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Original poster

CanI break the rules?

33 replies

TooNaughty · 27/11/2020 10:08

Ok, please don't flame me. My area has gone to Tier 2, although one of the lowest coronavirus rates in the UK. I am a keyworker and have worked all through this and followed the rules religiously. Supposed to be meeting for lunch with 2 friends after lockdown, because I am having surgery soon this will be the only time I will see them until February, last chance for fun for a long time. Would we be completely unreasonable to have lunch together, following social distancing, etc, hand washing, no contact?

OP posts:
Seeline · 27/11/2020 10:12

Well you can meet outside - group of 6, so have a picnic, or find a restaurant with outdoor area (preferably heated!), or in a garden with a firepit etc.

If you are having surgery soon, I would have thought your priority would be to reduce all risks of contracting corona, so mixing indoors is just silly.

Seriouslymole · 27/11/2020 10:12

Why on earth are you asking on here? You know what the response is going to be; no of course you can't, you'll kill people blah, blah, blah.

Use your own common sense. If you are comfortable with it, do it.

Frazzled2207 · 27/11/2020 10:13

I don't think you're being entirely unreasonable but this is not allowed.

You might find that wherever you are going is stopping anyone clearly from different households from coming in as theoretically they could get fined (and even temporarily closed down for doing this).

It is totally shit though.

Sirzy · 27/11/2020 10:13

Unless your all sat on a separate table then you won’t be social distancing will you!

RedskyAtnight · 27/11/2020 10:14

Have lunch in the garden?

Of course it's up to you whether you want to ignore the rules or not, but not being able to see friends until February doesn't make you massively different from large numbers of people in the country.

Hayeahnobut · 27/11/2020 10:15

No one is going to come into your house and check how many people are there. However you're having surgery soon, so should be minimising contact with other people. For that reason I think it's an irresponsible thing to do. And with all goodwill in the world, you won't remain socially distanced once you relax, it just doesn't happen.

Racoonworld · 27/11/2020 10:16

No you can’t do it legally. You can see them outside though and still have a good time. Outdoor cafe or pub or picnic in a nice area.

Cornettoninja · 27/11/2020 10:19

How soon is your surgery? If it’s a matter of weeks then I do think you’re being irresponsible.

If longer then just work out a way to meet outdoors - fire pit, small campfire (with marshmallows obvs) - so you can meet outside and be relatively comfortable.

frolicmum · 27/11/2020 10:25

@Seriouslymole

Why on earth are you asking on here? You know what the response is going to be; no of course you can't, you'll kill people blah, blah, blah.

Use your own common sense. If you are comfortable with it, do it.

Agree with this! Don't ask on here, you are your own person and have to make up your own mind.
EatDessertFirst · 27/11/2020 10:31

No

MaMaD1990 · 27/11/2020 10:39

Hella no! Just because you've been 'good' up until now does not mean that gives you a free pass to break the rules because it suits you better. Jesus.

Emmacb82 · 27/11/2020 11:02

Why do people have to mention that they are a key worker as if they will make everyone say ‘go on then break the rules’ 🙄
It’s rubbish, it’s awful and it’s a pain in the arse, but no you can’t break the rules and have lunch with your friends. You can meet with them outside in a park etc so you still get to see them. But not inside or in a private garden. And like others have said, if you’re due to have surgery soon then your priority should be keeping safe and well until that date.

GymMat · 27/11/2020 11:05

If your having an op soon arnt you supposed to isolate?

coconuttyhead · 27/11/2020 11:15

@GymMat

If your having an op soon arnt you supposed to isolate?
That’s what I was thinking too.
MereDintofPandiculation · 27/11/2020 11:15

You can meet with them outside in a park etc so you still get to see them. But not inside or in a private garden. She's Tier 2. It's Tier 3 when you can't meet in your garden90

shinynewapple2020 · 27/11/2020 11:35

Is there a pub / restaurant anywhere near you which has a covered and / or heated outdoor eating area ? That way you can meet up with them perfectly legally if you are happy with any risk regarding your health .

Furries · 27/11/2020 12:07

When is your surgery? I know two people who’ve had operations this autumn and both of their surgeons were very strict about the need to self-isolate for 2 weeks before the operation and for at least one week post-op. The risk is that you pick up Covid, have no symptoms and take it into hospital and spread it. That risk is lessened as you will need to have a Covid test a couple of days before your op - if you test positive then your op will be cancelled. Not sure how long you’ve had to wait for it, but it isn’t something I’d be risking (or even needing to ask on here).

PurpleDaisies · 27/11/2020 12:09

Whether you have followed the rules up to now is irrelevant. Loads of us have.

You are still proposing to break the law now. Don’t.

traveller11 · 27/11/2020 13:08

I still would tbh.

DD is having surgery in 2 weeks and only been told to isolate for 3 days prior (following a test) so we're still going to see friends and family up until the point of us having the test

chantico · 27/11/2020 13:26

You need to find out the pre-operative solation and testing requirements

I think with surgery in the offing it would be an immensely bad idea to ave unnecessary indoors contacts

Chloemol · 27/11/2020 13:48

You can meet up outside. Why would you want to put your surgery at risk by meeting up with friends inside? You will have to take a COVID test before anyway, why take the chance it will be positive? Numbers of people with COVID are not the only criteria as to why areas have been put into respective tiers

As to those saying use common sense, do what you want etch thanks it’s people like you that are stopping us from coming out of lockdown

Poppystars · 27/11/2020 13:52

My family member who had surgery had to self isolate for two weeks before surgery and have a clear COVID test.
Why would you jeopardise that and put a hospital at risk?

PrivateD00r · 27/11/2020 13:52

If you are having surgery soon then of course you mustn't add in any extra risk by breaking the rules. If you test positive on your pre-op swab your op will be cancelled. You can continue to test positive for several weeks or even months after initial infection so I would be really careful in your shoes. You say you won't see them until Feb, but isn't that pretty much the case for all of us? I haven't saw most of my friends since the summer, I am sure most people are the same. Don't expect that to change until at least Feb to be honest.

Original poster
TooNaughty · 27/11/2020 14:33

Well, I was just asking for opinions, have decided to meet outside. Will be having a covid test before surgery but this will be after our outdoor meet up. Need to isolate for 3 days after test. Of course I don't want jeopardise anything/anyone. Just that I am allowed to work and sit next to colleagues who are high risk, but can't meet inside with two friends. Oh, and what about that we will be able to go to gym and classes with 20+ other people all running around and puffing all over each other? Makes little sense.

OP posts:
littlemissgrinchy · 27/11/2020 14:47

It's not allowed, you know that but will do it anyway. 🙄 the very reason we are all still fucked with this virus.! You do it, 10,000 others do it .. what's the harm! I give up