How many people have you touched in the last 6 months?

[tactum]

Went for a walk with a friend the other day and accidentally brushed her arm going through a gate. It felt very odd. Thinking about it, apart from that I really don't think I've touched anyone else outside of my household since march.

Was then talking to another friend about it and she reckoned she'd touched about 20. Not job related, just socially. Wtf?!

So what's your number?? Feel like this is the covid version of the 'how many people have you slept with?' threads!! 🤣

@WanderingMilly

No-one. I'm single, live alone but once we weren't in complete lockdown I have been out and about, meeting family (distanced, outdoors and going for walks etc.), working (part-time) and going out shopping, garden centres, restaurants, National Trust gardens and so on.

In all of that, I haven't touched anyone at all. I don't touch or hug family, we're not supposed to. But them I'm not a 'huggy' person and quite welcome the excuse not to!!

Maybe there's something wrong with me but to be honest, I really haven't noticed it at all. Now I'm out and about doing things and going places I have plenty of social contact without getting all touchy-feely. Really can't understand the wails from grandparents who haven't hugged their grandchildren...I just think it's odd to measure socialising solely by touch. Weird!

I’m odd too then! I’m with you.

Of course I’m deeply sad for people who are so upset by not being able to hug family. But I think I was born for social distancing! Stops me from being the arsehole who backs away with a “whoa there” when someone (Other than Dh or dc) try to hug me or get too close in general.

My husband and son.
My mum (we are her support bubble)
My sister when she came to stay- we had socially distanced the whole time until the last evening when she broke down in tears. She and her boyfriend of over 8 years had broken up at the beginning of the pandemic. She hasn’t had any physical contact with anyone for over 5 months. She also held my son when she visited. He is a baby.
I’ve brushed hands with my step mum last week as I’ve handed my son over. She is going to be helping us with childcare when I go back to work next month so she was having a trial morning with him so he gets used to her when I’m not around.
That’s it- will probably be touched by a healthcare professional for my flu jab next week and when DS gets his next set of jabs.
Not had my hair done since January as my usual hairdresser is shielding. I suspect I will be in physical contact with lots of people from next month when back at work (healthcare professional).

My dp, my adult kids, my best friend, dp's sister, dp's niece, dp's dd ... no not exactly stuck to the rules but we had covid in March so it's unlikely I'm going to catch it again (theres only sketchy evidence it's possible and looks unlikely to be common)

Husband and toddler daughter - and I've been for a massage once where she touched me.

Quite a lot. I've given friends and family hugs and been to see the doctor once.

Oh and I suppose my hairdresser and I had my legs waxed in the summer.

I must say, I am not a hugger, but I find this thread quite sad. I know it's the times we live in, but I know hugs and human contact are important to many people. Even my nearly 2 year old DD loves to give her friends and cousin a hug. It's a natural thing for her, as I certainly didnt teach her, and I certainly don't stop her. I hope it goes back to some way that people can hug their mothers and fathers. I cant imagine not hugging my DD, even if she was an adult.

While in lockdown none
From July my DD and GS and two close friends who were moving away ( one hug for the friends )

Outside my household/ bubble (with a relative living on his own), once at work because we were working on a piece of equipment at the same time and we did not coordinate well, so we reached for the same part at the same time (we wear face shields when we cannot SD).

@HazeyJaneII

My dh, and dcs (4) My mum's hand, as she was dying. It felt very strange to remove a glove and to hold her hand in mine, the only time we'd touched in 11 weeks. The funeral director who put his hand on my shoulder, at her funeral.

I'm so sorry for your loss, I'm pleased to hear you had that moment of contact I'm sure it meant the world to your mum!

While in lockdown none apart from my husband. Since then, a very upset friend and one big hug from my nephew.

7 , 6 family members, 3 live with me and 3 don't, and a friend.

Work- hundreds
Home - my sister and my kids
Other- necessary medical procedures 2

1, my DP.

DH and the cat and then I ve seen 11 midwives so far I think.

Dh and two DCs.
Hairdresser
Dentist
Hygienist

No one else and it makes me feel incredibly sad. I didn't realise how much I just needed a touch on the arm from the lovely people I usually volunteer with (adults) and the children who usually hug me as I volunteer in a primary school. Obviously I am not doing that at the moment. We are in tier 2.

Just DH who lives with me, DD2 who lives with me and DD1 who doesn’t. The latter is breaking the rules (we are tier 1 so I can see her but am meant to distance from her) but apart from her partner she has no one else in the world to hug now. I’m not going to stop her being able to hug her mum.
I haven’t hugged my own mum, my sister or any of my friends since February. My own mum is in her 80s and I think it must be desperately sad for her to have not hugged any of her children or grandchildren for so long.

Reading the high level of compliance on this thread, and looking at the fact the numbers are still so bad, I’m wondering why we are putting ourselves through so much misery tbh.

I've just counted 23. Clearly I'm in the minority. This has been fairly recently and the friends/family I have hugged are all willing to take the risk. Very, very low numbers in our area but slate me if you will.

Hundreds also, frontline NHS.
But outside of work, only my partner
I'm very tactile and it feels so unnatural!

I'm a nanny to six children so them. My partner. Two of my best friends.

(I live alone)

My DP and DS, my parents, my In laws, my brother, his wife and two kids. My best friend and her two kids. A friend from work. Multiple GP's/medical professionals. My auntie. I think that's it although I'm sure I'm missing people. Oh the women who helped me get into my wedding dress when I was trying it on and the women who has done the alterations.

I’m Not a particularly sociable person, and don’t have lots of friends. But I have hugged probably 7 people outside my family. Close friends that I don’t see very often even at the best of times.

I live alone

I think it’s 8

Unless you include elbow bumping estate agents!

2: DH and DS.

A woman touched my shoulder in our local shop 2 days ago because the person in front of her had left their bank card in the machine and she was trying to get past to chase them. It felt very odd and is even odder that this felt like an event 😂