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Original poster

Did no one know gatherings at home were limited to 2 households?

233 replies

Grottyfeet · 01/08/2020 20:13

So the only permitted Eid celebrations were having one brother and his family round, or one set of GPs, unless you all live together, in which case there's no change anyway?

I haven't had anyone in my house because the weather here has been lovely and we've stuck to outdoor gatherings, where up to six are allowed, but I have been vaguely aware it was only two households allowed to meet indoors. Even in the pub you're only supposed to meet up with one other household.

It does seem to have been a shocking failure of communication though.

OP posts:
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7
Chloemol · 01/08/2020 21:12

Sorry but the rules are clear enough to me, and to everyone I know. However what’s also clear is lots of people know and are flouting, cos, you know, at the end of day day, they know best

Also regarding your scapegoating comment it’s interesting that leaders of those communities have admitted lots have not been following the rules!

Lovemusic33 · 01/08/2020 21:13

I gave up a while ago, gave up watching the news or reading the news.
I don’t have many friends (not friends that all know each other) so tend to only have one person in my house at once or I go to my mums house. I have hugged people.

The rules do not make sense, you can sit in a pub with 30 people around you but you can only have one family in your home? That doesn’t make sense. None of it really makes sense. I wear my mask when I’m out shopping, I keep my distance from people o don’t know but the rest of it has kind of gone out the window.

SweetBillie · 01/08/2020 21:14

@Grottyfeet

How do you play cricket or football with only 6 people?
With two teams of three. We used to do it all the time when our 4 DC were little and wanted to play footie, me and DH were the goalies and the boys played the girls.
Littlerainbowmouse · 01/08/2020 21:14

Cricket is definitely being played at grassroots level as all our local leagues are playing mini seasons here - 22+ people.

I think you have it spot on @EvilPea , it's so messy,

Original poster
Grottyfeet · 01/08/2020 21:16

@Chloemol

Sorry but the rules are clear enough to me, and to everyone I know. However what’s also clear is lots of people know and are flouting, cos, you know, at the end of day day, they know best

Also regarding your scapegoating comment it’s interesting that leaders of those communities have admitted lots have not been following the rules!

Could you write us a summary then?

The whole 2/6/12/30 thing let's not worry about 240 school bubbles for now

Indoors/outdoors/at home/at the park/in the pub/sport/elsewhere?

OP posts:
HeronLanyon · 01/08/2020 21:17

Someone on another thread made observation that all of this sinking in is all a bit like stages of grief and everyone is at differing points.

I definitely know those in the anger stage. I think I am in denial/depression (and resignation if I can add one).

Not making light of grief - have lost both parents over the last few years but this analogy was a good one I think.

Original poster
Grottyfeet · 01/08/2020 21:22

For example, we have a planned bike ride tomorrow. There are 10 of us going from 5 households, all outdoors and we will social distance. We're going to a coffee shop with outdoor tables for breakfast enroute and I will carry hand sanitizer.

Now, in my cautious risk assessing head it seems not quite risk free but with substantial mitigation in place. I'm not really clear it compiles with the rules but I do think it complies with the spirit of them.

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 01/08/2020 21:22

The thing is the rate is increasing, and it appears to be doing so because of people mixing households mainly inside, so whatever the rules and whatever you think of Cummings why are people planning to meet up with many people. This will bite many people on the backside if they are hoping their children can go back to school soon, because 2 positive test results in a school count as an outbreak and the school could be closed.

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 01/08/2020 21:23

@Lovemusic33

I gave up a while ago, gave up watching the news or reading the news. I don’t have many friends (not friends that all know each other) so tend to only have one person in my house at once or I go to my mums house. I have hugged people.

The rules do not make sense, you can sit in a pub with 30 people around you but you can only have one family in your home? That doesn’t make sense. None of it really makes sense. I wear my mask when I’m out shopping, I keep my distance from people o don’t know but the rest of it has kind of gone out the window.

The difference is in how people behave. A group of 30 friends and family in a house will hug, kiss... so very close to each other for prolonged periods of time.

A pub with 30 people broken into groups by households will stay distanced in the main, they may brush past each other to get to the bar, or toilet but they won't be within inches of each other for over 15 minutes at a time. So the transmission risk is lowered, not gone, but reduced.

Perihelion · 01/08/2020 21:24

In Scotland indoors you can have 3 households, up to a max of 8 people. Outside it's 15 from a max of 5 households. And not meet more than 4 households a day.

Lilybet1980 · 01/08/2020 21:31

@Lovemusic33 have you actually been in a pub yet? You can only sit at tables, no hanging around. Most are using apps for orders so you don’t even go to the bar. Literally the only time you are not sat at your table is to go to the toilet or when arriving/leaving. It’s totally different to being in a private home with 30 people who you know.

Littlerainbowmouse · 01/08/2020 21:31

@Grottyfeet

For example, we have a planned bike ride tomorrow. There are 10 of us going from 5 households, all outdoors and we will social distance. We're going to a coffee shop with outdoor tables for breakfast enroute and I will carry hand sanitizer.

Now, in my cautious risk assessing head it seems not quite risk free but with substantial mitigation in place. I'm not really clear it compiles with the rules but I do think it complies with the spirit of them.

I think this highlights how murky it is and the problems so many people are having.

Legally there's nothing at all wrong with your plans, you can't be fined or sent home etc.

Technically it goes against the governments suggested guidance but this can't be enforced.

I think like you say as long as you are socially distancing/ washing or using alcohol gel and minimising risk as much as you can then if you feel OK that's what counts?

@HeronLanyon I think that's a really good way of thinking about it!

Lilybet1980 · 01/08/2020 21:32

What @TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 said. Why do people not get this? Behaviour is totally different with people you know vs random strangers who just happen to be within a few metres.

Original poster
Grottyfeet · 01/08/2020 21:33

So which rule(s) does it break Littlerainbowmouse?

OP posts:
Leflic · 01/08/2020 21:33

No idea about the rules. However my friends and I don’t go into each other’s houses and we still SD. It’s masks around shops and I’ve been to the pub but it’s all outside and only two allowed inside the pub to order or waitress service.
We a low risk/rate area but it feels normal not to be mixing or hugging or whatever.

SimonJT · 01/08/2020 21:33

We have only met with one other household when going out etc.

Yet I’m back at rugby doing full contact training with 25 other men!

Lifeisgenerallyfun · 01/08/2020 21:34

It was perfectly clear that gatherings were allowed of 2 households though - that is what we have been doing. People don’t want to hear it and ignore it claiming it’s unclear when unless you have an IQ of 3 it is clear.

Yes certain communities have been targeted, IME it has been these communities along with 18-24 year olds who have constantly flouted the rules in our area. Not to say everyone from these communities have constantly flouted these rules but the majority of people flouting these rules have come from these two groups.

JacobReesMogadishu · 01/08/2020 21:34

I’ve had 5 friends in my garden....which I thought was ok if outside? I knew it was 2 households only inside.

I am very confused by the rules though.

Shizzlestix · 01/08/2020 21:35

Rules change constantly so a quick google helps. I have a Samsung phone with automatic news updates so I was reading this yesterday.

JacobReesMogadishu · 01/08/2020 21:36

And therefore 5 of us going to a cafe for lunch on Monday.....inside. And I’m suspicious that’s against the rules?

Lifeisgenerallyfun · 01/08/2020 21:36

@Chloemol has it spot on, but here come the woke brigade

Bonkerz · 01/08/2020 21:36

It is all very confusing. I had 6 police officers in my home Saturday night no face masks no distancing and 3 friends turned up for support. One big gathering. Horrid night and so glad we didn't have the rules enforced because it would have made a horrid night even worse.
Generally I do the face mask in shops and distancing but I am meeting friends in parks and having them in my home again.

Cherrysherbet · 01/08/2020 21:37

They’ve made it far too confusing! I have no clue anymore. I go to work, wear a mask when I shop and just meet people outside. That’s it.

HeronLanyon · 01/08/2020 21:39

Well I went into uk.gov to check on Friday around lunchtime (after the Thursday night omnishambles of an announcement) to check what the new areas guidance was and the site hadn’t yet been updated. Then Hancock got it all wrong on the Today programme. Honestly if an app is better than our government for informing us Then heaven help us. But thanks for the app tip. Will get.

JacobReesMogadishu · 01/08/2020 21:39

I just checked about the cafe situation and what we’re doing on Monday is against the rules. None of the pubs or cafes seem to care though!