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Covid

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Original poster

Are most people obeying the rules?

74 replies

IrishGirl2020 · 08/02/2021 14:23

I went for a walk yesterday evening where I live (west London) and passed 2 houses where people were leaving looking very much as if they’d just been round for Sunday lunch. One couple weren’t even very discreet waving goodbye to another couple standing on the doorstep and saying ‘Thanks, that was lovely etc’ as they got in a taxi to leave.

Similarly have had a few friends be very cagey as to what they’re up to at the weekends, saying they’re not free but not saying why. Another friend openly admitted they’d had a dinner party the other week for some close friends.

I haven’t had anyone else in my house for a social visit since last March and now starting to feel a bit stupid and like maybe I’m the only one actually obeying the rules. Please tell me I’m not!
And what do you think? Are most people obeying the lockdown rules where you are?

Btw I’m not shielding or clinically vulnerable - I’m just doing what I’m told and what I hoped everyone else was doing too!

OP posts:

the80sweregreat · 08/02/2021 14:28

Hard to say isn't it? I've not seen anyone at all from family since last summer and once between lockdowns in a pub and we sat on separate tables!
I know people are meeting up but I guess we're all different and some are willing to take the risk.

Aimee1987 · 08/02/2021 14:29

Were not seeing anyone except sil who lives alone so is a support bubble. It's been tough as I spent most of last year on mat leave feeling rather isolated.
I think alot of people are getting lockdown fatigue. We went for a walk along g the river yesterday and passed a basketball court where about 8 guys in their early 20s ( so unlikely same household) were playing basketball. The closed off skate park had about 40 people in it and at least 1/4 of them were adults with no social distancing.
It's annoying but I dont think theres much that can be done. Theres not enough police here to enforce it and the laws are too vague.

AllMyPrettyOnes · 08/02/2021 14:31

Yes and no. Cases have come down considerably, so we must be doing something right.

But in my personal circle, most of them are seeing people.

sociallydistained · 08/02/2021 14:31

I honestly don’t care if people are anymore. I’m so tired and so sick of work and homeschooling I can’t blame anyone for breaking the monotony.
I just want some time off to be alone in my house so I don’t even want to break the rules i just want to be alone as I’m knackered!

Circumlocutious · 08/02/2021 14:34

Completely mixed bag. Have friends who are incredibly set on following them (sometimes too much so...); meanwhile my mum and sister went around for dinner yesterday and brother and SIL’s house.

Circumlocutious · 08/02/2021 14:34

At brother*

IsitSummeryet21 · 08/02/2021 14:35

In my circle and what I see on SM no. But cases are lowering

Fuckadoodledoooo · 08/02/2021 14:36

Yeah, but we've got no friends and no life anyway so nothings changed

Dh family aren't though. All meeting up, SIL is constantly pissed off at Dh that she's only 'met our baby on the door step a couple of times (we didn't see her even when we could outside as she's not been carful at all and we don't want to risk it).

I don't know of anyone else to comment abs maddeningly, I don't live in a position where I can curtain twitch.

IsadoraQuagmire · 08/02/2021 14:36

I am. Completely.

Pastanred · 08/02/2021 14:38

I don’t know anyone following the rules fully

I don’t see my parents inside as they’re over 65 so I’d prefer not to but I have my friends my age round regularly

We are all nhs/teachers so are all tested 2x per week. None of us are worried about covid - all mid 40s

I don’t believe the household transmission is even comparable to the huge cases being transmitted via legal mixing such as at work/bubbles and in hospitals so a blanket rule feels unjustified

Original poster

IrishGirl2020 · 08/02/2021 14:46

Definitely seems to be a varied response then!

I’m not worried about catching Covid myself but I am very conscientious when it comes to obeying rules - too much so probably 😂

OP posts:

mightbealittlebitmad · 08/02/2021 14:47

Technically not because I take the kids and walk with my friend and her child (ren)

I had my mum to stay because I'm recently separated and needed her help. She's not my support bubble because she already has one but I probably won't see her until next month or April anyway.

I go shopping when I need or want something and I take the kids.

I don't stay local local for exercise, I drive about 10 miles to get there. Local enough to me but perhaps not others.

In the grand scheme of things I'm not causing any issues. I'm not hosting house parties, attending raves, kicking strangers.

I haven't seen my friends inside for ages but I would have a friend round and not feel bad about it. There is only so much I can put up with before I go totally insane.

ifonly4 · 08/02/2021 14:48

We are. Everyone seems to be very careful in our area/follows the restrictions compared to what I read on MN and I half wonder if that's why we're in the bottom third for cases.

ComtesseDeSpair · 08/02/2021 14:49

I don’t know anyone who is or ever even vaguely has obeyed right from March 2020. You’ll see people on here claiming they don’t know anybody who hasn’t absolutely stuck to every rule (plus some they’ve made up themselves for good measure.) The overall situation is somewhere in the middle: most people are obeying most of the rules, most of the time, whilst making some minor expectations for themselves in situations where they think it’s necessary for childcare / support / mental health / quick visits.

Taylrse · 08/02/2021 15:02

I don't know anyone who is 100% blindly following the rules.

I wear a facemask in shops and I distance when standing in the queue (although walking around the shops, no one distances)

However I have visited family.

My neighbour isolated since March, ended up in hospital in October due to a fractured bone. Caught covid in hospital and has died now. It has made me think what is the point anymore, so much time is being lost.

littlepeas · 08/02/2021 15:03

I don’t know to be honest - if people are breaking rules they are being quiet about it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are. I’m stretching them by going to 1-2-1 Pilates - we can continue because the teacher is a physio and I have a long term issue with a joint. We’re also going to the shops as and when we need to (individually). That’s it though - what rebels we are!

I don’t blame people for breaking rules. I’m starting to feel like a caged animal and probably won’t last much longer before I start seeing friends, etc. I hate this lockdown so much more than spring last year.

Mamabear12 · 08/02/2021 15:04

I would say yes and no. People aren’t going to parties I assume or large gatherings. But I see lots meeting in the park to let their kids play. If we bump into friends in the park our kids play.

ethelredonagoodday · 08/02/2021 15:06

Yes, and most people we know are too.

lightand · 08/02/2021 15:07

I think it depends what area people are in.
Been in areas where you barely see a person. And other areas where life appears much more like it used to look like.

MiniTheMinx · 08/02/2021 15:10

I'm obeying the rules. Don't know what other people get up to.

swithers · 08/02/2021 15:12

We are. 100%

emmathedilemma · 08/02/2021 15:13

Yes and I don't know, or haven't seen any evidence of, people breaking the rules. I have my suspicions about a couple of neighbours and what they get up to (cars here and people in the house type behaviour, I suspect they're the sort who have a different bubble every day).
I would say there's groups in the park and out for walks that aren't part of the same household and therefore breaking the "meet one other person" rule but you don't know people's circumstances so maybe they are?

Bewareoftheblob · 08/02/2021 15:19

Most people are seeing who they want but being discreet about it so as not to incur the wrath of the militant.

Some people talk about how awful other people are for breaking the 'rules' and then breaking them themselves but they always have a good reason why they themselves are exempt.

A few people are truly concerned and following everything.

Hollyhead · 08/02/2021 15:20

More or less, we're in a childcare bubble with my parents, and although it's meant to be 'drop off at the door and that's it' we are going in each other's houses to do the childcare and yes, that also sometimes stretches to a cup of tea.

Lollipop1234 · 08/02/2021 15:25

@Pastanred

I don’t know anyone following the rules fully

I don’t see my parents inside as they’re over 65 so I’d prefer not to but I have my friends my age round regularly

We are all nhs/teachers so are all tested 2x per week. None of us are worried about covid - all mid 40s

I don’t believe the household transmission is even comparable to the huge cases being transmitted via legal mixing such as at work/bubbles and in hospitals so a blanket rule feels unjustified

Wow, really? That’s quite a lot of mixing and very large bubbles. I’m sure your colleagues would be delighted if they knew you were doing that outside of work and ramping up their risk even more. I presume you’re not distancing or wearing masks when meeting socially?

The nhs lateral flow testing has missed a few of our colleagues positive tests.

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