Is this right??

[happykicking]

Just browsing social media (as you do) and came across a post from a friend who is out having lunch with three of her other friends.

I know there's nothing wrong with the above, BUT in the picture the four friends (none of whom live together but live with their own families) are not socially distanced and are standing with their arms around each other. Is this ok to do in England?

I'm in Wales, here we can't do this. We can meet up outside but must keep socially distanced (unless we're meeting up with one other household who are in our bubble).

I'm just curious as to what's going on in England?

I don’t think you are meant to do that. Of course, it’s up to you.

Officially they should be socially distancing if they aren't from the same household or bubble.

I get that people are doing it, but to put it all over social media when it's breaking rules is just silly! I don't get it.

They're supposed to be distancing, but I don't see much of that going on anymore.

It's only guidance.

People can calculate their own reasonable level of risk.

@happykicking

I get that people are doing it, but to put it all over social media when it's breaking rules is just silly! I don't get it.

I guess they think that as the people on their social media are their friends, they won’t get reported or forum threads being made about them 🤷🏻‍♀️

It's only guidance.

This.

It's certainly not allowed within the current guidance, but many people are doing. Personally, I think fine if you're going to do it but don't plaster it all over social media.

It's guidance, as others have said, so they're quite within their rights to do this if they are all comfortable with it. It's fine. 😊

It's certainly not allowed within the current guidance

Against the current guidance - just like not exercising, over eating, smoking, drinking and dozens of other things that people choose to do against government guidance. Saying "not allowed", is it giving it a special case that is not warranted.

There are laws, not allowed should be kept for those, this isn't one of them.

Drinking more than 16 units a week, or eating less than 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day is also against current guidance.

It is guidance. Not law.

I can't wait for Covid to being over so we don't have to have dozens upon dozens of "look at these people, come judge them too" threads.

Isn't it about it being responsible and following the guidelines or am I missing something?

Its only guidance as above PP said but also I suspect it will probably be happening somewhere in Wales too it's not just an england thing

I’m with you OP, I’m also in wales but it seems like we are the only people still social distancing, my Facebook feed it still of people having get together with various other people, cuddling, sitting right next to each other, having parties, kids cuddling various family members etc etc

The reason it's guidance, rather than law, is because in individual cases there's a strong likelihood that it is less damaging to hug your friend or grandchild than it is not to. Social isolation kills - it's strongly correlated with an increase in death, dementia, and poor health decisions leading to all sorts of diseases (ie you don't look after yourself when you're isolated).

Now we don't know if the people hugging actually need it, maybe they're just doing it because they just don't care - but the same way we don't judge and berate everyone who is overweight or unfit, we shouldn't judge everyone who is not 100% following guidelines because we don't know their own risks.

The actual risks are low right now anyway.

After 4 months of lockdown, I just can’t get worked up about friends hugging.

I’d like to hug someone other than my husband, I just haven’t had the chance. Even my friend who doesn’t like hugging has said she wants to hug everyone when we all meet up again.

I have a relative that works in a nursing home and hasn’t followed any ‘guidance’ from day one. This has also been posted all over social media along with how wonderful being a carer is and how much of the burden they’ve had to shoulder during the pandemic.

@happykicking

Isn't it about it being responsible and following the guidelines or am I missing something?

I know quite literally no one following the guidance anymore.

The only time I hear about it is on Mumsnet

I'm not saying this is right or wrong. I haven't followed the guidelines / rules for as long as I can remember, with people who also have consented to not follow them. (As in I've kept a distance from strangers etc)

I'm not proud of this, nor do I think it's right to break guidelines but for my sanity and my families sanity I'm ok with my choice.

But my point being I really don't know anyone in real life who has decided differently to me. So I'm not in the slightest bit surprised it's on social media.

@happykicking

Isn't it about it being responsible and following the guidelines or am I missing something?

Tell them you’ve got an issue with their behaviour then. They’re your friends.

@Livelaughwhat

I have a relative that works in a nursing home and hasn’t followed any ‘guidance’ from day one. This has also been posted all over social media along with how wonderful being a carer is and how much of the burden they’ve had to shoulder during the pandemic.

Oh my, that's incredibly selfish and irresponsible of her.

@happykicking it is. She just won’t listen to reason though.

But the virus hasn't gone away and it's not going to if people carry on ignoring government guidelines, surely?

At the moment, the levels of virus in the population is very low, the chances of meeting someone with the virus, let alone catching it from them is very unlikely.

It's very unlikely to go away at all, the idea that it can be completely eradicated by distancing alone is crazy, the cost in deaths to other diseases, mental disorders and poverty would be higher than those saved from the virus.

Social isolation kills, please understand that some people really need social connections - and for some that even includes sharing it on social media - if you're happy and content without, avoiding it is certainly useful in ensuring the fewest possible transmissions happen, that's good, do it - do it to help out those who can't go without the social connection.