So we are allowed to get on a packed tube but cant see family?

[Smithtylater]

Surely if they are testing at the rate they say they are and the family you want to see are not vulnerable/isolating it should be allowed?

[Bathroom12345]

Btw. Why is Scotland’s rate so bad? Outside of Glasgow and Edinburgh there are no big cities. Is it care homes which are giving them a higher R rate?

[Bluntness100]

It is riskier seeing your family as you will get physically closer and spend much longer with them than you would a stranger. Public transport in the main conobations excluded.

If they can get as many people to work from home and avoid public transport it eases the pressure there, London is of course different.

But even going to the park and sitting on a bench, you’re likely to keep your distance from a stranger but not from family or friends.

[Bluntness100]

So if we are allowed to go and sit on a park bench being surrounded by complete strangers why are we not allowed to go and see our family members?

Because you’re unlikely to kiss or hug a stranger or sit close to them for hours on end.

[Bathroom12345]

Nik. It’s because the viral load is much worse if you are with other members of your family you don’t live with. You won’t be hugging and kissing people on park benches and being with them for hours on end.

So no big family parties.

[Pomegranatepompom]

Absolutely makes sense to priory the economy. Hopefully if we stick to the gradual change, we’ll be able to see family/from beds soon. We won’t go to see elderly relatives even if we could, we would not want to increase their risk.

[MarshaBradyo]

So if we are allowed to go and sit on a park bench being surrounded by complete strangers

You’d still do the 2m thing anyway

[Pomegranatepompom]

*prioritise not priory

[NiknicK]

I have seen my parents twice in the last few weeks. We sat at opposite ends of my garden for around 30 minutes. We didn’t hug or kiss, they didn’t come into my house to use the loo, I didn’t make them a drink they brought their own, and I sanitised seats for them to sit on before they came. We did not come into contact what so ever but to see them face to face as opposed to on a screen impacted on our mental health in a positive way. People can see family and be socially distant just like they can be socially distant around strangers. It’s all a matter of using your common sense.

[HarrietOh]

People who have been alone for 7 weeks now are really upset by lack of any information on being able to spend time with another human anytime soon. People are going mad

[Dadnotamum72]

Surely all the people that want to see family/ friends will just unofficially meet at the park and sit 2 metres apart, weather dependent the parks and beaches will be heaving by next weekend

[Smileyoriley]

You can kiss goodbye to people continuing to adhere to social distancing advice following the pathetic inarticulate rambling from someone so spectacularly unfit for office at a time of world crisis.

[Funkycats]

I think you are far safer sitting for an hour in your parents' garden at a sensible distance apart, than crammed on public transport with a load of strangers.

[totiredtocare]

@NiknicK the issue is that technically what you are doing is against the rules as currently gardens are considered part of the house hold, so while I agree with your common sense, it's technically not allowed. Apparently it's now fine to do that on the park.. but not in the garden. He sent why the police are currently inundated with calls from neighbours snitching on each other. My sister had mum and BIL in her garden yesterday and got a phone call from the police warning her Because someone reported her.

[Itisasecret]

Sorry but no. If I’m exposing myself to a full class of KS1 I will not be refraining from having big birthday knees up in my own house. If I’m ok to be in a Petri dish for 7 hours a day, like fuck am I not seeing my own family.

[StrawberryBlondeStar]

@Itisasecret on that logic doctors, nurses, carers, prison service staff, court staff, judiciary should have all been allowed to have big parties this entire time. Shame no one sent us the memo...

[Quarantined]

God are some people being deliberately stupid or do they genuinely find everything difficult to understand?

[NuffSaidSam]

But if you're spending all day in a Petri dish of germs why on earth would you then go and spend time in close proximity to your family?!

Do you hate them?

[Pomegranatepompom]

Selfish people will always be able to justify their actions 🙁

If you’re more exposed, surely you’ll want to limit your friends/ family exposure?

[Cornettoninja]

@itisasecret but do you not see how that’s exposing your family to that same ‘petri dish’?

I get the frustration, we all do, but do you really not see how you’re putting your own family at risk?

The numbers will come down eventually, I’m not sure it’s worth infecting those I care about the most whilst the risk is greater.

[BunsyGirl]

If the economy crumbles, people die. It really is that simple. Poverty causes death. We cannot sit at home forever hoping that this thing will go away or that a vaccine is discovered. It’s a balancing act to try and get as many people working where it is safe to do so.

[notchickenagain]

Crikey, the amount of people I'm hearing getting 'confused' because their exact scenario hasn't been spelled out in words of one syllable. . Use your common sense! Listen to what he's saying!

[Quarantined]

Re schools going back and many teachers (predictably) protesting this...

Evidence shows that children do not pass the disease on. A recent paediatric study found not one single case of a child passing it on. My two children are suspected to have had it, I was in close contact the entire time and did not become ill.

I hope teachers will do proper research to understand the real (negligible) risks, and will take a sensible approach and do their part in helping the country get back to some semblance of normal. (Shielding/high risk teachers excepted of course).

But what I think we're about to find is that teachers are not all worthy of the hero label that so many of them have been adopting! When called on to get back to work to help us all, they're going to be up in arms claiming it's too dangerous.

It's the care home workers and hospital workers who are heroes.

Most of the teachers I know were thrilled to be getting an extra long holiday whilst enjoying more job security than almost anyone else. They've had it easier than almost every single other group in all this.

[bigchris]

Itisasecret

Us key workers do it all the time , we don't want to infect our families

[user1471448556]

The teacher bashing on here is beyond tedious. Teachers have been working throughout this, looking after the kids of key workers ... they also had to work through the Easter hols. They do a very demanding job for which they are inadequately rewarded. They get pressure from all angles, ofsted, head teachers, kids and parents.

[Pomegranatepompom]

A lot of people have enjoyed being paid and not needing to work. It can’t continue forever.