Stop going out!

[CurtainWitcher]

Watching today's update and the cars usage graph shows that people are starting to drive for non-essential journeys again.

WHY?

Why can't people just stay at home?! Stop driving around! I see people shopping twice a week or more, regularly. WHY?!

I'm going out because I need to work and because my work needs me to be there, so I alternate between WFT and working out of home.

And also because I'm fed up with sitting at home.

As mentioned on another thread, I think the police are at least in part to blame for the increase. The release of their own internal guidelines last week about essential travel has only muddied the waters for people who genuinely want to do the right thing and also has given the covidiots permission to be, well, covidiots.

Some of their internal guidelines were welcome. For example, it really is ok to pick up non essential items alongside your essential items while you are in the same shop - go for food, and for example, pick up some chocolate, wine, plants, shorts for DCs, hairdye or whatever as long as you are quick and respect social distancing. Overzealous police needed that guidance - that it is really not ok to search shopping baskets. They need to not be ridiculous with issues like that, otherwise they will lose public confidence and policing by consent will crumble.

But the internal police guidance that it was ok for people to drive for exercise as long as the time spent exercising is longer than that spent travelling?! My heart sank when I read that. I knew that the genuinely confused and the covidiots would be straight back in their cars and on their bikes heading for the countryside and the coast again. This really was a mistake by the police and goes directly against the government and public health guidance to stay local. The police haven't shot themselves in the foot this time, they have shot us all in the foot, (but especially those living in rural and coastal places), because it will increase viral spread and tensions in and between different communities.

We really need to ignore the police on this point and follow the government and public health guidance to stay local.

What concerns me is if they start to go out more then cases will rise again and lockdown will remain in place longer, and may get even stricter. Just stay at home

I have started driving every day for a walk. And go to the shops aswell most days. I thought that was alright now?

People need to stop getting so obsessed about what other people are doing, it can't be doing anything good.

Yes there will be people either bending or breaking the rules. This will always happen whether its lockdown/social distancing rules or any rules altogether. Its life. People bend and break rules all the time.

However, most people are good and behave by following the rules. Its just the same with going out now. There will be people making the odd unnecessary journey, but the majority of people out will have a perfectly valid reason.

So just follow the rules yourself and stop getting into a tizz over what other people are doing. You're doing yourself no favours. Most people have perfectly valid reasons for being out and those that don't really dont give a shit about you. Getting upset and angry at them has no effect other than wind you up more.

I don't have a car, but is it ok with you if I shop more than once a week OP? I just can't carry a week's worth of family shopping back in one go.

Could you tell me what other rules you've invented? I do so want to make sure I don't violate them.

people are using pathetic excuses, such as not getting supermarket delivery slots, but that doesn't explain why they need to go out twice a week to the shops or more

Um, not very imaginative are you?

" I see people shopping twice a week or more, regularly. WHY?!"

I shop twice a week because I'm on foot and can't carry a whole week's worth. We're to shop as infrequently as possible, which I do.

I have started driving every day for a walk. And go to the shops aswell most days. I thought that was alright now?

Going for a walk every day is fine (and a short drive to get there OK), going to the shops every day is obviously unnecessary for most people.

Lots of people are justifying why they're going out with sensible reasons but for the most part those reasons won't have changed in the past few weeks so wouldn't account for INCREASED car usage.
Many more businesses are finding ways to re-open and therefor more people are working. There are more lorries on the road this week than last. I could drive to work and see 3 vehicles a week ago, now I see a lot more cars and lorries at peak times.

I go to the shops several times per week because I can't carry lots, the shops are sold out of a lot of things plus I don't have time to do one big shop

FraterculaArctica I’m with you.

And I get that of course people have different circumstances and some people have valid reasons to go to shops more than once, walk for their mental health etc etc. I get all of that, I really do.

But I also think there are lots of people - because I see them on here, and IRL - thinking the rules don’t apply to them or they have some special dispensation for absolutely no reason. They’re bored so they’ll go to the shop, or go back to the shop for something totally unnecessary (not people who need nappies obv).

I love shops. But I haven’t been in a shop for over 6 weeks. Some people just don’t seem able to help themselves.

Those people will be the reason lots of people needlessly die. And also the reason we will have to conform to this for longer than we might have done.

I think people are simply taking the blanket guidelines and making some adjustments. As long as social distancing is observed, I don't think this is an issue. Six weeks is a long time, and as long as people don't blatantly flout lockdown rules, I have no issue with someone going on two socially distanced walks a day or talking to their granny through an open window, two metres away. Buying two beers isn't the problem- If we start policing purchases and become 'lockdown police' then morale just gets destroyed, then you'll really see people breaking the guidelines. Things need to be as upbeat as possible to get through this, so no, I wouldn't start criticising someone as long as they are socially distancing and not taking the absolute piss.

My aunt, 76 lives alone and goes to the big Asda every day as she's bored.

I don't think the OP is referring to those of you who need to go out more frequently. She's thinking about the people who could well remain home but go out either because they don't care about the rules or because they're bored

But how on earth could you know what strangers are doing? unless you are stopping every person and asking them you cannot possible know the purpose of their journey. This is exactly why key workers are getting abusive notes on their cars- people are making baseless ASSUMPTIONS without knowing the facts. Its moronic and its vile

I see people shopping twice a week or more, regularly. WHY?

Because I don't have a working fridge/freezer at the moment. I am a full time carer to disabled DP and we have a 15 year old DS who has major mental health issues through this period. THAT'S WHY!

OMG i do wish people would stop being so fucking judgmental. Saw this written on a FB page and really thought that MN could do with having this posted at the top of every post...

WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT ...
I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it's not like that. We are sailing in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is welcomed. A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis.

For some that live alone they're facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters.

Some are bringing in extra money with endless overtime, Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales. Others no longer have a job.

Some families of 4 will receive £5000 per month from the stimulus while other families of 4 will see £0 for the duration of it.

Some were concerned about getting a certain chocolate for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread and milk for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don't qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break the quarantine and are seen outside.

Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday.

Some have experienced the near death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don't believe this is a big deal.

So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing.

We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey so don't judge others by what's happening in your boat, we are all just fighting our way through the storm.
Good luck to you all and we'll see you in the calm

I drive to and from the school I've been working in all week.

I go to the store when I need to do get food for my family.

I go to the store when I need to pick up food for some other struggling families.

Fuck off.

Also, the shock factor has worn off. Companies are going back, gov have confirmed we can drive for exercise. That in itself should explain some increased car usage.

I cycled to Boots today to pick up son’s meds. It was busy. I saw several caravans 🤷🏻‍♀️ Where do they think they’re off to? We. Are. Bloody. Hopeless. People asking “how come Germany and Finland and God knows where else are doing better than us?” It’s because the average Brit thinks they’re invincible and the rules are NOT for them.

@DBML

Could you not have combined the shopping trip with either work or excercise outing? Sounds like you are making excuses to go out multiple times.

Agree (thank goodness) @wanderings

On Monday I went out and collected a supermarket click and collect for 2 vulnerable shielding families.

On Tuesday I did my own shopping. (family of 5 adults, and animals, so need lots)

On Wednesday I did an emergency prescription run for a lady who I am keeping a friendly eye on.

On Saturday I went and collected and click and collect for my parents and took it to their house.

So, yes, my car is in and out. But not for fun or pleasure, but so that those 4 familes can be shielded.

Every morning I walk the dog, being careful to keep strict distance from others.

Every evening dh walks the dog with 2 of our kids, as it is the only way to get them out of the house for exercise and fresh air. Again, being strict about social distancing.

What is it with people needing to judge everyone else for their actions??

If you don't have to shop more than once a week then you obviously have a large fridge and plenty of storage. Or it's just you in the house.
I used to shop 5 days a week, I have very little storage. This is a logistical nightmare for me. I'm hunting for any spare delivery slots and grabbing a click and collect every week. All the extra store cupboard food is being tripped over on the kitchen floor.

I don’t know why people are justifying their shopping habits to this curtain-twitching OP. They may wish to impose their own made-up rules on people but this isn’t their own private country.

Of course I realise that some people will have special circumstances, restricted diets, or whatever, and it's not as simple as "forgot the onions". But then surely a) you'd be less prone to forget things? (We can afford to forget onions, because although they're a store cupboard basic they're not literally an essential to us) and b) the general level of forgetting/being unable to get essentials in a single shop should be much the same now as 4 weeks ago? Less, in fact, because the stocking of the supermarkets is generally better than at the start of lockdown.

The rules haven't changed, so why do people think there's any justification for changing their behaviour?