Hasn't everyone broken the rules at least once?

[Jourdain11]

I'm not (intentionally) stirring, but genuinely curious. I come across so many people who say, "I've followed every rule" but has anyone actually, literally, done this? I struggle to imagine that anyone can have complied with the letter and spirit of the regulations every minute of every day, since 23 March. Even if it was something as benign as going to the supermarket for non-essentials or going out for an extra, non-necessary walk.

Hmm?

We have not broken the rules at all. My neighbours (across and next door and probably half the estate actually) on the other hand haven't followed at all.

Sometimes our walks exceeded an hour.

Where did this myth of one hours exercise come from? There was never a time limit, yet so many people took it as gospel that there was.

@Billyjoearmstrong

Sometimes our walks exceeded an hour.

Where did this myth of one hours exercise come from? There was never a time limit, yet so many people took it as gospel that there was.

Michael Gove, IIRC.

@NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1

Oh please! Anyone who put crisps/biscuits/squash into their trolleys during lockdown broke the rules (only go out for essential shopping)

I hate this "holier than thou" attitude.

I think you might be my mother. She got confused about that too (she thought she was being defiant buying a colouring book for herself whilst doing her shopping!! 🤣)

@Jourdain11 it was never official advice though. Didn’t he just mention it offhand, like “you can exercise once a day, maybe go for a walk for an hour” amongst other ideas . It was never an official limit, just a lot of people took it as the law.

My OH is shielding due to cancer. To protect him, we've followed every rule (and more). Not had a single person in our house other than myself, OH and our son. Son has been brilliant and stayed in for the first few months until he was allowed to meet his friend(s) outdoors (within the limits) and he's also avoided meeting his rule breaking friends who've been with multiple people/having parties etc.

[quote Billyjoearmstrong]@Jourdain11 it was never official advice though. Didn’t he just mention it offhand, like “you can exercise once a day, maybe go for a walk for an hour” amongst other ideas . It was never an official limit, just a lot of people took it as the law.[/quote]
It was yet another thing that the media got wrong.

If you mean the law then I think most people followed them tbh
If you mean the guidelines I think that most people followed them at first but struggle to now as it's so unclear and randomly enforced.

[quote Billyjoearmstrong]@Jourdain11 it was never official advice though. Didn’t he just mention it offhand, like “you can exercise once a day, maybe go for a walk for an hour” amongst other ideas . It was never an official limit, just a lot of people took it as the law.[/quote]
I think it was in one of the briefings? So people took it as "official". What was actually law was very little, as pp has said.

Yes, completely followed them.

But then my dh has cancer so it's kinda important.

Shame that so many others haven't because it puts other people at risk.

The day before lockdown my Dad went into a hospice, died 5 weeks later. I visited everyday, with my Sister from another household.

At first lockdown wasn't even in my thoughts, although driving to and from the hospice every day for 5 weeks made me anxious, especially when there were 'essential travel only'

Then there was the restricted funeral. I hugged my Mum and my Sister.

I do think there’s properly breaking them (like attending an indoor 500 people rave) and breaking them- sitting 2m away in someone’s garden, before this was “allowed”

I followed the spirit of not always the letter for the first 2/3 months. E.g., I went on 2 walks nearly every day but I wasn't near enough to anyone to infect them (plus had covid pre lockdown so didn't think I was likely to be infectious), went to the shops about 3x a week, which I know people were up in arms about, but I fully scrubbed my hands before going and stayed the full 2m back. Had over the fence 2m chats with people before we were officially allowed to meet up.
And, horror of horrors, I sat down in the park once too!
I'm now more lax, life is for living, we are social animals, I've hugged my parents and one of my friends, I don't try to make the kids distance with their friends, I do wear a mask where required, I do wash my hands so much the skin is coming off, I don't jump into the road if someone is coming towards me on the path anymore, or really give a shit if someone is closer than 2m without a mask.
There are always going to be risks in life. I can't shut down completely.

Oh yeah, agreed!

We've all stuck to the rules. I don't think it's been a challenge they're fairly straightforward (eg one walk a day when that was the limit, foodshop once a week, 2 metres distance outside our household etc). I don't massively judge those who haven't been as strict, but I do think we have a collective responsibility to limit the spread and as we could easily follow the rules we have done.

@NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1

Oh please! Anyone who put crisps/biscuits/squash into their trolleys during lockdown broke the rules (only go out for essential shopping)

I hate this "holier than thou" attitude.

They didn't say you couldn't buy any of the nice things you normally buy within your shopping, just that you shouldn't nip to the shop just for a tube of Pringles and a 4 pack of mars Bars. Did you really think we should all have been living off basic rations of rice and beans?

I do also think that family illness could necessitate rule breakage at times - like if children would need to stay with other family members, f.i. Or the extent to which the shielded person was able to shield within their household.

Nope. Not once..and I am proud of it too

@thisstooshallpass

The day before lockdown my Dad went into a hospice, died 5 weeks later. I visited everyday, with my Sister from another household.

At first lockdown wasn't even in my thoughts, although driving to and from the hospice every day for 5 weeks made me anxious, especially when there were 'essential travel only'

Then there was the restricted funeral. I hugged my Mum and my Sister.

My Dad also tested positive for COVID hours before he died. I was advised by the hospice to isolate for two weeks but 111 advice was to only isolate if I had symptoms. Had none. Still waited 3 weeks to plan my Dad's funeral though.

@WatchoutfortheROUS

We've all stuck to the rules. I don't think it's been a challenge they're fairly straightforward (eg one walk a day when that was the limit, foodshop once a week, 2 metres distance outside our household etc). I don't massively judge those who haven't been as strict, but I do think we have a collective responsibility to limit the spread and as we could easily follow the rules we have done.

But literally nobody does 2 meters. It's usually impossible, unless you happen to live somewhere with an awful lot of open space!

Did you really think we should all have been living off basic rations of rice and beans?

Rice and beans?

Stuck to all the rules- I’m a very obedient person in general...but will admit I’m in the verge of going absolutely crazy and loosing it soon!! The minute September comes I’m
Straight back to normal no matter what!! I can’t take it!!

I was in the shielding group and didn't follow any of the rules for inside my home like stay 2m away from people, use a separate bathroom and do not share plates and cutlery, doing that would have made me miserable.

Small rule breaks were driving for exercise when you were told only to exercise from home, there is a deserted beach around 10 mins drive from me but I still got stick for going there.

I went to several shops to try and find the specific posh cat soup that I hoped my dying cat would eat very near the beginning of lockdown.

I followed them strictly until things started loosening and some of the rules appeared ridiculous. In particular when someone could go meet Person A in the park and then person B (from the same household) on the same day but not the same time. I had a 5 month old son at the time, husband away with work so hadn’t seen another adult in person since lockdown started so I met my mother for a walk at 2M apart even though there were two of us from the same household (me and my son). Also have formed a bubble with my mum- Im not technically a single person household as this is my DH’s official residence but when he is away I may as well be. We have stopped while he is home on leave.

Completely followed the rules as 30 weeks pregnant. Haven’t left the house since lockdown except for essential maternity appointments. Normally rushing here there and everywhere juggling 3 kids and work. Do miss people /parents but have kept in touch via whatsapp etc. Usually employed in the medical field so well aware of how easily these things are spread and how little is known about the long term effects of this virus (on children, adults and unborn babies). Absolutely have not been tempted to take the risk even once. Especially now lots of people are ignoring the advice about social distancing and either refusing to wear a mask as ‘it’s too hot and makes me feel I can’t breathe’ or wearing them wrong and ineffectively. I don’t want to end up on a ventilator (higher incidence of severe symptoms in pregnant women over 38 weeks) because of someone else’s selfish shortsighted stupidity. So will continue to isolate / socially distance where no alternative until this baby arrives. Then will risk assess again.