Easing family and friends restrictions

[Poingboing]

I hope it's next week! Surely they cant be thinking about opening schools before family and friends??

I hope so too, I am desperate to see my boyfriend who has been wfh for 6 weeks as I have I but I think we will get another 3 weeks of lockdown personally

From an economic perspective, it makes more sense to open schools before allowing social gatherings.

I really hope they let us visit one household from Sunday but it has to be outside/2m apart/less than an hour, or something. Anything!

I hope so too catyapurella. My daughter is really missing her partner. I’m wondering when partners will be able to hug each other too, as opposed to potentially see each other outside from a distance (like Scotland are planning).

I really hope so. I think being able to see even one other household would help the mental health of millions. Personally, I think other restrictions would feel more bare-able for longer if this was allowed

Im desperate to see my Dad soon so I hope so.

Would it be local family only? Or would they allow people to travel to family in other parts of the UK?
Will social distancing still apply even if you can see family if you all stay outside?
If you can see some of your family without any social distancing measures it will be a massive relaxation of the current rules. If you can start travelling to visit people in other areas of the country then everyone will start travelling. Can’t see any of it happening yet when we have the worst death rate in Europe.

Also wondering if would they lift the guidelines for those in the very vulnerable group who have been told to shield and those who are not shielding but still in the other vulnerable group (those with mild asthma etc)? Would they be ok to travel or start mixing with family they haven’t seen for weeks. I don’t think even the government knows yet.

Hate to say it, but with the death rate we have, I think we have at least 3 weeks before they allow us to see family. I cant see any major changes coming on sunday

Surely we can meet one other household outside for a walk from next week? Maybe with a restriction on total number of people eg 4....desperately hoping this, it’d be low risk compared to a lot of other restrictions but would make a massive difference to at least see and chat to others

I certainly hope so. People need their support networks.

I hope so too, but I'm concernef that because my parents live nearly 200 miles away and my bf 100, I won't be able to see either of them. It's a huge worry to me though as they're my main support networks, but I or they would need to travel in order to see them. 😔

But surely people who live alone and don't have local family or friends can't be expected to wither away in their loneliness until infinity and beyond?

I really don’t know how they will manage it. If you can only see one household how do parents chose between children and that then means the child they don’t chose is still isolated.

There may be some relaxation-perhaps the reason the announcement has moved from Thursday to Sunday-to keep us in bed the bank holiday then release us!

Tbh me and a friend are already meeting once a week for a chat 2m away in the park. Fail to see the harm myself.

@Madein1995
It is because if everyone did that there wouldn't be a lockdown. I understand that it seems harmless to you and your friend but really it's about everyone just accepting the rules and not thinking - that doesn't apply to me.

Seriously, they can't say things like 'you can meet your family but stay 2m apart, you can go for a walk but not for a picnic' etc. Loads of people not understanding current guidelines, they certainly won't understand anything more complicated.

Changingmyname - you are actually allowed to meet in groups of 2 outside already so pp is doing nothing wrong. The government guidelines state

Unless you are with members of your household, you must not gather in groups of more than two people in public spaces like parks

As lovely as it would be for restrictions to be eased I don’t see how any responsible leader can authorise it when the infection rate is not going down at all ???

i think they will ease it as it's becoming impossible to enforce as many are breaking it

I hope it's next week! Surely they cant be thinking about opening schools before family and friends??

Why do you say this? Do you have school aged children?

@gruffalotoes but then Boris said if your friends ask you to meet you should say no?

Tbh myself and a lot of people are already meeting family outside at 2m distance.

Its no different to being out for a walk and keeping 2m.distance

I think they should let us meet for dinner or something in immediate family's home..
With a maximum no of people

I’m wondering when partners will be able to hug each other too, as opposed to potentially see each other outside from a distance

Well Neil Ferguson seems to think it’s fine for ‘partners’ to do more than just hug!

I don’t family and friends restrictions will be lifted this week sadly.

My mum lives round the corner, she’s had Covid (tested, as she works for the NHS), we can see her house from ours, but obviously can’t ‘see’ her. It was her 60th birthday last week and she lives alone so that was tough.
My dad also lives nearby, I saw him last week when I bumped into him in the Co-op! I normally see both 2-3 times a week.

Hopefully after another 3 weeks!

I dont tend to ensure my behaviour is perfect, to model to other people..I'm not a pro social model for the world. I have that enough in work let alone in my personal life. It's hardly the same as holding parties for eg. And quite frankly if someones stupid enough to see my actions and copy , well that's on them and not me.

Incidentally lwst night was the first time I did it. A half hour chat was bloody lovely. It was so much better than a phone convo as we could talk properly. Its much better being present. Considering this debacle has gone on for weeks with no end in sight, with the British public seemingly loving lockdown and "long may it last" then yep I'm gonna start doing things like that. Its hurting no one. I am not, nor am trying to be, a role model for everyone else. Quite frankly I dont give a shiny shite if others copy my behaviour. That's their look out, and perhaps those people should apply some critical thinking.
For reference - we stood more than 2m apart in w fresh air. No more risk than youd encounter queuing in Asda car park.