2m social distancing just not going to happen after lockdown

[FreierFall]

Even now many people can't be bothered. Yes queuing outside people do but once inside B&Q, Aldi etc it's just not happening.....at least where I am. Can you imagine walking down a busy high street after lockdown ends and trying to keep 2m away from everyone. Totally unrealistic to expect the population to do it. Heathrow have said social distancing at their airport is basically impossible. Not sure what the solution is though until the vaccine is available (next 6 months fingers crossed)

[psychomath]

Good post Derbygerbil.

I think some of what happens next will depend on how many people turn out to have had the virus already, once the antibody tests are ready. About half of my friends have had COVID-like symptoms during the lockdown period but none of us were hospitalised - obviously without the test we can't be sure that's what it was, but if it does turn out that a high proportion of people have antibodies already then the social distancing measures can be relaxed a bit. For example maybe we'll have to wear masks inside supermarkets and not go out if we have a cough, but standing 2m from every other person at all times won't be necessary. On the other hand, if only a few percent of people have had it then we'll need to keep stricter measures for longer.

[ifonly4]

I work in a well known shop. We've been told there has to be a 2m distance and to ask customers to step back sufficiently if we're by a wall, another customer or need to operate self serve - no one has, but if they do refuse we've been told to walk away. I doubt many employers think like them though.

Organisations are going to struggle even more financial with time having to be given to social distance, extra hand washing, paying an extra member of staff to be on the door to limit numbers. It'll all have a knock on effect on products being more expensive.

Regarding being at work, you could argue people won't be going out so much socially, shopping, so they've got time to queue (I know what I'd rather be doing though).

[Letseatgrandma]

If you've got a lot of the country back to their 40-50 hour weeks are they going to be happy to stand aside for other workers or is that going to drift to an end?

I definitely think that will be an issue.

[Derbygerbil]

Face masks are surely part of the answer. They may not be completely effective, but they should substantially reduce the risk of someone with the virus from passing it on.

Part of the problem is that some people have an “all or nothing” mentality. Either something removes the risk entirely, or it’s not worth it... Hence people not going out in case a puff of wind from a passing cyclist will contaminate them.

Then those people, unable to cope either with the behaviour needed to continue completely protecting against the risk, or the concept of risk mitigation go “fuck it... If I can’t 100% prevent it, I may as well carry on as normal”.

[Qasd]

In density crowded cities it will be impossible not because people “cannot be bothered”but because you could never with the best will in the world walk through central London streets two metres apart if there were a normal number of people out and about it only works now because most people are not out so when you do need to go out it’s quiet. Socially distancing would practically require a lot less people to live London than do!

[FreierFall]

I don't blame people for not being able to stick to the 2m thing. It's so alien and unnatural, and to be constantly checking for other people around you....It's mentally draining. I'd rather wear a gas mask!!

[MilkTrayLimeBarrel]

Well it will be happening wherever I am - I will keep on distancing myself from everybody for as long as it takes to get a vaccine/treatment.

[PeachOrchid27]

I’ve just been to the shopping precinct near me. Apart from the queues and the odd face mask wearer it was business as usual. Kids playing football in the precinct. The car park was full. Absolutely no social distancing once inside any of the shops.

[LondonJax]

I said to DH only yesterday that I wonder what will happen when most people are back at work so supermarket shops can't be staggered as much as they are at the moment AND we get to to autumn and the rain starts....

I can't imagine everyone being quite so easy going standing in a queue outside Tesco on a Saturday when it's pouring with rain.

Actually, that's also spurred a thought. The supermarkets give a 'vulnerable or NHS shopping time' at the moment which most people are happy with because they have a lot of time in which to do their shopping. Is that still going to stand when everyone goes back to work? If you've got a lot of the country back to their 40-50 hour weeks are they going to be happy to stand aside for other workers or is that going to drift to an end?

[bellinisurge]

Spending my day off making face masks with "funky" fabric for dd and mil/fil and probably myself and dh. God awful things. I despise them but if they what people need to wear to remind each other to at least try continued social distancing, then maybe they'll serve a purpose.
And I have a load of spare odds and ends because I like to sew anyway. M&M fabric face masks, anyone.

[GrimmsFairytales]

What I mean is, if the infection rate goes up, they will increase restrictions again

I understood that. I was pointing out that in many situations social distancing isn't possible or practical. It's not as black and white as your post, saying this will happen because social distancing is being ignored or because people have had enough.

[Eskarina1]

What I mean is, if the infection rate goes up, they will increase restrictions again so if public transport being used means lots of infection they will do something to stop it.

[KatherineJaneway]

It isn't happening now.

[GrimmsFairytales]

I think if social distancing is ignored, we can expect to go back into lockdown

I don't think it's as black and white as that. It's not that people will be ignoring social distancing it's that in many situations it's just not possible or practical.

Take the above example about public transport. If you don't drive and work is too far to walk, then you're reliant on it. How realistic is it to have people 2m apart on train / tube platforms, or queues at bus stops blocking the pavement.

Then the bus, train, tube arrives and only a set number can get on. This will be a slower process, and will also have a massive impact on getting to work. Not to mention how impractical it is to expect people to remain socially distanced when getting off at their stop.

[rhowton]

Everyone mentioning McDonald's are being unreasonable!! Damn you! I've not had lunch yet and all I want is 3 chicken selects, medium fries, Diet Coke and a galaxy caramel McFlurry!! Oh god! I can't wait!!

[Eskarina1]

I think if social distancing is ignored, we can expect to go back into lockdown because the impact of the virus being uncontrolled through the population is greater than any other impact. The government can't let millions of people have it at once. It doesn't matter if individuals have had enough. So we need to adapt to what we can do.

[happysunr1se]

I'm wondering how its going to work on trains? Is there gonna be a member of staff at the door telling people where to sit? Telling people, this carriage has 10 people already, sorry u can't get on, and closing the door on people waiting on the platform??

[Delatron]

Yes, @GrimmsFairytales I think negligible too. We need to use the ‘science’ more.

I’m just wondering about schools and when they eventually go back this is one area they could be more relaxed with. Especially outside in the fresh air. Mainly for the mental health of the kids and also because I doubt they’ll keep apart.

[BigChocFrenzy]

"Heathrow have said social distancing at their airport is basically impossible. "

Foreign holidays, especially by air, are one of the things likely to remain banned for many months,
possibly even until there is an effective treatment and / or vaccine

Similarly any activity that involves public gatherings over say 50,
except for some work, public transport and schools - i.e. the essentials

In Germany, we started to relax lockdown 10 days ago,
but before this, Oktoberfest was cancelled,
we were warned that foreign holidays v unlikely this year
and no date even for domestic holidays - travel, hotels etc

[GrimmsFairytales]

Delatron I would imagine the risk would be so negligible, it almost seems daft to call it a risk at all.

It's one of the reasons people huffing and moaning about not being able to get past people in the shops annoys me. Simply walking past someone doesn't automatically mean you'll get the virus, and I think some common sense needs to be applied.

[Delatron]

I do wonder what the risk is for say walking with 0.5 meters of someone versus 2m if you just walk past quickly? As long as they don’t cough on you? I also heard 2m was arbitrary.

If you stand close to someone, indoors talking for 20 minutes then the risk will increase.

Yes it’s like the 5 a day or the 14 units a week advice.

[tigger1001]

I noticed yesterday when I was shopping that less and less people are keeping their distance. The most guilty, certainly where I was, seemed to be these wearing masks. People seemed to think it was reasonable to lean over people's trolleys to reach stuff rather than waiting for a minute or two,

It is difficult in some situations to maintain social distance but do think that it needs to be our new normal for quite some time if we want out of lockdown

[GrimmsFairytales]

I thought I read somewhere this week that the 2m was relatively arbitrary anyway

It is to some extent. As they've repeatedly said your risk increases, when spending more than 15 minutes within two metres of an infected person.

[justtb]

Felt like telling people to 'get the eff away from me.' In Aldi a few weeks back. I've avoided doing big shops since! Apparently where my DP works no one seems to care either.. if lockdown ended the rule would just be ignored even more.. because well lockdown has ended and that's enough for some people

[Kingjarvis]

Can’t do it where I work. No one cares though