Socialising: what are the rules?

[Bowlmeover]

Currently staying in a hotel by myself due to work and I'm shocked at the amount of social groups staying at the hotel together. There are people from different households clearly sharing rooms and drinking together in groups of around 8 in the bar area. There were 4 men in the room next to me last night, clearly a group of friends, here playing golf.

This is a well established hotel with published rules clearly dotted around the place. A member of staff asked why I was on my own and when I answered, she said it was a shame I couldn't invite a friend to stay with me when I work away. Surely this is against covid rules anyway?

Have people lost the plot or am I just not moving with the times?

There have been countless threads on this for goodness sake.

Some people don't follow the rules. Not sure what's so shocking about that.

Hi,
Just wanted to say I understand how you're feeling etc. I don't think it matters there are other threads on similar subjects. I'm feeling gobsmacked by how many people aren't following the rules at all. X

Surely this is against covid rules anyway?

Why do you believe that? You can stay away from home with members of another household, so yes, you could invite a friend along.

8 people in a group would also be entirely within the rules if they are two households, as would 4 men within the room - of course it might be the case that the 4 men are not from two households, but you cannot know, given that you clearly don't know the rules either, perhaps you shouldn't be so quick to criticise them.

Confirmed Prevalence is what, 2/100,000 in most areas? You can't blame people for grabbing what social contact they can while we can.

Risk varies dramatically depending on lifestyle, location etc. I'm going out for lunch, technically we are 4 households (because my DD's are at university) should I not see them? There's no risk because I know exactly where they have been for the past two weeks and I know where I have been (nowhere) plus I've had covid. Keep out, it's the family gatherings of 50+ in private houses etc that caused spikes not four retired gentlemen playing golf

@sirfredfredgeorge

Surely this is against covid rules anyway?

Why do you believe that? You can stay away from home with members of another household, so yes, you could invite a friend along.

8 people in a group would also be entirely within the rules if they are two households, as would 4 men within the room - of course it might be the case that the 4 men are not from two households, but you cannot know, given that you clearly don't know the rules either, perhaps you shouldn't be so quick to criticise them.

Yes, two households meeting or holidaying together is within the guidelines, but they need to social distance from each other, so should be 2m apart, or 1m if there are mitigations such as face masks, screens between them, not sitting face to face or being outdoors.

My thinking too @RichardMarxisinnocent
It would make social distancing in one hotel room extremely difficult.

I understand how people may be feeling regarding social contact etc, it's an extremely difficult balance to ensure our social needs are being met whilst following the rules as best we can. Afterall, they are put in place to protect us.

It would make social distancing in one hotel room extremely difficult.

All the guidelines say is:
You should, wherever possible, socially distance from people you do not live with

If the hotel room is too small, it's not possible, it is inappropriate to deny the right to socialisation to those unable to pay for large hotel rooms given as lljkk says the chance of any of the person having COVID is so extremely low.

I think we've all been affected by our limited rights to socialisation. It's just the way things are at this present time.