"Bubble policies"---picking a few friends and sticking to them

[Kokeshi123]

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-coronavirus-lockdown-bubble-strategy-18149514

Some countries have been starting to introduce (or mull the introduction of) "bubble" policies---where people are asked to socialize with only a very limited group of people and stick to just that group.

My main thoughts are that (a) 10 people might be too much--difficult to keep track of, but also (b) I suspect that a lot of people are going to start gradually trickling towards this kind of solution anyway. This came up on my feed just after I posted that if school closures were to go on and on, I would personally start mixing with one or two other trusted families, to pool educational duties and also to give the kids a bit of normality. I am really not okay with kids going months on end with no interaction with their peers except on a screen.

Given that most people have been extremely responsible and supportive regarding lockdown, I think this could actually work quite well for a bit?

I think for some people this would work but for others it would increase isolation knowing others are seeing friends and family. The practicalities don't work. And if you are allowed to see friend X on Friday and family Y on Saturday then we are back to no lockdown effectively.

I can't think of anything worse than feeling obliged to socialise with a pre-picked select few. I have some good friendships I know would not survive that sort of pressure. People's relationships are already crumbling due to being nose to nose constantly. Unless I am totally misunderstanding the suggestion, I truly hope it is not imposed on us as some wonderful step forward. I can see some situations where it would work well - but I don't think it is by any means workable for most.

I think it's another idea thrown out to gauge public opinion.

What I intended to do anyway, except my group would be my parents and my in laws. And they wouldn't see anyone else either.

Also wouldn't that just be like lockdown and you see those select people once a week (on rotation of course!) It's not like you'll spend all your time with then. We'll still be social distancing generally. Better than just lockdown right? Also the longer we take to come out of this, the more likely it is we are to form habits of not going out loads.

I think this would be really harsh for keyworkers and keyworkers kids, particularly those in high risk categories such as those working in hospitals and care homes. I am in this category and can see a scenario where dd and I could be excluded from bubbles as the risk would be much lower for other families mixing with friends/family who have stayed at home. Understandable but incredibly hurtful and difficult nonetheless.

It is a particularly bad idea for the UK.

The only people I care about seeing right now outside of my household are my best friend 300 miles away, my cousin 150 miles away and my mum 150 miles away also but in the other direction so this doesn’t help me at all 😢 I think it will be impossible to keep track of, people have proven time and time again through lockdown they can’t behave responsibly so this is just a recipe for disaster. As well as another annoying word/phrase to add to the multiple words and phrases I never want to hear again ‘I m visiting my bubble on my daily walk for my daily exercise whilst social distancing’ 😀