people, please, stay home if you can

[Lua]

Most places that have eased lockdown measures, are seeing an increase in the number of cases. So there is no way around it (at least in the short-term), live a "normal life" and increase the risk for everyone (there are no "personal risk" in a pandemic).

I see a lot of people in mumsnet saying that we suffer too much to save the lives of 80 year olds. While I find this cold assessment horrible on its own, there are so many case of under 60s suffering badly. This is a harrowing picture of 63 year old woman:

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/25/from-cold-to-coma-to-homecoming-one-womans-100-days-of-coronavirus

Sure, the risk is low. Sure, we deal with risks all the time. But we also try to mitigate risks all the time. We use seat belts, and we look before we cross the road, we use helmets, etc There are many reasons why someone needs to go into work, and those are understandable. But do people "need" to go to raves, beaches, cinemas? do we really need to go into shops and buy a new summer outfit?

Life needs to be different, and we need to find new ways to make our economy tick. Lots of opportunities in new fields. Lets support each other and look for new ways to make the world go around.

[quote Alex50]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras you’re brave working in a supermarket when you are shielding, that must be very worrying.

I don’t have the answers, all I can do is stick to the guidelines if I do get it I will self isolate for 14 days, I don’t want to give it to anyone and make them ill.

I don’t think most people on mumsnet are breaking the rules. I can’t think of anything worse than driving 2 hours to a packed beach with no toilets, i’d prefer to stay in my garden, I don’t have parties, only my elderly parents visit in the garden social distancing and I have never protested in my life.

I have carried on with my life though throughout lockdown, without going near people.[/quote]
I've not been working whilst shielding but I was working before and I'll be going back in August. It's nothing to do with being brave, it's a case of having to. But I rely on everyone else being sensible.

I think there are many people on MN currently breaking the rules or planning to do so. I've just been reading a thread where posters are planning play dates. Several posters have said they will take no precautions as there's nothing to worry about. One poster has just said they don't believe in social distancing for anyone, children or adults.

The wilfully ignorant are definitely out there and are putting everyone at risk.

It must be hard going back to work after shielding for months, it must be a very scary thought I wish you all the best and you can stay safe xx

I've just been reading a thread where posters are planning play dates.

Where I live, that is allowed. Maybe the people you are talking about also live where that is allowed? In my part of the UK there is currently only one person in the whole country in intensive care with Covid (or there was as of yesterday evening when the statistics were announced).

@isabellerossignol

I've just been reading a thread where posters are planning play dates.

Where I live, that is allowed. Maybe the people you are talking about also live where that is allowed? In my part of the UK there is currently only one person in the whole country in intensive care with Covid (or there was as of yesterday evening when the statistics were announced).

I don't know if it's allowed or not - my children are adults so I've not kept up with play dates. I didn't think we were currently allowed to have people in our houses?

My point however wasn't about people arranging the playdates but about the attitudes - that they are bothered about the chance of infection because they don't think it will affect them and also that they don't believe in social distancing - even for adults.

That's a major concern, particularly for those of us who will depend on people socially distancing from us.

"Play date?" (Hate that term but anyways lol) if you're in the UK you still can't meet up inside houses yet.
Unless you mean meeting up in a park? That would be OK

if you're in the UK you still can't meet up inside houses yet.
Unless you mean meeting up in a park? That would be OK

The rules differ around the UK. In my part of the UK we are allowed to meet up to six people indoors.

I have plans to meet up, after next weekend when restrictions are lifted further. I also pretty much booked a hotel straightaway.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras i’m afraid you can’t do anything about how other people choose to meet up, or have a party, or go on protests, or go to the beach. There is nothing you can do about it, you can only take care of yourself the best you can xx

The rules differ around the UK. In my part of the UK we are allowed to meet up to six people indoors.

Is that Northern Ireland? I don't think it's allowed in England, Scotland or Wales yet.

Yes, it's N Ireland.

[quote Alex50]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras i’m afraid you can’t do anything about how other people choose to meet up, or have a party, or go on protests, or go to the beach. There is nothing you can do about it, you can only take care of yourself the best you can xx[/quote]
But how can I do that? The only thing I can do is to wash my hands. Everything else relies on other people doing the right thing - staying 2 metres away from me, wearing a mask where we need to wear masks, isolating if necessary and then following the rules on mixing with other people to keep infection rates at a low enough level in the community.

Ive just been for a walk at a country park. The path was wide enough for two.people to pass with a two metre gap but the number of people who wouldn't walk in single file and kept in their group so two or three abreast. I couldn't move over any further so there was nothing I could do to protect myself. It's incidents like that that make me realise how vulnerable I am.

No doubt they'll be reinstating shielding before long as rates rise again and it will be back into isolation for us again.

This is a difficult one.
I'm on my third month (and third wave) of covid 19. My mental health is deteriorating each time I'm ill and the fatigue is horrible.
On the one hand, I'd love a normal life. On the other, it scares me. No idea what will happen financially as my husband is about to potentially lose his job.
I just hope the civil unrest settles and people are able to control themselves whilst out. Too many horrible things going on.
I'll be staying in (apart from being at work when I feel better) but it's everyone's choice.
Telling people to stay in; that ship sailed a long time ago.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras I understand it must make you feel vunerable. It is very unlikely to pick it up just by passing someone on a path though. They have said transmission is low outside, and it is just a few fleeting seconds when you pass someone on a path. It really is indoor, sustained contact for around 15 mins where the real risks are.

[quote Jrobhatch29]@Hearhoovesthinkzebras I understand it must make you feel vunerable. It is very unlikely to pick it up just by passing someone on a path though. They have said transmission is low outside, and it is just a few fleeting seconds when you pass someone on a path. It really is indoor, sustained contact for around 15 mins where the real risks are.[/quote]
I get that, but that isn't the advice given in any of the shielding letters. They reiterate again and again the need to maintain strict social distancing when out walking.

Regardless, for me it's more about illustrating people's attitudes towards SD. Many people don't seem to be worried about it anymore which does concern me for when I go back to work in August. I need people to maintain it around me.

advice given in any of the shielding letters

Was this a letter sent out at the start or have you received more up to date letters?

@userxx

advice given in any of the shielding letters

Was this a letter sent out at the start or have you received more up to date letters?

I've had three letters.

One in the first week of lockdown identifying me as extremely clinically vulnerable and telling me to shield for twelve weeks.

Then another one re iterating the advice in the first letter but extending it until 30th June and then one last week giving the latest updates - can meet with six people outside from 6th July and that shielding is paused from 1st August. Gives details and conditions for going back to work but states we remain at risk of serious illness if we should catch it, that we should practice strict social distancing and remain at home as much as possible.

I'm interested in everyone's opinions, incl OP, and those opposite. I find I've become so fickle and inconsistent since the rules relaxed. I was religiously obedient to every rule for ten long locked-down weeks.
After that, I was working part-time again, and things have felt increasingly normal round my way (v.low rate) and I had to make long train journeys.

One day I'll be very serious about 'the rule' or guidelines, the next I'll bump into a friend, and entirely forget the two metres, as we catch up. Then I feel guilty, as though I've committed a terrible sin. The next day, ultra-distanced etc again, until my next lapse, and the cycle continues! It's somewhat anxiety-making, not knowing how risky things are.

The thing is though, and I started to think this recently, that in normal times, people do things daily that accidently harm others - driving cars causes pollution; and over 30,000 people die every year in the UK from air pollution. We buy food and clothing whose production has often involved very exploited (or even enslaved) labour. Numerous examples could be sited. So, it's odd in a way that coronavirus has been so singled out, as something we have such a terrifying responsibilty for/with. Maybe because it's still so new and not understood?

Most of us don't want to harm others with our daily living; and we should always (in all times) do our best to avoid it. But there are so many things to balance out and consider...

So, I don't know. I'm so confused now about how to be re lockdown and 'the rules'. Maybe the OP's right, maybe those opposing the OP are right, and maybe those of us in the middle who are very confused are right?! I guess only time will tell.

I'll continue to take great interest in the opinions of others on this. Best wishes to all