Are people oblivious to what’s happening in the North?

[Racoonworld]

I keep seeing posts where people are wondering why some people can’t see others, telling them that we’ve been able to meet family and friends for ages now. Do some people not realise that in large areas of the U.K. this isn’t allowed? And that next week it’s going to get worse? I don’t live in these areas but am horrified about what’s happening there and very aware that people are struggling with the isolation.

A few weeks ago I was on a train in Manchester and I was the only one in the carriage wearing a mask, everyone laughing, talking loud, nit being careful with handrails, seating etc. No social distancing in shops, people in and out of each others houses, pubs rammed. No masks in hairdressers etc

Blimey You get around

@OhTheRoses

We live close to and work in London. DC are 22 and 25 and back at uni. We still know only one person who has tested positively for Covid.

From 16.3 we worked from home and went to the supermarket weekly. DC totally complied. I think DH and I had a day trip to the coast in late May when it was allowed.

From mid June I went into my office twice a week. DH goes in when required.

In August we had 10 days in Cornwall - a week in a cottage and a few days in an hotel. Everywhere we went was hot on sd and masks.

DH is in his mother's bubble in Yorkshire so he can visit.

Took DC back to uni and had a cpl of hotel nights, went to a pub and a restaurant and everything was pristine and socially distanced.

Not seeing anyone in the south not conforming.

It's irritating that I think you're implying that those of us in the North have not acted the exact same way as you.

@LimitIsUp

I am not oblivious to what is happening in the North (I live in the South Coast), but I am a little non-plussed as to why infection rates are so much higher in the North and am happy to be educated

In April I wasn't asking to be educated on why rates were higher in the South.

The Finger pointing is annoying now 🙂

All the people I currently know with covid are teachers. I teach 150 children per day. I can't see anyone outside of work, nor can 8 see my parents. It's an absolute nightmare with no end in sight and then I'm on here and it's all oh well in the south we stick to the rules 😂 there really is a North south divide!

West Yorks here. No one I know is abiding by the rules and I know a lot of people. Me and my family are abiding by the rules, but it’s very upsetting hearing everyone talking about seeing their grandchildren family and friends.

I am in Co Durham and nothing has changed, but if it's ok for DC to come here and break the law, then the very same law works with us!

I live in the North and I still dont know any one that has had it. Mean while my elderly relative is living on her own getting more frail and scared to death the neighbours will snitch on her to the police and she will get a criminal record if one of us sit in the garden to see if she is ok.

Meanwhile my ex plays football with 21 other men around a 100 yards away on the playing field near her house.

The people are stupid. We are south and I am very aware of harsher restrictions in the north.

NW here in a local lockdown area. No mixing between households indoor or in the garden. Supposedly.
This week alone in my small circle, one woman has taken two weeks off work to support her DD having a baby (not moving in though, will just be popping round most days). Another whose DS has visited from Manchester and stayed over, my IL's and SIL who live next door to each other, in and out of each other houses. My nephew who has his GF over etc etc......
None eligible to bubble. Just doing what they want.

A lot of these replies are really disheartening. I'm in a North town where we have not been allowed to mix with another household since August, inside or outside.

We have been following the rules. Just going to work, school, shopping. Most people I see are wearing masks.

But when you follow the rules and stay home as much as possible you don't see how well other people are following the rules.

Right now I have 1 elderly friend in hospital with covid, 2 friends that are isolating after testing positive, and 2 more friends isolating because someone they've been in contact with has tested positive.

It feels more prevalent here now than it did in April

In the North of where though?

I'm in a very hard hit area and most people I've spoken to have the opinion of I'll do what I want. What's the harm in meeting with one other household when I'm mixing with much more at work and my child is mixing with even more at school. If the rules don't make sense you're going to have people refusing to comply with them. Also local business is suffering but the current restrictions aren't to blame. Lots of people are going to work/school and then choosing to stay home. The beach and park are full despite the weather. The shopping centres, pubs etc aren't getting the business they need

@Qasd yep, you're absolutely right! While I agree it's frightening what's happening in the north of England, I live in Leicester and I don't think people realise that we never actually came out of lockdown?!
It's been awful for the vulnerable and lonely, and pretty tough for the more fortunate!

I'm in Newcastle and work in retail and honestly if you came from another country you'd have no idea we were in a local lockdown. Shops are busy, pubs are still quite busy (till 10pm) and mask wearing appears optional to all but the shop staff who are wearing them religiously (In my workplace anyway).

We've had a huge amount of local cases but its just giving people another reason to congregate and discuss it. I've not seen my extended family for months as they are older/vulnerable and even im now getting to the "fuck it, no one else is following the rules" point.

I dont think a Level 3 lockdown will make a bit of difference as nothing seems to be being enforced up here.

You would think they would somehow police it better. They should have employed people as wardens to check the rules are being followed.

It is awful. I'm annoyed with little who don't comply, wherever they are. It feels pointless that we comply with the rule of six and don't meet up with my parents as a whole family because it makes 7, when people blatantly ignore the rules. But we stick to the rules. Why can't people just follow the rules so the whole country can have restrictions lifted?

My DD is at uni in Glasgow. She’s so lonely. We speak every day. Breaks my heart. It’s such a mess.

@cptartapp

NW here in a local lockdown area. No mixing between households indoor or in the garden. Supposedly. This week alone in my small circle, one woman has taken two weeks off work to support her DD having a baby (not moving in though, will just be popping round most days). Another whose DS has visited from Manchester and stayed over, my IL's and SIL who live next door to each other, in and out of each other houses. My nephew who has his GF over etc etc...... None eligible to bubble. Just doing what they want.

Yes I’d 100% do the same for my dd if she was in the same position. You don’t know if the grandmother is being very careful whilst not in the house and new mothers need lots of help as mental health can be awful in the first few weeks. She is supporting her child.

@PollyPelargonium52

You would think they would somehow police it better. They should have employed people as wardens to check the rules are being followed.

We are city center and have asked for assistance from the council and the police in terms of unannounced visits and checks but everyone is "too busy".

When we try and enforce the rules (face masks, distancing) it normally ends up in a load of abuse being spewed our way.

This thread is really depressing. Why are people blaming people in the north for non compliance or equally trying to imply things have been done well for London? Anger and accountability should be focussed on the government - not other people. This is an illness.

FWIW I am from very far north and all my family are there. I’m very concerned with what is happening there. It’s also not true to say the the lock down first time was done on London timing - London was very very badly hit because it locked down too late ( actually areas of the north west were also very badly hit). Rates are rising very fast in London now - certainly in certain boroughs ( many of which have nearly the same population as some of the northern cities). The reason they didn’t lock down just London last time ( which was planned) was because of what happened in Italy when they locked down the north and huge numbers fled over night.

Given areas of the north now have Tory MPs perhaps people should also start holding those MPs to account as well.

No I'm not oblivious.

I live in west Cornwall.

What would you like me to do?

I saw a dr yesterday an despite being in a small room with the door shut for 25 minutes, he did not wear a mask. I’m quite concerned about it & I know I should have asked him to wear a mask but I wasn’t feeling strong enough mentally to ask.

I wasnt being sarcastic. I'm not blaming people in the north. But this isnt a problem that can be "fixed" nationally, except very long term with higher taxation to pay for more healthcare

But people, including those in the north, voted against that.

I'm in one of the Northumberland towns causing the Countys cases to spike. Compliance was non existent till a couple weeks ago. Now everyone is back to being very compliant. I think after the local schools had a few cases everyone collectively panicked and realised they needed to sort it out.

Very aware of what's going on and really feel for the people affected. I don't blame people though for not following the rules..they are over it. And it isn't working anyway (query if everyone followed the rules whether it would have done. Who knows)> But people don't have unlimited tolerance and they are at the end. I think most people would get that.

I own 2 businesses in the north east, just awaiting news of whether my coffeeshop will have to close again on monday, very worrying times. Having said that, we are doing well. People are complying to the facemask rules, sitting in separate households and being very sensible, but my shop is community hub in a suburb. Many local people rely on it, many customers visit daily so they don't want to see it go. I have been blow away by the support and just try and remain positive that we'll get through this.

The huge spikes in northern university cities can't be a coincidence though, I've seen a graph and the early 20s age group is massive whereas cases in other age groups are much much lower. Instead of a blanket closure of hospitality I think a curfew on students and a temporary city centre bar closure would be more effective and less damaging to businesses.

I am however sick of seeing people posting on fb about visiting people in their homes which is illegal now here. I do think people should use their common sense but if they're daft enough to put things on fb they're probably breaking many more rules!