Fab news for single parents and those living alone !!

[Sunnydays123456]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-52988840

Its either safe to meet people, or it isn't.

Nope. No, no, no. That's the WHOLE point.

This isn't and has never been about individual safety, other than for those who are shielding. It's about minimising human interaction to make things safer for ALL of us. And now, as restrictions are being eased, doing that in a measure, phased way, again, not because all interactions are suddenly safe or not safe, but because AS A WHOLE we can safely increase the number of interactions a bit.

So they are starting to phase that in and, imo, they have rightly started with the group of people who have had fewest interactions over the past three months: single-person households. These new rules aren't about reuniting families, or letting teenagers see their boyfriends or grandma getting to hug all her grandchildren. They're about people who have had ZERO physical human contact being allowed to start having some.

This really isn't complicated. If you live on your own, or only with children, you can now be counted as part of another household. That's it. Households can grow a bit. Everything else stays the same: no physical contact with people from other households. Shielding people still need to be shielded. If someone in the extended household gets symptoms, the whole household should self-isolate. And so on.

I assume they are prioritising the mental health risk for a single adult with no other adult company over the virus health risk.

Really? I'm assuming it's so at least some single parents can use friends or family for childcare and get back to work and back paying taxes. I really don't think the government are the slightest bit interested in the mental health of individuals, it would certainly be a first if they were.

Not really so much this particular measure but it feels like BJ is just standing up and saying random things are OK with no sort of clear plan. Yesterday Zoo's, today single people, a couple of days ago all shops can open.

Every other UK country has a phased plan and you know what will happen as you move from phase to phase.

but I don't know anyone, post Cummings, who wasn't already seeing a partner they didn't live with or parents who live alone

We haven’t.

My DD’s (6 and 4) cried when I told them they could see their beloved granny (who lives alone). My mum cried too. She hasn’t had human contact for 12 weeks, and has her 60th birthday alone in lockdown

We can finally see my dad and my DD will be so so happy - they are the best of friends!

I can't imagine what's it been like for him having no physical contact with anyone for 12 weeks

Every other UK country has a phased plan and you know what will happen as you move from phase to phase.

England has one too, it's pretty easy to find there's just been a few extra things added or spelled out.

My dsis is a single mum with 3 kids at home and my mum lives separately with my sisters eldest who is 21, would they be allowed to form a bubble?

@YangShanPo

My dsis is a single mum with 3 kids at home and my mum lives separately with my sisters eldest who is 21, would they be allowed to form a bubble?

Yes assuming no one in your sisters house is over 18

My sister has one who is 17, 18 in July. They are very hot on sticking to the rules so they wouldn't do it unless definitely allowed.

*Not really so much this particular measure but it feels like BJ is just standing up and saying random things are OK with no sort of clear plan. Yesterday Zoo's, today single people, a couple of days ago all shops can open.

Every other UK country has a phased plan and you know what will happen as you move from phase to phase.*

Interesting view. I actually see the flexibility as a positive. I know of single parents and organisations lobbying on our behalf to get the government to listen about our challenges and how something like a bubble with another household for support would help massively. So many devastated single parents when it was announced from June extra social distancing outside but no bubbles. We thought we were going to have to wait until the next phase. But for once, finally, I feel like we've been heard and if they have evidence it was safe to do it now then good on them for allowing it now and not letting single adults suffer any longer.

Well today I realised hownlknely my life really is as my mum isnt even happy I want to visit her or even come in the house clearly my sister and grandson are her favourite since I've jot got married, none of my friends am I'm in their top 6 bubble list as they rightly prioritise family, partners

So fuck this life if I didnt feel shit already i certainly got fuck all to look forward to and all I can hope is they open the gym up so I can have somewhere else to go.

My mother lives alone, she has been ill with depression and anxiety recently, not sleeping, not eating, not being able to go to work. I’m assuming from Saturday she can come and stay with me, my husband and the kids?

Yes she can EllaAlright. Enjoy!

@Drivingdownthe101 thank you! This is really good news, I was so worried about her and felt really helpless.

I’m sure this is a response to the school situation. People are going back to work, but schools aren’t opening, so someone happened to mention to Boris that single parents couldn’t return to work if they couldn’t use grandparents for childcare.

whatever the reason, I’m happy about it. I’m a working single parent and it’s been horrible not being able to see my partner.

How on earth has this announcement confused people? It's really very bloody simple

@2007Millie exactly! It wasn't difficult

As a friend of mine who has three adult children has just said, how does she choose which one she picks for her bubble? Which grandchildren?

@WowLucky

Well unfortunately she just has to choose.
Her favourite maybe But it'll just be the one that needs her/she needs the most.
For example, 1 adult child with children needing childcare would need her more than a single adult with no responsibilities etc

"I suspect the purpose of it was to allow single people to fuck rather than for people to see their parents."
It was actually meant to provide support for single adults living alone who are lonely because they've not had any company within their home for 11 weeks.

@WowLucky it isn't going to be forever. It's not like she is saying to the other adult children I never want to see you again! It also isn't compulsory so if it is going to cause problems she doesn't need a support bubble.

Also it might be that the adult children's partners might have someone else they might like to have a support bubble with.

"I suspect the purpose of it was to allow single people to fuck rather than for people to see their parents."

Yes, Boris would think of that

I wish Boris would learn the rules from Whitty or someone before he talks about them

All thr BBC examples seem to suggest both households must be single people

I live alone with my two little boys. I was hoping to see my parents (who live together). Hopefully that's ok even though theres 2 of them

@flabbyflabbyflabguts

"So if two single adults live alone, can they not do the same. What difference does it make if neither of them are parents?"
A single person living alone can form a bubble with another single person living alone. They do not have to have children.

@JinglingHellsBells
"I have a long distance parent, living on their own.
I live with my DH.

assume I can't visit my parent and stay overnight, as I have another adult at home (DH.)
And I also assume he could not visit with me , even if I could."
As long as they are not shielding, your parent who lives alone, can form a bubble with you and your DH. They can visit you and even stay overnight.

@HalfDutchGirl
"My daughter lives with her boyfriend and two friends, I don’t want to meet up with her flat mates, I only want to see her! If she comes to see me, does that mean the rest of her household have to come too? Can they go and see their parents?"
If you form a bubble with your daughter's household, you could go and visit her in her home. Alternatively any in that household could visit you (but they don't have to all visit you). However, that household would not be able to mix with others outside of the bubble. So, her flatmates couldn't see their parents if you are in their bubble.