Local lockdown guidance ‘outdoor public space’

[N0rthern]

Our local authority guidance states:

Strongly advised not to socialise with people you do not live with in indoor and outdoor public spaces.

What would you call an outdoor public space? Would you interpret that as ruling out meeting friends for walks in the countryside?! (2m apart, not a group of more than 6 etc)

I would take that to mean they don’t want anyone meeting up with other households anywhere, inside or outside. Whether that’s a town centre or walks in the countryside.

They are strongly advising you not to meet up with people outside your household even outside. It is advise, so you can go for walks w friends. Do you think you would stick to 1m+ distance though?. Its actually quite hard to do if you are wanting to talk.

It doesn't ban it, but it strongly advises against it. Your call, I guess.

Thanks. I fear this may go on for a good while so I am finding the thought of no walks with my friend hard :-(

Could you meet up with one at a time outside for a walk? That would be less risky then group of 6 but would mean you could still get out.

@Racoonworld yes, actually it is usually 3 of us in total. 6 does feel more risky

Tbh I would do it if three of you, it's a low risk activity, it's not against the law you are outside socially distanced and it good for your well being. You can't stay locked up and isolated all winter.

I've been a stickler but I would too (with one or two others). I think if ministers want us to see no-one else even outdoors and not f2f, they need to pay the political price of banning it explicitly. And there is no way, from everything the scientists have told us, that walking outdoors with a friend is the same risk as sitting indoors with five, so this is more confusing messaging. I live in London so we may be facing new restrictions which I will stick to - but if merely advised, I will do a few outdoors things a week for mental and physical health. I'm not even sure what socialise means in that context - walking with a friend counted as exercise earlier on.

@MsMartini that’s it, overall I’ve been compliant and have done indoor socialising twice since March (and once was when I sat in my friends’ hall by the open door! ) I just think these local lockdown rules won’t be lifted anytime soon and and also like you say exercise was allowed before....

Yes. I've had to be a stickler because of dh job but also because I think not following the rules (either specific guidance or law) is corrosive. But this "advice" isn't a rule - it is too vaguely worded, no detail and no evidence (indeed, it contradicts much of the evidence). I am keeping my circle of contacts small, and only seeing them outdoors in 1s or 2s. I won't stop doing that while other people are perfectly legally sitting indoors in a pub with five friends. Apart from anything else, it is socially very divisive - I would grow to resent those people.