Do you think we’ll be able to see close family soon?

[Daybyday89]

I don’t care about anything else! I just want to see my family. I know probably everyone wants this but I’m really hoping when they review restrictions 7th May they’ll look at us possibly being able to see close family. What do you think?

I know nobody knows for definite and everyone is probably sick and tired of seeing threads like this but just a glimmer of hope and positivity right now I need it.

“My daughter has had it and thankfully recovered well so if she's immune I'm not sure I can see an issue with her visiting us”

It’s not yet established whether people who have had this become immune and/or can pass it on to others.

Seems likely that unless extensive testing is available and/or the position on immunity is established, the more people who don’t follow guidance because they prioritise their feelings and wishes over their, their families and other citizens’ risks, the more people will lose family members and friends.

I think people who are hoping or believing this is going to be going on for months like this need to remember why we are in lockdown. a PP summed it up pretty well - this isnt to stop everyone getting it, it was to prevent the NHS getting overwhelmed. why on earth do you think it says everywhere "protect the NHS, stay home, save lives" this was so anyone who was bad enough to need hospital treatment could.

you either have to come to terms with the fact we will be living alongside this virus for some time and that most of us need to get on with life however scary that may be or keep you and your family locked in your houses for next potential 18 months - that's if we even ever do get a working vaccine. I know which one I'll be doing

@cherrybunx0 Absolutely, but I have a feeling there will be many who lock themselves away. To me that isn't living, it's a miserable existence.

Some big assumptions there. Returning to work, DC to school is different from UK travel.

Seems likely that older, vulnerable and extremely vulnerable people will be advised to stay in for many months.

Different categories of activity: attending work (key work); attending work (non key work); education.
Local visits to friends family; relatively local: travelling across the UK.

It seems likely that after we’re back at work, DC in school etc, we will still be advised against UK travel to visit older/vulnerable family.

If they lift the ban on non-essential travel we will self isolate as a family for 2 weeks (to ensure we don't have it) and then go and stay with my parents for a week. They're shielding, and we haven't seen them in person for about 3 months.

My father's mental health is not good, and a visit will make a massive difference to him.

It's a 4 hour drive, and not essential, which is why we haven't done it yet.

There is a proposal of "contact clustering". This is where small, exclusive groups merge for various reasons. In Israel, apparently three families can share childcare, and in Belgium, they are considering allowing people to nominate a group of up to 10 people who are then allowed to interact socially, to the exclusion of all other social contacts.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/23/social-distancing-social-pods-coronavirus-lockdown

poshme so will you keep DC home from school/stay home from work to self isolate for those two weeks?

Presumably doing that will depend on the good will of your employers.

I had thought of doing something like that, once UK travel for non essential reasons is allowed, and think my employer would agree, although am concerned about DC missing more school.

Those posters saying just two households mixing, it wont be just two will it. Take my family (not including dhs for just one moment) - there is me and my household, if I was to be allowed to mix with my Mum's household - then you have your just two households, BUT my mother has 2 children that live away from home so either one child and set of grandchildren can't visit but the others can - do you really think families would do that? Then you throw in my dhs side, he has his parents, who also have 4 sets of children/grandchildren that don't live in their house so - only one set of those are allowed to visit?

That would be a ridiculous rule, in our family alone if you were allowed to mix your immediate family (those not in your household) you would have 8 households mixing. Some of those are keyworkers so suddenly the pool of mingling got bigger.... There is a reason it is your household only.

It's sad yes, not being able to see immediate family for a relatively short period, but parents/grandparents (and children/grandchildren) dying before their time is even sadder.

Oh and my opinion, no I don't think they will relax the rules/restrictions of mingling soon. And l, as a vulnerable member of society (not quite at shielding level so no protection in that sense) with a keyworker DH and very young children who need both their parents, I hope they don't lift restrictions too soon. I miss my family, but would miss living even more.

I’ll be seeing my dp after this lockdown - not giving up any more of my life to this, 6 weeks tops

I'm hoping 'non-essential travel' will be lifted earlier than kids going to school so no need to miss school.

I WFH, and can do that anywhere- and yes, employer would be fine. I could work whilst visiting my parents- my hours are flexible. Employer doesn't mind what time I work as long as each week's hours are done.

DH’s employer, though, will probably require everyone to physically attend work as soon as restrictions are lifted.

Very much doubt non essential travel will be allowed before schools are back, because policy wise education (and child protection, which lockdown affects v badly) is far higher priority.

Seems likely that unless extensive testing is available and/or the position on immunity is established, the more people who don’t follow guidance because they prioritise their feelings and wishes over their, their families and other citizens’ risks, the more people will lose family members and friends
@Dozer I agree, sadly.

I'm getting to the point where if this lockdown is extended I'm going to break ranks. We have isolated as a household for six weeks now, since our DD was born. We want to see our parents, they want to see their grandchildren, they are low risk fit and healthy and have also been isolating. I see large groups of family walking through our farm every day having arrived in separate cars for a walk and I think fuck it, why are we the silly buggers following the rules when apparently no one else is. The government are giving us no clue as to how long this might go on for and without something to work towards, I'm not prepared to live like this indefinitely. Looking after a newborn and a toddler alone whilst my husband is our lambing for 16+ hours a day is not what I ever planned to do - I need my mum to help me.

You don’t “need” your mum. It’s difficult, yes, but the issue here is your wishes and feelings. You see other people prioritising their wishes and feelings, and want to do the same. Understandable, but would be unethical, with respect to your mum, your household and other citizens.

@frillyfucks I agree with you, and you certainly wont be the only one - like I said before I have come to terms with the fact that this virus isnt going away until they have a vaccine

There is a difference between need and want .

@nellodee now that’s a good idea.

I’d comply with that. I only want to see my man then I’d be ok.

@Dozer with respect, you do not know what I need. My husband is gone from dawn to dusk every day and I am miserably failing to look after both of my children, my toddler is taking up all of my time and my newborn is just left to scream whilst I try (and fail) to look after them both. I refuse to send my toddler into nursery because I am able to look after them both and he is more exposed in nursery, but mentally I am not coping, I worry (as in I spend the night consumed with thoughts) of this turning into PND. The midwives and health visitors have shut up shop, no one has seen us since we were discharged from hospital. I need my mum.

I'm not denying that's incredibly fucking selfish of me, but I can't for a moment see how I can do much longer of this alone. My husband taking time off work is not an option, we have livestock and they do really need him more than we do.

@frillyfucks I agree with you.

People will just ignore it if there’s no relaxation soon. I have no work, no income, and no adult company and it’s very lonely.

And it is a need, it’s a basic human need to be with other humans.

I dont think that's selfish at all. my dd is 5 months tomorrow and I remember the first 2 weeks, I used to think just get to the next health visitor visit/midwife vist and my mum had to come round when she was a few weeks old because I started suffering from panic attacks. this is where common sense comes into it though. your mental health risk outweighs virus risk. sounds like a rough ride, hope you feel better soon and are regularly checking in with your mum over the phone at the very least although I know it's not the same

@frillyfucks you are not at all selfish. I know being married to a farmer can be lonely at the best of times.

There’s a mental health reason to be out and it sounds like you could see your mum under that, if she’s fit and well and up for it?