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Covid

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Original poster

A lot more people out and about in groups today I noticed, anyone else?

63 replies

Lollipop1234 · 06/02/2021 13:10

We do our daily walk in a local forest. Usually very early on a weekday and at about 8:30/9am at the weekend.

Generally come into contact with a few people, mainly in pairs or household groups like us. All in line with the guidance.

It was very different today, same time, same place, weather ok, a bit rainy....but lots more people and many in bigger groups 6+ exercising together, obviously non household.

It personally doesn’t bother me too much, as I feel it’s healthier to be out exercising than cooped up indoors. But it did make me wonder if lockdown fatigue had started to creep in and people were starting to vote with their feet?

Has anyone else noticed this?

OP posts:

Broceliande · 06/02/2021 15:06

Possibly, I guess I've noticed more walkers about when going back and forth to nursery, and in the last few weeks I've started meeting up outdoors with a school mum so our older kids can play together. I follow the other rules but a steep decline in my seven year olds mental health since the schools were closed meant something had to give. The majority of parents I know are in a similar position and making similar decisions. I suppose outdoor meetups are first rules that people will start pushing when they are struggling to balance the responsibilities created by this pandemic.

I'm hopeful this will keep us going until my in-laws have their second vaccination; after that we will start seeing them again, regardless of whether or not it is allowed.

Icequeen01 · 06/02/2021 15:24

My 81 year old mum went out for a walk today (on her own] for the first time in months. The weather was lovely and she wanted to go to the post office. It is supposed to snow at some point this weekend so she wanted to get out before it hit.

My mum had her 2nd jab on 9th Jan so will have as much immunity as she's going to get. I cannot tell you the difference that walk has made to her mental well-being. I'm not sure if she was breaking the rules and should still be staying indoors but I can't begrudge her that walk.

IsitSummeryet21 · 06/02/2021 15:26

Lovely sunny day here. Roads busy
Last week went to the woods was raining but had to get out it was the busiest I've seen it ever

In the new year we went to the local common and it was busier than the summer.

There's not much for people to do except that so I guess that's a given why it's busy.

Daisysflowers · 06/02/2021 15:36

More and more people have had enough now and for their own mental health and their families are now starting to meet up. This is going to be happening more as the weeks go on. Everyone needs to do what they think is best for their own family.

NOTANUM · 06/02/2021 15:41

Your mum can walk to the shops or indeed anywhere else (exercise) @Icequeen01. Glad to read she has had the vaccine, must be a relief.

Yes I've noticed this. Groups of 2-3 families together and usually in more remote areas because they know it's against the rules.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 06/02/2021 15:42

It’s been driving rain and sleet here all day (Scotland) so we haven’t left the house. Only miserable looking dog walkers, with miserable looking dogs, have gone by.

Very envious of people with nice weather!

redsquirrelfan · 06/02/2021 15:43

Yes I noticed this too, I'd popped out to get some food for tonight and it was busy in town with families, though Sainsburys was fairly empty and I didn't notice any groups.

Pootle40 · 06/02/2021 16:07

1c here ....been so sun in the sky for days. Won't be going anywhere outside.

HappyThursdays · 06/02/2021 16:09

Yes I thought that but there are loads of weather warnings for later today and tomorrow so I imagine people are just trying to get their shit done before the rain/snow

ImnotCarolineHirons · 06/02/2021 16:18

Scotland here too and it's blimming freezing with sleety snow so very people out! Roads quiet too as conditions not great.
Supermarket was busy on Thursday as everyone getting supplies in case it gets worse. Most people still considerate of distancing which was good.

BogRollBOGOF · 06/02/2021 16:23

I got DS1 (10) exercising with his friend on the park yesterday. All in a few minutes walking distance and open air. I supervised at a distance.

Depending on the weather, my neighbour and I will probably end up at the park with our 7-8 yos soon.

It's been over 6 weeks since the children interacted with another child of their own age. More than enough social harm has already been done. Even normally active, sporty children are ending up totally sedentary because walking past houses or trudging through mud in shit weather is now so tedious. Local cases have plummeted and meeting outside is low risk. The rules are causing far more damage to children's well-being now compared to Covid risks.

(And no. The grannies that my children haven't seen since 2019 are not going to be harmed).

Heatherjayne1972 · 06/02/2021 16:23

Sunny here and actually quite warm
Went to supermarket and got into a traffic jam. Shop busy - pre lockdown busy

I think people are just quietly ignoring the rules now

HeronLanyon · 06/02/2021 16:26

I’ve not been out today or yesterday. I’ve heard more cars and more pedestrians and groups chatting as they walk along my road. Central london. Felt different from yesterday. Can hear neighbours out and chatting. Been a long time. The ‘noisy family’ has been heard - they’ve been silent for ages !

Original poster

Lollipop1234 · 06/02/2021 16:26

@willFOURbagsbeenough

It’s Saturday.

It was also Saturday last week and the week before, but significantly busier today..

OP posts:

yearinyearout · 06/02/2021 16:34

No.

Trickleg · 06/02/2021 16:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Lollipop1234 · 06/02/2021 16:38

@WalkingOnStarshine

It's so busy in my village today, the weather is beautiful and it feels like spring. All the picnic tables full with people chatting and drinking coffee, groups having picnics, etc.

I realised this morning that I don't know anyone locally who isn't breaking the rules now, I wonder why I bother. Everyone is off visiting their family, getting babysitters, going to parties. It's really wearing thin, but then we've had very low cases the entire time so maybe that's why people aren't bothered.

Wow, I don’t think our area is at this stage yet! I don’t know any(many?) meeting up indoors, but a few getting together in slightly larger groups outside. Mainly to exercise, maybe in groups of 3/4. I can’t get too upset about that to be honest...

OP posts:

carcarbinks · 06/02/2021 16:44

@Daisysflowers

Is that right? You are happy to break the rules and end your lockdown but if every family in the country decided to do that cases would be up again, schools wouldn't open and we'd be back in lockdown. It's completely selfish for you to break lockdown but expect others to keep following the rules.

Everyone has had enough and people with your attitude just make things worse.

Anonanon12 · 06/02/2021 17:03

No change for my local area, neighbours are all still obeying the rules, people out walking just in household groups or 1 on 1, everyone passing by as far apart as they can from each other and I don't personally know anybody that ate breaking the rules.... Actually the only people we know that have ever broke the rules are my partners 80 year old grandparents!! Driven us mad as they still went to friends houses, off out to various shops etc!!!! And they've had their jabs now so the mil has to keep saying they can't go back to normal yet, they either don't understand or are ignoring and playing dumb on purpose.

BabyStarling · 06/02/2021 17:16

Yes, definitely. Walked into my local town this morning and noticed lots of large groups of 2 - 3 families.

Daisysflowers · 06/02/2021 17:21

@carcarbinks hey get off your high horse! Where in my post did I say that I had met up with loads of family???? No I didn’t did I!!!

I said it is going to start happening more and more in the coming weeks as people’s mental health is struggling and I will not judge anyone who does.

carcarbinks · 06/02/2021 17:27

[quote Daisysflowers]@carcarbinks hey get off your high horse! Where in my post did I say that I had met up with loads of family???? No I didn’t did I!!!

I said it is going to start happening more and more in the coming weeks as people’s mental health is struggling and I will not judge anyone who does.[/quote]
You were the one on the high horse telling everyone to do what was best for their family!

Daisysflowers · 06/02/2021 17:30

@carcarbinks no you read the post wrong and don’t want to apologise for your mistake.

I will end this for you now and remind you to be kind. Have a great weekend.

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 06/02/2021 17:34

I was out at the supermarket this morning and thought the same, loads of groups wandering the retail park.

We have had a sunny day, not particularly warm but dry for the first time in ages and the next week looks like it's going to be grotty and cold so assuming people were taking the chance while they could.

noimnotdoingit · 06/02/2021 17:34

Yup. I see it too.

I think Feb 15 is the deadline for most people's compliance but a few have started early.

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