Couples in established relationships have to socially distance

[avenueq]

in tier two and three, unless they can form a support bubble.
So that means no relationships between students. Or between say a woman with two adult kids living at home and a man who lives with his mother, or in a shared flat.
Is that reasonable? I don't think it is.

But where is the actual law on that. What a downing Street spokesperson says is not law. There are still exemptions to tier rules.

But that's the point, this particular exemption has been removed

Very unreasonable; and they wonder why people are not listening

There is nothing in the guidelines that say that has been removed. The law says that social distancing is not required between established couples. That hasn't changed. You could take it as reading it is ok to shag your none resident partner in the garden or anywhere else outdoors but not in a house ( because the former is definitely legally permitted) but does that make sense?

@Jaxhog love your optimism

Some people don't HAVE a year!

It isn't bollocks. It's the law and will save lives. Don't you care about anyone else?

How many more months will this line be thrown around.

Gardens is permitted in tier 2. Has to be elsewhere in tier 3.

Why can't people just do as they're asked? Sick of Brits complaining. We're in a pandemic.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-level-high

These guidelines used to say about relationships before the tiers were brought in, now they don't

The actual guidelines say must not socialise. People would generally say being with your partner is not the same as socialising.

@annabel85 because this is severely impactful on mental health and just not reasonable

I'm not British by the way

Will I fuck!?! - no way will I comply to this.

@annabel85

Why can't people just do as they're asked? Sick of Brits complaining. We're in a pandemic.

Because NONE of it makes sense. Look at the stats.

Equally, since these silly half lockdowns, mask wearing etc have come into place the alleged situation has got worse.

It doesn't work!

The impact on mental health, social wellbeing and society as a whole will have FAR more drop out than a virus that has a survival rate of over 99%.

But you carry on blindly following.

My partner and I do not live together. We live 100 miles apart due to having to be near our own children for now. We see each other every fortnight for a weekend and occasionally during the week. Where he lives have just gone into tier 2 so does that mean we can't see each other now?

I’m rule follower. I’ve done everything asked of me, but not this one. Not this time.

I’ll be honest and say it’s not even a particularly established relationship I’m talking about. It’s early stages, but frankly, the glimmer of hope it’s offering after the wreck of 2020 is what is keeping us both going. I’m not giving it up.

@bobisbored

My partner and I do not live together. We live 100 miles apart due to having to be near our own children for now. We see each other every fortnight for a weekend and occasionally during the week. Where he lives have just gone into tier 2 so does that mean we can't see each other now?

At the end of the day, it's up to both of you if you want to see each other.

My student DS and his established GF live in separate houses where they and all their housemates have had CV since the start of term. They will be allowed to work together in the business that employs them both (and almost certainly where my DS was infected). I know we don’t yet know the full story on reinfection, but I can’t see that them visiting each other’s homes adds any risk at all.

Mental health needs to be brought to the fore for young people otherwise we will see a lot more of the awful tragedies we saw a few weeks ago with drug dealers targeting vulnerable students, avoidable dropouts, much more depression and anxiety, and increased generational resentment.

@annabel85

Why can't people just do as they're asked? Sick of Brits complaining. We're in a pandemic.

The reason people can't do as they're asked is because what they're being asked does a shit all over human behavioural norms. Not British, human, which is why you'll find they're struggling to get compliance with rules like this elsewhere when they've been in force over a lengthy period.

My partner lives 2 miles away from me but he’s in a locked down part of Wales and I’m in England. My mental health is an absolute mess.

@CrappleUmble Nobody wants to do it but if everyone followed the rules then the situation would be more manageable. People get it from close proximity to other people, so we all need to cut down on our social contact.

Mixed messaging from the government to keep people out and spending money doesn't help. They've messed the health service up as well.

[quote annabel85]@CrappleUmble Nobody wants to do it but if everyone followed the rules then the situation would be more manageable. People get it from close proximity to other people, so we all need to cut down on our social contact.

Mixed messaging from the government to keep people out and spending money doesn't help. They've messed the health service up as well.[/quote]
There is a difference between not seeing your mates at the pub and your long term partner though.

[quote annabel85]@CrappleUmble Nobody wants to do it but if everyone followed the rules then the situation would be more manageable. People get it from close proximity to other people, so we all need to cut down on our social contact.

Mixed messaging from the government to keep people out and spending money doesn't help. They've messed the health service up as well.[/quote]
You don't know whether it would make the situation more manageable or not, given that the virus is now endemic in some areas, but let's say for the sake of argument we knew it would. It still does a shit all over normal human behaviour. That's a complete answer to your question about why people can't just do as they're asked. You not liking it and feeling you can come up with a convincing argument why it shouldn't be the case doesn't change that.

Yeah it's pretty crap. I'm in a 3 year relationship with my partner but we both live with our parents and I also live with my DD. The good news is unlike the strict lockdown we can actually see each other outside but it's bloody freezing!

There'a a reason it's a behavioural norm, it's necessary for the continuation of the species. It's like telling people if they would just stop drinking/breathing/eating we'd be fine. It's madness to make it illegal.

Tbf Ultimately people going to see their Mum or their boyfriend isn't the problem, it's people taking the piss and having parties and gatherings etc and not taking precautions with hygiene and distancing.

Problem is, they'll continue to carry on taking the piss, while the stickler for following rules sits in her bedroom all winter with no social contact.