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

[Redolent]

Yes or no?

Those doing it are already outside of the rules and happily so. How will bringing in an unenforceable law change that?

Agreed. On the other enforceable law, the Police said they weren't going to enforce it because they didn't have enough resources.

The resource issue hasn't gone away to enable this to be enforced.

Seems daft when they are all at school together.

It's ridiculous. Can you not do the party this weekend ?

It interests me the number of people who welcome the new rules because they believe it'll encourage safer behaviour. Seems pretty obvious that if the regs are broadly as Hancock outlined, they create a perverse incentive for those planning gatherings of more than 6 to hold them inside their houses. Which is less safe than doing it in eg a park, but much less visible too. In terms of enforcement, it's infinitely easier to police a park with say 200 people in it than it is to visit all those people's homes.

Weddings and parties in your garden, were 30. But now only 6. Really? I find this ridiculous. I honestly don't believe this is the answer to the current supposed spike.

So people have been breaking guidelines and that’s driving cases up

Isn't it actually that people did what they were very much encouraged to do to "save" the economy? Go out we were told, get in those pubs, here's 50% off at Nandos for 3 full days a week - spend, spend, spend! And now that the inevitable rise in cases has manifested, it is all - well look what you've done you selfish lot.

Oh and in answer to the OP - no. I won't change anything. Happy to be patronised and called a Covidiot but enough is enough. We need to get back to normal and not start going backwards into more pointless lockdowns.

It's bonkers because it means my DH and I will have to see my DD's family of 5 separately. What difference does that make? They'll still see us both. 2 households makes much more sense.

Damage:
"We have a cottage booked for next week, 2 households. 7 of us.
Have told DH if questioned we'll just pretend we don't know him 😂

We could un invite MIL......"

Just heard that the Director of Public Health in Doncaster has announced that although the race meeting will take place today (it would have to, its already started!) the other three days will be held behind closed doors.

You aren't allowed to have a party. Even outside, now? With 12 people. But you're allowed a wedding. So call your party a wedding? Whose to know?

Just being devils advocate!

@Oblomov20

You aren't allowed to have a party. Even outside, now? With 12 people. But you're allowed a wedding. So call your party a wedding? Whose to know?

Just being devils advocate!

Hehe. I suppose that's more innovative than my suggestion that people will just have them inside instead of the park and take their chances!

No it won't make me reconsider because my family only meet others for school, and to help schools stay reopened as long as possible, other things have to stop.
It might be nice if DC's swimming clubs were able to start/continue for the sake of fitness and mental well-being, but I guess exercise can be done in other ways.

What time is BOJO’s announcement today?

My DD plays after school with her friends on the field. I guess that's now allowed as of the 14th? Seems silly she can do it behind the school fence but not in front of it.

Announcement is at 4pm

sweet

You aren't allowed to have a party. Even outside, now? With 12 people. But you're allowed a wedding. So call your party a wedding? Whose to know?

Are people that desperate for a party with more than 6 people? I've got a big birthday coming up soon and have accepted that people's health is more important than me having a party. I can still see all my friends in smaller get togethers.

2 households makes much more sense.

But just imagine the large Uni accommodation households getting together!!

Thanks its all so bloody confusing. My dad died in April. Both myself and my sister are trying to support my mum (I am WFH pt as was shielding, as is DH, our two teens have gone back to school and are both being fairly sensible). Sister and her partner are both working outside the home, niece 18 works outside the home, socialises frequently in bars and at small scale house parties & has just come back from one of the Greek islands. Is it safe for myself and my sister to visit my mum in her house if we are well and take her out for a drive or a coffee if I wear a mask in the car? Apparently my sister doesn’t bother with a mask in the car.

Has anyone witnessed or heard of the police enforcing the Covid rules? We don't socialise in big groups but it seems that it's very unusual to be caught - you need an annoyed neighbour or a massive gathering like an illegal rave for something to be shit down.

Pubs and restaurants will obviously stick to the rules because they want to maintain their license but if I was a family of 5 wanting to see parents then I wouldn't feel at all guilty having a gathering of 7.

@chickenortheegg

Has anyone witnessed or heard of the police enforcing the Covid rules? We don't socialise in big groups but it seems that it's very unusual to be caught - you need an annoyed neighbour or a massive gathering like an illegal rave for something to be shit down.

Pubs and restaurants will obviously stick to the rules because they want to maintain their license but if I was a family of 5 wanting to see parents then I wouldn't feel at all guilty having a gathering of 7.

I think the police have been burnt by the governments mixed messages in the early stages. They were effectively told not to be seen to enforce and to instead engage with educating the public. Which to be fair they did quite well in the first few lockdown months.

They do seem to be under pressure to clamp down on raves and the like. We seen this over the bank holiday weekend. There is a lot of drug crime associated with these get togethers and obviously noise and mess. But still probably less of a priority than preventing other crimes.

I think people would be less sympathetic with the police intervening on naice parties held in private grounds in a marquee. It’s one rule for them and another for a council house on estate holding a similar party.

I’m not sure I agree with this. The health risk and disregard for the law is the same.

I run a bar. I'm still not sure whether I can fill it to (socially distanced) capacity with a few groups of less than 6 or if the bar is classed as a group. It makes less sense the more I think about it

@Beetlewing

I'm pretty sure it's the first one. I also run a business and have been inquiring about the same thing and my governing body seems satisfied it's the first one.
I'm still waiting for clarification though.

@Sweetchillijam

Thanks its all so bloody confusing. My dad died in April. Both myself and my sister are trying to support my mum (I am WFH pt as was shielding, as is DH, our two teens have gone back to school and are both being fairly sensible). Sister and her partner are both working outside the home, niece 18 works outside the home, socialises frequently in bars and at small scale house parties & has just come back from one of the Greek islands. Is it safe for myself and my sister to visit my mum in her house if we are well and take her out for a drive or a coffee if I wear a mask in the car? Apparently my sister doesn’t bother with a mask in the car.

Similar here - dad died in April, trying to support mum. But I'm wfh, single, very little contact with anyone.

No-one can answer "is it safe", and "feeling well" is not useful.

The rules still state that you can be a bubble with your mum if she lives alone. But you and your sister can't both be.

But you/she/family can visit with distancing, as long as not more than six at any one time together. I'd suggest masks in the car and open windows.

@Jaxhog Thing is, I am vulnerable. I was asked to shield at the beginning of lockdown because of health conditions I have. So yeah, I understand what it means to want to avoid at all costs having to do that again. I definitely agree! I don't want to be stuck indoors all winter.

But I'm trying to point out that it's a bit strange and inconsistent that the rules allow me to still eat indoors in a crowded pub etc. I just can't imagine that an outdoor antenatal education class is that much more of a risk than that! I would judge it as less risky.

I have friends who were productive working from home now forced back to supposedly "covid safe" workplaces and increasingly busy commutes. My local school has reopened without changing much at all because they have limited space and were given absolutely no funding to help teach the kids in smaller classes or for soap or anything. I can't imagine there won't be spread coming from that. It just doesn't seem to make sense that stopping seven people meeting is the thing that will supposedly make a huge difference and allow schools to stay open.