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

[Redolent]

Yes or no?

I know lots of people are saying it doesn't make sense that you can see more than 6 people at work/school/, etc but not in your own home. But the scientists are saying that when they are investigating the source of the outbreaks the evidence shows thats not where spread is occuring.

Now I'm as dubious as anyone about schools and don't think they can say that for sure yet. England schools haven't been open long enough, but they say results from France, etc are encouraging. Though the village school here have sent a year group home already so God knows.

But I think we have to believe them that the evidence shows that spread is occurring due to people socially mixing in houses. And therefore it needs to stop for now.

No as I was doing this anyway but Christmas might be non-existent if family can't come and stay. Can't say I'm too bothered. Just need to think of alternative ideas.

I don't know whether or not it will change my activities because there seems to be very little on what this affects outside of private meet-ups in people's homes. Will our church close again? Does antenatal yoga (7 of us plus the instructor, all on mats 2m apart) have to stop, or is that a sport? Can DH run his (outdoors) afterschool activity for the kids that he spends all day in an enclosed classroom with, or is that now not ok? Until they've actually provided the further clarifications on exemptions that they say are coming then I don't really know quite what it'll change for us.

@2020fedup

No. It’s utter nonsense.

& on what scientific evidence are you basing that?

The Govt is a shit show, but the 'scientists' aren't... listen to them!!

'was literally just saying that staggering visitors doesn’t work if you have a six person family.'

It can and does work. They can't give an exact set of instructions for every situation can they. Caveats 'if you have 6 people in your family then see other members when the dc are at school or perhaps phone them, or perhaps text or etc etc'.

It's short term. Hopefully.

@JacobReesMogadishu

Does anyone know if gym classes are affected? Or does it count as a business or a team sport and is ok? I’m hoping the latter as the gym are strict on social distancing.

My PT has looked in to it and atm is under the impression that its a businesss and not "socialising".

No. I’ve not done any gatherings of more than 6. Most of the time, it’s just me, DH and ds.

But I AM sick of this Govt. and the shambles they’ve made of this.

@JacobReesMogadishu

I know lots of people are saying it doesn't make sense that you can see more than 6 people at work/school/, etc but not in your own home. But the scientists are saying that when they are investigating the source of the outbreaks the evidence shows thats not where spread is occuring.

Now I'm as dubious as anyone about schools and don't think they can say that for sure yet. England schools haven't been open long enough, but they say results from France, etc are encouraging. Though the village school here have sent a year group home already so God knows.

But I think we have to believe them that the evidence shows that spread is occurring due to people socially mixing in houses. And therefore it needs to stop for now.

In French schools, aren’t masks required for all teachers and students over 11 years old?

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'was literally just saying that staggering visitors doesn’t work if you have a six person family.'

It can and does work. They can't give an exact set of instructions for every situation can they. Caveats 'if you have 6 people in your family then see other members when the dc are at school or perhaps phone them, or perhaps text or etc etc'.

It's short term. Hopefully.

I’m not sure phone or text counts as staggering visitors, which is the explicit point I was addressing. Anyway I’m not sure why I’m bothering. I am perfectly resilient, and we will cope with the new arrangements just fine. I just won’t bother commenting on Mumsnet threads about it.

No. The six people rule is stupid. Two households yes (its what I've been doing personally), but six people is just arbitrary nonsense & unenforceable anyway, especially as the BBC is reporting that families of six+ have an exemption. And its bizarre not to differentiate between indoor & outdoor settings given what we know about virus transmission.

@Waspnest

It is the dichotomy between this thread, and the one bemoaning how many children have already been sent home from school, that i find frankly bizarre ... as if the two things are TOTALLY unconnected, and nothing you are doing can possibly have anything to do with schools closing and children being sent home...until it happens to you...

I will be so pissed off if DD brings Covid home because of the actions of other parents of kids at her school who don't give a shit about the rules. I'm still shopping/collecting prescriptions for two other elderly previously shielding households and fuck knows what we'll do if our whole household have to isolate for two weeks.

I haven't met up with more than 4 other people (and even then it was outside) anyway so the new rules won't change anything.

I know. Many vulnerable teachers and children are back in schools because they have no choice.

It’s quite shocking to see how many would break the law and put others at risk because they want to socialise.

Maybe they should get really tough with the fines. Ensure people report (maybe offer an incentive) and the fines could help fund the vulnerable and industries who can’t operate.

'My PT has looked in to it and atm is under the impression that its a businesss and not "socialising".'

Yes and maybe they need to do a weekly press conference for people who don't understand 'social gatherings of 6 or more are banned'. Not work, not school, not businesses. Social gatherings.

Please do kaktus, reading the pious lectures in response to you was amusing.

@compulsiveliar2019

Nope. Things are getting ridiculous now. Stupid rules that will do nothing to stop the spread and just increase the ridiculous levels of paranoia and fear. We need to move forwards now. Before we loose more lives from non covid issues!

How exactly are larger social gatherings going to stop lives being lost?

Quite the opposite.

Of course the new law on social gatherings will make me reconsider my activities.

Okay, reconsidered now. I've been following guidelines throughout and will follow the new law. Presuming the law will still be in force at Christmas, I can at least make provisional plans now, based on a maximum of 6 people for lunch.

Matt Hancock said on BBC breakfast that 80% - 90% cases have been passed on within the household setting so it makes sense to restrict numbers a household should meet up with indoors.
Also 6 indoors allowed from 6 different households will match that allowed outside so that should take away confusion from those who are too thick or can't be arsed to read the rules properly those who struggle to understand the current rules.

If those on this thread advocating ignoring the law only used their brains, they would see how their behaviours contribute to having to bring in more stringent restrictions.

@Kaktus

Our household bubble is 6 people, so we can’t see anyone else?
As a household, yes. However, if, say, 2 of you went to see 4 others, either outside or inside their home then that is allowed.

@MrsFezziwig

Also I think I’m going to be one of the people who benefit from the new guidance as I’m in a group of 6 friends who in the last few weeks have been able to meet up a couple of times outdoors. We were debating what we would do when it gets too cold to do that, but now it seems we will be able to meet indoors?
It's so nice when people can read and understand correctly. You are right. You can meet up with your 5 friends both outdoors and indoors from Monday so will be able to stay warm and cosy on cold days. Enjoy.

@Bluelinings
It’s still two households indoors (which you may be).
It is at the moment but when the law changes on Monday 14th then only 6 people will be able to meet both indoors or outdoors subject to the exemptions.

@OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer

Please do kaktus, reading the pious lectures in response to you was amusing.

I haven’t heard the word pious since reading Mallory Towers, it’s a great word . And perfectly used in this context.

DD is in a friendship group of 7. Granted, there is usually one who can't make it when they meet up, but I've just jokingly said that she'll have to decide which friend is her least favourite. She was not impressed.

[Expecting a flurry of MN threads complaining that their DC was clearly a better friend that X but had been excluded from the gathering of 6]

It is at the moment but when the law changes on Monday 14th then only 6 people will be able to meet both indoors or outdoors subject to the exemptions.

I don't think anyone actually knows what the law change is, do we? We only have media speculation. So perhaps we should actually wait to see the detail before posting things like this as fact?

@primabloodydonna

Out of interest, why do people think that the virus trumps a single parent's mental health?

I'm a single parent and my mental health is great thanks, the virus has made my anxiety better.

This is what I was wondering! Can you attend a baby music group with 8 parent/babies under new guidelines? On the gov website today it says you still can as it comes under enrichment and education...

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'We're already a family of 5. It won't stop us going to my parents house and making it 7'

No and most wouldnt disagree with you.

This is surely aimed at the large groups of people who are having parties. The virus is spreading fast where people who are having large social gatherings. Yes hospital admissions aren't increasing yet, but they will if action isn't taken. We have always been a couple of weeks behind Spain and France and their admissions are now climbing.

No it's aimed at six people ffs if it was aimed at large groups it'd be a higher number

No, family of 6, I can not go back to where we were earlier in the year, we have another family (of 4) that we socialise with and will carry on, their youngest is in the same school bubble as one of my DC anyway. We will see our parents (3 sets of) my MIL has health issues but after not seeing us or anything more than a doorstop drop off for 3 months before she told us she would rather take the chance as she could fall over dead at any point, why would she not want to see her GC as much as possible.

This is crazy. DH and I can meet our neighbours for lunch. Because that’s only 4 people (we’re all WFH and have been for 6 months). Our DD is in the same bubble at school as their DD, so they spend the day together. Our DS is in the same bubble at school as their DS, so they also spend the day together. But we can’t all meet up for dinner or for lunch at the weekend (after this weekend) - not even in the garden as that is 8 people. Even though we’ve all been in contact with each other perfectly legally anyway in smaller groups that same day

I know it’s frustrating I know it’s disappointing but it appears to be necessary I don’t want to catch it I don’t want any of my family to catch it and I certainly don’t want to be responsible for anybody else catching it

We have been doing quite a lot in terms of activities we’ve seen friends and family but within the guidelines I guess we will continue to do so.

It’s isolating its rubbish but I’m not selfish or ignorant enough to think that I am above the rules and that the expectations on all of us to protect our health and health of others does not apply to me.

No, I haven't been in an environment with more than 6 people since March unless you count Tesco or B&Q, so I'll just keep going.

I miss Parkrun though