Will the new law on social gatherings make you reconsider your activities?

[Redolent]

Yes or no?

What the police were reporting was inappropriate gatherings were reported, they would attend, it'd be 28 people, nothing could be done

The police were already deployed, but unable to act

I imagine people weren’t reporting gatherings of, say, 7-8 people though. Which they will now.

I'm having a small party in a couple of weeks. Absolutely won't be changing plans for it in light of the most recent random bollocks guidance.

Are you thinking that Covid is definitely not coming back, or that it isn’t transmitted by social interaction or something else? Basically, which part is bollocks.

@GrapefruitsAreNotTheOnlyFruit

One thing that is making me really cross is the situation with buses in London.

My DD's school has introduced all sorts of safety measures but then the bus to get home is rammed. My DD says worse that usual, seats roped off so everyone rammed together, windows shut. She said she nearly passed out it was so bad.

What's the point of all these rules when we can't add the resources to get really basic things right?

Yes this is an insane and worrying issue, my kids walk but we all share this silly additional risk.

Yes definitely. I'm not meeting up with many people but have two children so can really only meet up with three others now. My son starts school on Monday and a few people wanted to do picnics after school (first week is half days). That won't be possible now unless it's only with one other parent and child. I support the measure though, it's concerning how cases are going up and I don't want schools to have to close again.

The only time we have gatherings over 6 is who DHs family where its 6 adults and 2 toddlers, but that happens maybe once every 2 months. We would still continue to see them, so I suppose no I wouldnt abide by the rules.

Where will the resources come from for the policing of this?

Can't imagine that most of it will be policed at all, but a lot of people simply won't want to attend 'larger' gatherings, which in itself will restrict things.

I'm just meeting people outside again now. I don't want schools to be closed again.

No because we’ve been packed to the rafters in school, closer than 1 metre to 90 children due to the way we need to teach. We have been sensible all the way along and will continue to do so however if we meet with our closest friends there will be 7 people from 2 households, of which 3 people are children. I will still see them.

If that is what is happening in your area, the schools have been ignoring the guidance to them. They are supposed to be looking at staggered starting times and indeed talking to bus companies to plan things so that overcrowding on public transport doesn't happen.

You’re right, they’re “supposed to be looking at” all sorts of things, but it’s entirely ok within the schools guidance to “consider” it and decide it’s not feasible. Job done.

The patronising "what is so difficult to understand" brigade are out in force. You're all just utterly insufferable. I'm sure you're dicks in real life. Just some feedback, there.

I imagine people weren’t reporting gatherings of, say, 7-8 people though. Which they will now.

I can imagine the number of "should I report" posts will increase now.

The answer is simple, if you want to report, at least have the backbone to tell them first.

@taradiddle

What if all the teachers, health professionals, social care staff and others downed tools and said that they're not going to risk themselves any further when others are not willing to try to minimise the risk to them? It's fucking tempting but of course they won't because they give a shit about other people which is why they're in the job.

This, with bells on. People might think the 'risk budget' concept is a bit management-speak, but it's the fact that people don't understand the basic concept that is causing lots of the problems. Ie 'my kids are back at school anyway, so it doesn't matter what the fuck else I do.'

Yes, so that teacher upthread who was told off because of the 'risk budget' - she gets to spend all her time with other people's kids then that's it for her? All her risk budget gone?

Face it. The post I quote above is a fantasy land. It is the teachers, nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants saying 'hang on, I can work with hundreds of people all day (teachers with no ppe) but meeting my colleagues after work, or an extended family gettogether, that's off the cards? It's the ones already taking risks who give less of a shit, not the sahm of Norfolk who meets three people a week who is quivering about meeting granny, grandad and cousin Ethel with her three kids. Omg 7 people. Terrifying.

It's not a terrible idea. The rest of you stay in and balance out our risk so we can have a good time in our free time. I mean, its a terrible idea but not on paper. On paper its totally logical.

@PhilCornwall1

I imagine people weren’t reporting gatherings of, say, 7-8 people though. Which they will now.

I can imagine the number of "should I report" posts will increase now.

The answer is simple, if you want to report, at least have the backbone to tell them first.

Yeah, it’ll be back to the lockdown days where people like my friend were reported for having a ‘kids party’ in her garden. It was her, her DH and their 3 kids. Person reporting apparently said it must be a party as they were ‘shouting and laughing and there are 3 cars on the drive’ (their 2 personal cars and work van).

No, won't change anything - we rarely meet up in groups of anything larger than 7 anyway.

I don't really get the rules, next week we are going to a UK holiday camp, just the four of us. We will be surrounded by lots of other families inside and out the facilities, but if I was booked to go with another family that apparently would be a no no?

Same as we can go to a restaurant, or the shops or the zoo and be surrounded by other people, but just not if we are in a group of more than 6?

Our typical social interaction has been meeting with one family in the woods or on a stony beach for some socially distanced play.

Now that will apparently be illegal...

I don't support our lock down laws but I follow them.

It's not a terrible idea. The rest of you stay in and balance out our risk so we can have a good time in our free time. I mean, its a terrible idea but not on paper. On paper its totally logical.

To be frank, we all need to stop socialising for a few weeks. As the BBC put it “The government's warning system is flashing red”.

I am due to go to a family Christening this Saturday which is perfectly legal as there will be 30 people and held outdoors. I really would prefer not to go from the health aspect (I agree it is 'low risk). I am probably in the minority in wishing that the new rule had kicked in a few days earlier!!!!!

I haven't met up with anyone except my mum, children (plus their partners) and I have met the sun total of 1 friend since lockdown began.
I won't be meeting up with anyone else.

Same as we can go to a restaurant, or the shops or the zoo and be surrounded by other people, but just not if we are in a group of more than 6?

The problem is spending a long time (15 minutes+) indoors with other people it seems. So all the outdoor or brief periods are probably ok.

What really annoys me about this 'more than 6' rule is that we are already a family of four, so we can't invite another family over as all our friends are two adults plus 1-4 DC. I really wish it would be 'no more than two families who each live in no more than two individual households' or 'six individuals from different households'. It's so frustrating that they're basing this on, basically, people holding parties and punishing those of us in middle age who tend to socialise at home with another family, when we aren't the ones who are leading this increase!

@turnthebiglightoff

The patronising "what is so difficult to understand" brigade are out in force. You're all just utterly insufferable. I'm sure you're dicks in real life. Just some feedback, there.

And you just sound ignorant. Some feedback for you.

@Burpeesshmurpees

I totally intend to break the rules on my kids birthday. They have already asked why they can't have a few of their classmates over in the garden since they spend all day every day with them at school and frankly I didn't have an answer for that. So we will be having family round for their birthday fireworks. It will be a total of 3 households and 4 adults, 6 kids. And I am absolutely fine with that. How can they justify Doncaster races going ahead with 3,500 spectators but say my kids can't have 6 family members over in my garden for their birthday. It's a load of rubbish.

Because social distancing is enforced at organised events but not at house parties

Anyone who thinks the police have got the resources to be turning up at your house if you havd 7 people there instead of 6 clearly knows no one in the police force.