighbor.

Oh god, that must reality for a lot of us, I dont want to think about it

[PopcornsPopping]

I agree with respectfully speaking to them over the fence, ask them how they are and explain that you’re a bit anxious and could they let you know when they plan to be out or in.

I think they have every right to outside (and probably need the vitamin d for their health) and fences are probably enough protection but I’m sure they would understand your anxiety.

[BenjiB]

YABU. There’s a fence between you. As long as they don’t get a ladder, lean over and cough or sneeze directly onto you you’ll be fine.

[NailsNeedDoing]

Yes I think the desire of one couple to sit outdoors is trumped by three other families with children wanting to use their gardens.

Well, they obviously disagree, and as they’re not actually doing anything wrong by sitting in their own garden, and the problem is mostly in your head because it’s you that worried, don’t you think you should be the one to try and do something about it?

[Makeitgoaway]

But the couple sitting outdoors aren't preventing anyone using their garden, it's you who's doing that to yourself.

I do understand why people are unaware of the mild and recovered cases in their area though. What was the son thinking, posting about it?!

[InfiniteCurve]

Government guidance on self isolating specifically says you can use your garden.

[Fruitteatime]

Could you cover your fence with a plastic sheet to cover the holes if you are worried about them coughing onto the fence?

[BiggerBoat1]

Who coughs onto a fence?

[MrsChoc]

Yes I think the desire of one couple to sit outdoors is trumped by three other families with children wanting to use their gardens.

But you can all use your gardens perfectly safely so no need to out ‘trump’ each other. Given the virus is contagious before symptoms are apparent you have a very similar theoretical risk from all your other neighbours who potentially could be incubating it anyway.

[randomsabreuse]

Many Fences are really not very solid. We have the ones with 1 inch gaps between posts, a sneeze could definitely get through it.

My bedroom wall is hopefully fairly airtight (fire regulations would hopefully specify this) so less of a concern being "adjacent"

[BreakfastAtSquiffanys]

I live in a semi-detached house. I suspect I sleep less than 2m from my neighbor. There's only a solid wall between us. Will I be safe??????

Shit. Same here. Should I wear a mask to bed?

I'd ask your neighbour to wear a condom too, just in case