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Original poster

Sorry, another "can we do this?" thread

16 replies

Fleurchamp · 15/10/2020 15:26

We are in London and going into Tier 2.
MIL is in a Tier 1 area and is (was?) in our support bubble as she is on her own. She is about 1.5hrs away.

We planned to stay with her for half term.
Can Tier 2 people travel to a Tier 1 area? I can't see where it says we can't.

Once in the Tier 1 area would we be able to see my SIL? She is in a Tier 1 area too or the fact that we have come from a Tier 2 area mean we can't? (I am not bothered about seeing her but I know she will suggest it and I want to know whether we should or not). I am erring on not and sticking to tier 2 rules whilst we are in the tier 1 area.

Saying that, SIL lives about half an hour away from MIL (but sees her less, whole other thread) and so, if this is going to continue it makes more sense for her to make a bubble with MIL rather than us (although SIL refused back in the summer as her and her partner did not want to be "tied" to MIL).

We have not seen MIL since the schools returned in September.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fleurchamp · 15/10/2020 16:04

So it isn't illegal but guidance says no?
MIL is adamant it is fine.

OP posts:
LadyFannyButton · 17/10/2020 08:40

If you put in your postcode in the link below, then the post codes of MIL/SIL, you can check the restrictions in the areas you all live in.

Local lockdown rules: What Covid tier is my area in? www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54373904

Racoonworld · 17/10/2020 08:58

You can still see your MIL if you are her support bubble. But you can’t see your SIL inside. You could see SIL socially distanced outside though.

Racoonworld · 17/10/2020 09:00

[quote LadyFannyButton]If you put in your postcode in the link below, then the post codes of MIL/SIL, you can check the restrictions in the areas you all live in.

Local lockdown rules: What Covid tier is my area in? www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-54373904[/quote]
Restrictions are for the person though so op needs to abide by the Tier 2 rules even if travelling to a Tier 1 area. So no seeing people inside if they aren’t your support bubble anywhere in the country if you live in a Tier 2 area.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 17/10/2020 09:04

You can travel, you can see your support bubble but you can't see any other households indoors. Rule of 6 and social distancing applies outdoors so you could see your SIL outside if the numbers work. The tier 2 rules apply to you no matter where you are at the time.

Youandmeareluckytobeus · 17/10/2020 09:26

The tier 2 rules apply to you no matter where you are at the time.
Not true. If you were to travel from tier 2 area into tier 3 area for essential reasons like work, then the tier 3 rules will apply. You have to follow the higher of the area you live in and the area you are visiting.

LadyFannyButton · 17/10/2020 16:00

Racoon it was more so she could prove to MIL what her restrictions were compared to her own.

Original poster
Fleurchamp · 18/10/2020 08:13

Thank you everyone.

Another question - so once we go to MIL's she will effectively become Tier 2 as well? But once we leave she can go back to the Tier 1 restrictions?

Will there be another re set of the support bubble? I know you could create a new one after 14 September but will this be it now if we create one with her? I think the distance will make it quite difficult over Winter.

OP posts:
toodlepipsqueaks · 18/10/2020 08:27

Your MIL stays Tier 1 (e.g. can meet people inside) but it won't matter for her interactions with you, as you have to follow the stricter Tier 2 rules (e.g. can only meet outside).

I think the point of the support bubble is it's a trade off. Obviously the more people that come into contact, the more theoretical risk of the virus spreading. So ideally if you form a support bubble, you stick to it. I therefore don't think there will be a "reset" but I doubt you'll see it written in the rules either way. If you don't form a support bubble with MIL, do you think SIL definitely will, and will see her enough to justify it?

IDSNeighbour · 18/10/2020 08:36

I'm in a similar situation and have interpreted the rules like this:

I am in tier 1 and my mum and my sister are visiting me.
My mum is also tier 1. She's staying in a B&B because I'm a teacher and she's vulnerable so it seems more sensible.
My sister is tier 2. She's my bubble so she can come in the house and can stay over.
My mum and sister can both be inside together in my house as my sister counts as my household.
My mum and I could go out for meals etc but not with my sister because tier 2 would apply to her outside my house. So we're staying in.
I don't know if that's correct though.

Racoonworld · 18/10/2020 09:05

@IDSNeighbour

I'm in a similar situation and have interpreted the rules like this:

I am in tier 1 and my mum and my sister are visiting me.
My mum is also tier 1. She's staying in a B&B because I'm a teacher and she's vulnerable so it seems more sensible.
My sister is tier 2. She's my bubble so she can come in the house and can stay over.
My mum and sister can both be inside together in my house as my sister counts as my household.
My mum and I could go out for meals etc but not with my sister because tier 2 would apply to her outside my house. So we're staying in.
I don't know if that's correct though.

Think that’s correct but if your MIL is vulnerable and therefore wants to stay in a bnb she really shouldn’t be going inside your house, the virus doesn’t know if she is sleeping in a house or sitting on the sofa she can get infected easily in both situations.
Mindymomo · 18/10/2020 09:06

@IDSNeighbour. I’m really not sure on that one. I’ve got a feeling that your mother cannot be with your sister in your home, but I hope I am wrong. If you were all in tier 1, that would be fine, but as your sister is in tier 2 I think that’s the problem.

IDSNeighbour · 18/10/2020 12:21

RacoonWorld Yeah, I know. It was actually me that wanted her not to stay with me, she wasn't worried. I know there's still a risk, I just thought I could reduce the risk a bit by not sharing towels, bedding, shower, cutlery and not breathing the same air 24/7. And she's not in the extremely vulnerable category (She's 66 and very overweight).

MindyMomo Yeah, idk if we've broken rules or not, tbh. But my sister's going today any way so it's done now. She hadn't seen My mum since Christmas and I've only seen her once so, perhaps wrongly, we went for it and applied what safety measures we could. Fully expecting this to be it for another few months.

HugeAckmansWife · 18/10/2020 12:44

Doesn't this discusdion just show how utterly ridiculous the whole thing is, how ineffective and unenforceable it is.. And how even when people are trying they'll likely get it wrong. The virus neither knows nor cares about Tiers, postcodes, the distinction etween guidelines and laws. Use your own judgement based on your own risk factors and live your life.

Original poster
Fleurchamp · 18/10/2020 15:40

@HugeAckmansWife you're absolutely right - I am by nature a rule abiding person, I would not want to break any rules even if I think they are arbitrary but at the same time it is so confusing and, like you say, unenforceable that even I would consider what I feel is right over what is strictly allowed.

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