Is there any point continuing the lockdown if no one is socially distancing?

[Notcontent]

I was in full support of the lockdown and in fact withdrew my dd from school a few days before schools closed. And I have been very diligent about complying with it. However, now that many of the rules have been relaxed, it feels like floodgates have opened and no one is bothering to comply.

I went for a run after work today and ran past two local parks. Both parks were heaving with people having picnics in large groups, children playing together, etc. It felt like a bank holiday weekend, rather than a Tuesday during a pandemic. Lots of people are also having parties and inviting friends over.

I know it’s complicated, but I am just a bit fed up, as the current situation may result in me losing my job (due to the economic impact) and is having other adverse impacts on my life, yet here all these people are having a jolly time, enjoying the fact that they don’t have to be at work. Sorry, just had to get that off my chest...

DD went for a walk and a picnic with her flatmates today, 4 adults together. I bet to many that looked like flouting of the rules, but it was a just one household exercising and then sitting down at a social distance from other groups.

The research seems to bear out that being outside reduces the risk of infection significantly.
So I’m not overly concerned about people in parks etc.

But activities indoors do seem to carry an increased risk of infection.

However, at some point we’re all going to have to do things that carry an increased risk. Be that go to work, a hospital appointment, visit a relative/partner/friend.
And that will spread infection. But what can we do?

However, at some point we’re all going to have to do things that carry an increased risk. Be that go to work, a hospital appointment, visit a relative/partner/friend.

Agreed. Surely there is going to come a point where the vast majority are not going to accept not going to see their extended family for much longer and will crack and just do it. There'll come a time when many more than now will say enough is enough.

I’ve been out today and although busy everyone seemed to be keeping their distance.

Based on the evidence so far, ourdoor activities only become risky if there are people singing, shouting or talking loudly for an extended period of time (e.g. at football matches).

Families having quiet picnics in parks run an extremely low (if not zero) risk to either catch or transmit C19.

I am absolutely still social distancing.

I will admit to breaking lockdown in the sense that I have met with family members in my garden but we are most definitely more than 2 metres apart and all surfaces disinfected when they left.

Most people round here are still respectful of distancing, either crossing the road or at least moving to one side of the pavement if they have to pass someone.

@platform9andthreequarters people are allowed to shop in couples if they are from the same household unless an individual shop puts in a specific rule

I agree with you

Haven't read all the comments

Seeing all the news about packed beaches etc is pissing me off. Basically the government is paying furloug to people to piss about on the beach! If lockdown is over, people need to go back to work! Not get paid to sit on the beach!

If lockdown is over, people need to go back to work! Not get paid to sit on the beach!

They probably would if they could, but if they've been furloughed, they can't just rock up to work can they?

Yes I know some people furlonged want to go back to work. But if things are going to go back to normal they people need to lockdown...we are still meant to be in lockdown. So if people aren't going to lockdown, then what's the point?

Just pissed me off seeing pic of people on beaches and didn't really think through my comment. Just seems a lot of people are desperate to stay locked down, but are some of these people desperate to stay lockdown to get a paid holiday? Seems like it from seeing people going off to beach etc

Sitting on a beach is legal and very low risk (though clogging up the seaside pavements is annoying and defecating outdoors is appalling).

Going back to work is high risk and/or illegal and/or economically impossible for nursery workers, clothes shop workers, chefs, waiters, usherettes, actors, makeup artists, nail technicians, masseurs, dental nurses, librarians, office receptionists, office cleaners, central London cafe workers, gym staff......

Just pissed me off seeing pic of people on beaches

It was obvious it was going to happen as soon as Johnson made the announcement. Lockdown is over and he knows it, he just doesn't have to announce it, the public have done this for him. Just wait for half term, if the weathers good, it'll be rammed.

It’s really good to more people doing low risk activities like going to a beach - great for their physical and mental wellbeing and helps to breathe some life back into the local economy

Win win

It's just one big jolly for people now. It's an absolute joke.

@AlecTrevelyan006

The tax payer is forking out billions of pounds to pay people to sunbathe all day on crowded beaches and parks

If lockdown is over, get things up and running and get people back to work. If not, then measures need to be taken to stop these poor places by the seaside, often full of old people, being absolutely overwhelmed by the baying mob of people descending on them because they've nothing better to do with themselves

I think most people are sick of lock down. Especially the way the infection in care homes has been handled. Bungled.

Everyone where I am is socially distancing. If you don’t want to catch corona then you need to.
Ignore everyone else, that’s what I’d do!! Why does it matter to what you do if they want to risk their lives?

Absolutely agree it's a big joke. Today I saw a big group of 'youths' with cans/bottles walking from a local beauty spot, loads of cars parked along country roads, some in passing places, others right on junctions so blocking visibility; to cap it all a guy had set up a barbecue on the back of his pick up truck, flames from the spitting fat could be seen shooting up from it and this is directly in an area that had huge moorland fires 2 years ago which lasted weeks. We've had little or no rain in weeks and alot of the undergrowth is dry as a bone

I think most people are sick of lock down.

We're all sick of it. Everyone descending on the beaches isn't going to help anything, especially with everything, including toilets, shut.

Yep same here today when out on our bikes we seen groups of youths playing in the river the community police officer took one look and didn't want to break them up or send them on they're way can't say I blame them to be fair would have been a nightmare trying to control teens when it's just one of you.

It's been like that now for days in Wales roads getting busier people not socially distancing.

I even had an old lady stand too close to me because she was trying to talk to my DCs a few days back.

I'm not sure if it's because everyone is fed up or if we are becoming complacent with it all.

Parks and beaches are going to seem much more full because people can’t meet at a cafe/cinema/gym/restaurant/bar. The only places we can go are open outdoor spaces so they are going to fill up with more people than usual. But outside is low risk. Hence being allowed to go there.

I've been trying to figure out why folk are so upset at perceived flouters.

I'm not succeeding in understanding -- I guess because I'm not scared of the virus & the things I most want to do but can't do, nobody else appears to be doing, anyway.

I think it's like extramarital affairs or shoplifting. Just because you got away with it doesn't make it tempting to me.

The tax payer is forking out billions of pounds to pay people to sunbathe all day on crowded beaches and parks

Rubbish.

If people's work has dried up due to lock down, then thank goodness we live in a decent society that supports people at this difficult time. They didn't ask to have no work, they didn't ask to be told to stay at home when they would normally be working.

The tax payer isn't funding a jolly, they are stopping people from starving and losing their homes. The people on the beaches may not have a garden or may be hemmed in on all sides, and going to a beach gives them a sense of space. Have a heart.

I avoid those places because I have a garden, but I see no point in vilifying their actions, I see it on the front page of the newspapers, and think well if it helps people survive and does something positive for their MH, who am I to judge.

But outside is low risk

I read a comment by a scientist in environmental factors and they did say that being outdoors lowers the risk of the virus remaining viable for very long.

So if people can gain some enjoyment in the current nice weather and better air quality because of fewer cars and airplanes, that's a good thing.

Funny how everyone on mumsnet is so good at reading scientific research. And evaluating risk. So good at it in fact that you are better than the majority of the world's public health experts. Amazing how all of these experts spent so much time and money on their education and research when all they needed was a few hours on the internet and some common sense. Fools.