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?

Yes. My mum died in July. I have three siblings, and we blended three households a couple of times in the aftermath. No social distancing either - we needed hugs.

Even hospital turned a blind eye to both me and my brother being with mum when she was actively dying, although they did only allow two of us (mum had four children) to be on the ward and we’d tag-teamed all day.

It seems in extreme circumstances humanity wins out.

I think the concept of ‘essential’ can be very subjective.

@WhentheDealGoesDown

I think I may be breaking them soon though as I see in the DM today that Boris is planning on telling the over 50s to stay at home to prevent a national lockdown, fuck that

I agree with you there.

If that should become a rule then it will be totally ignored in this house. I am nearly 54 and DH is nearly 57.

I'm definitely the most strict rule follower in my friendship group, and I've broken the rules.

Mostly more than one exercise in a day, and got within 2 metres of my parents when they visited (no hugs though!), but more recently attended a play date of three families. It was meant to be outdoors, but then rained so we went indoors. And now I'm locked down again... so karma bit me in the bum for that one! 🤣

I hate rules so 🤷‍♀️

I have, apart from a neighbour who came for sd coffee in my garden and followed me into the house.

But I didn’t ask her to, so not really my decision, and we went back outside after a minute or two.

A lot of people are saying things they did were rule breaking when they weren't.

But I’m 57 and I run most days, alone. If the story in the DM is right I will NOT be staying inside, sorry, that’s a step too far.

I have pretty much followed the rules except we went for a few drives in the car to ease the boredom of lockdown. We stayed in the car and didn't get out. Thats it.

Here is a link to the story in the Torygraph, it's not a blanket ban on over 50s, but for people at risk, there is something about everyone of that age having a personalised risk profile etc. . But still an unworkable idea I think. digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/308/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/308/pub/308/page/2/article/67966

digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/308/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/308/pub/308/page/2/article/67966

Soory, can't get the link to work, I copied it from another thread, it's on the first page.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3984413-Anyone-get-the-Sunday-telegraph-I-would-like-to-know-about-leaked-enhanced-shielding

Maybe if everyone had stuck strictly to the guidelines we would not now be in a situation where various areas of the country needed to have restrictions placed on them?

Yes, I did.

We saw DH's parents several times over lockdown - because they're elderly and isolated with no internet access so we helped them with things like shopping when the shelves were bare.

I don't feel bad at all. Their well-being was more important to us. We did our shopping online and I only saw them so they were effectively just part of our bubble. I helped them put shopping away and get necessities and heaven forbid, even stayed for a cup of coffee afterwards!

Even my ageing DPs broke the rules. DF took each car out for a short drive weekly during strict lockdown, to ensure the batteries didn't die.

I do wonder how many trips the AA/RAC/Green Flag have had to make to the homes of people who didn't, and the contact from that seems a bit more risky than driving in your own car and not getting out.

@User87471643901065319 ( hope Ive got the right one).

But sadly we can't control the actions of others. I'm sure my small perry infringements - outdoors more than once a day, meeting a friend outside before it was allowed - had no bearing on the covid numbers. It's big gatherings inside, pubs reopening and not enforcing distancing, young people desperate for a bit of human contact after months of lockdown.

Yes, I've stuck fully to the rules. Since March I've been to the pharmacy twice to pick up a prescription and went to a garden centre a couple of weeks ago. I have been to my parents once and sat in their garden once we were allowed to ando my mum has come round here once and also sat in the garden.

@rookiemere

But sadly we can't control the actions of others. I'm sure my small perry infringements - outdoors more than once a day, meeting a friend outside before it was allowed - had no bearing on the covid numbers.
People are asymptomatic and carry it to others. You and/or your friend could have the virus asymptomatically. You then give it to others (who may also be asymptomatic) who then give it to someone who gets very ill/dies from it. You may not know them but you have indirectly caused their illness/death.

It is precisely because of not following the guidelines, which may in themselves not be stringent enough (it is a new virus so we aren't sure of its attributes), that it is transmitted throughout society.

@User87471643901065319 when I met my friend outside we stuck to 2 metre distancing. I know how asymptomatic transmission works thanks - even if I struggle to spell it. There have been very few recorded cases of transmission from outdoor only meetings.

At that time my usual pretty good mental health wasn't great. Meeting my friend helped hugely.

We all know why cases are on the rise at the minute and it's primarily pockets in poor areas with high density housing, some establishments not following the guidelines and big group meetings either in a house or other establishment. My view is that police should be clamping down hard on those, but I really thought we'd moved beyond blaming individuals for taking actions which are highly unlikely to have any consequences.

Oh and when I had covid like symptoms in March I followed quarantine requirements very strictly.

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
But if you had gone out for essential shopping you were allowed to buy these things. It wasnt illegal or against the rules to buy pop and crisps!

Yeah, but my husband's mum and his sister apparently popped into a Coop on the way back from a walk, to buy some drinks, and were told by the man at the checkout that it wasn't essential shopping, so he wouldn't serve them

@Jourdain11

Yeah, but my husband's mum and his sister apparently popped into a Coop on the way back from a walk, to buy some drinks, and were told by the man at the checkout that it wasn't essential shopping, so he wouldn't serve them

Then he was wrong, and they should've complained. Even if that actually had been the law, how does he know you weren't buying food that was medically essential now? Maybe you had a diabetic in the car needing a sweet drink!

Also rookiemere, there's never been a rule that you could only go outdoors once a day.

I've followed the rules because i'm not an anarchist or a criminal.

If you're a democrat you follow rules and guidance and if you don't like them you say so at the ballot box, you don't ignore rules you don't like.

It is precisely because of not following the guidelines, which may in themselves not be stringent enough (it is a new virus so we aren't sure of its attributes), that it is transmitted throughout society

If I had stuck strictly to the guidelines in early April I would not have been able to go into my dad's house after being told by the hospital that my mum had died, hug my dad, sat with him and my sister in my home after the 3 of us had attended her funeral or driven my dad to the spot where he had proposed to my mum 58 years ago. I also sat in my sisters large enclosed garden many times because that's what families do when they are grieving but who cares about us eh? We were expected to forgo all of that for the benefit of others because society's health apparently trumps our grief? No chance.