Can someone please explain this to me?

[pretzele]

Why is it ok for me to meet my mum at the park in the morning, and my dad in the afternoon, but not both at the same time?

They both live in the same house.

[emilybrontescorsett]

It's to reduced the number of people it 'social gathering' if they don't put restrictions on then there is nothing to stop a group of 6 meeting another group of 6. The police can't know that you don't all live in the same household. That group of 12 then congregate in the park so too do 30 other groups of 12 and get presto, there isn't any social distancing.

[StillDumDeDumming]

Yes but there is the threat of fines. The rules don’t allow it. No discretion is built in. I cannot afford a fine as my income has halved. I do know of a disabled lad racking up fines for sitting in the park as he only has a flat. (Under the old rules). I’m not desperate but am trying make people aware that it’s not enough to say oh I’m sure it’ll be ok really. Imagine if everyone did that. I think a lot of people are feeling forgotten. I’m not seeing my dc because the eldest is screening and they’re with their dad. But fun fact - dp has had Covid (all tested) and I am sure I have as I’m doing all his personal care.

[Concerned7777]

@StillDumDeDumming can I just add before I get flamed I would risk a fine in your specific circumstances I'm not advocating everyone do as they please and not be bothered about a fine!

[StillDumDeDumming]

You may count us as a single unit - the rules say otherwise and we don’t know what individual police officers might say.

[StillDumDeDumming]

@Concerned7777 yes the level of flaming is silly! I need to work (from home) - thanks for listening tho!

[Terriblehairdontcare]

Because they have to draw a line.

I mean what's the harm in me, dh and our dc meeting mil and Fil in the park, if we all keep our distance. SIL could come too, she's of course have to bring her ds. Oh wait, that's a gathering.

[Terriblehairdontcare]

What people need to understand is that the rules aren't to accommodate your personal circumstances. They are to make life that bit more bearable while still keeping a controlled environment.

[Bumpitybumper]

I find this kind of thing frustrating as it's obvious that the easing of lockdown restrictions has a massive potential to create a slippery slope scenario.

If we can meet one parent then why can't we meet both?
I'm a single parent so need to bring my children is that ok?
If children of single parents are allowed to see their grandparents in the park then why can't I?
I don't have children so can I meet all my siblings instead as the social group would be the same size as those families that have children?
And so it goes on....

[MeganBacon]

Sadly the reason is that one of the biggest challenges of this crisis is communicating with the people and striking a balance between nanny-state style micro management and letting the wild run free. You'd hope they could just be sensible (like the Swedes), and probably a significant majority can, but the weakness is in those who can't. So we are left with short soundbite-style instructions that can appear inconsistent and pointless, but communications people have worked on these in the hope that they will reach the people who can't apply common sense. The downside is that we all have to live with rules that sometimes appear inconsistent.

[JudyCoolibar]

If 10 people go to the park to meet someone then you’ve got 20 people in the park. If all 10 go to meet both their parents at the same time you’ve then got 30 people in the park...

But Hancock said you could meet your mother on her own, then 5 or 10 minutes later meet your father on his own. Assuming your mother and father come out together and one goes away and sits on a bench while you talk to each other, that's potentially 30 people and more in the park for a lot longer than would otherwise be the case.

[majesticallyawkward]

What i also don't get is, it's ok to meet my (not at risk or vulnerable) mum in a park for example, which will be packed with multiple potential contact points, unknown individuals/groups and possible exposure to cv and then stay there to meet any number of other people at a 2m distance, but couldnt sit with only my mum in our own gardens with no uncontrolled factors.

As a PP said though, this isn't to suit individual needs and everyone thinks their own personal circumstances are important and should be accommodated so soon you have thousands of scenarios.

[MeganBacon]

They want to avoid that people congregate. They have to draw the line somewhere or people who don't give a monkeys will be doing exactly what they did pre-COVID.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

I’ve obviously missed something. The last time I followed this was 2 days ago and it was one person per day. They really are making up these rules. 🙄

[Mummyoflittledragon]

Posted too soon. It’s like a bullying kids game.

[pretzele]

So can my household meet up with 1 other person all at the same time or is it just one at a time ?

[Terriblehairdontcare]

^
But Hancock said you could meet your mother on her own, then 5 or 10 minutes later meet your father on his own. Assuming your mother and father come out together and one goes away and sits on a bench while you talk to each other, that's potentially 30 people and more in the park for a lot longer than would otherwise be the case.^

Absolutely. If you were a complete and utter fuckwit without a shred of common sense.

[StillDumDeDumming]

@pretzele no as it stands no you can’t- it’s one at a time if you are mixing- though according to Hancock you can do this in succession.

It’s not about using your common sense. Or being a fuckwit. It’s about rules and the enforcement of those. You can use common sense but the police may not agree and if you break the rules, can fine you. They cannot fine you for being a fuckwit alone. And that’s unhelpful @Terriblehairdontcare

@Concerned7777 someone anonymously put £50 thru my door this week- perhaps that what they had in mind

[StealthPolarBear]

"
Today 08:04Bloomburger

If you have a child who you can't leave or a disabled partner of course you can go out with them but the rules still apply with regards to only seeing one other person (I'd count you and your partner/child as a single person) and you need to use your common sense, is it worth the risk?"
There's no of course about it. They have clarified the rules are one on one. Do you follow the rules or common sense? Both is not an option.

[sv877]

Its to discourage groups from gathering. Pretty pointless though as most people are now doing what they like anyway.

[IvinghoeBeacon]

Not round here they aren’t