Is anyone actually going to follow the rules from spring?

[Cloudsurfing]

It will have been a year since being allowed to properly see friends and family. Even in summer last year you still had to social distance so seeing family was difficult, and some areas had tighter restrictions throughout. Everyone I know is going to see family and friends from spring, regardless of what restrictions there are. I am too. The government do know that most people won’t stick to it from then, right?

Is anyone on here actually going to not see family at that point? I know Mumsnet seems to be full of people who are happy to isolate for years if need be, but are you actually going to?

Once we are vaccinated I will be seeing my parents who have just had corona virus and will have been vaccinated themselves. The government might think people with older disabled children shouldn’t have any help or support, but it’s inhumane making us live like this with no back up for the kids.

I’ll stick to whatever rules are in place I think, yes. Our family has lost several friends in their 40s, 50s and 60s to covid. When it affects your life in that way, the restrictions don’t seem so bad.

Looking forward to being able to go for a walk or meet in the park with a relative or friend, definitely. And to the kids going back to school. But I’m not going to start doing exactly as I please to the detriment of the health of others.

@RaspberryCoulis

We're breaking the rules already. Kids are struggling very badly with not seeing anyone outside the house. Difficult to spend time outside when it's not been above 5c since Christmas. So we're allowing them to have the occasional friend round.

Covid is not the only thing which matters.

I don't blame you. Many (apparently up to 40% in a lot of schools) children are seeing other children at school every day. Why should your children suffer just because you're not a 'key worker'.

Well, when does spring start? And we don't know what "the rules" will be then anyway, but generally yes we will be following the rules.

OP I find it interesting that you say Mumsnet is full of people who are happy to isolate for years. I agree that I have seen posts like thst, but Mumsnet for me is where I come across lots of people saying they are already, or will be, meeting up with people regardless of the law / rules/ guidance.
Yes, I will continue to follow the rules. I want out of this mess.

@Dongdingdong

"Long Covid" means the persistence of debilitating physical symptoms long after the infection is over.

Yes I get that thank you. But the word “long” has never been applied to literally any other disease on earth, as far as I’m aware. It’s just an odd expression.

I agree. It took me months to get over Glandular fever a few years ago....not once did any medical professional refer to it as "long glandular fever".

I usually keep off these threads because they annoy me so much

Those selfish posters who are already breaking lockdown, do you not get it?

Do you not understand that your selfish actions are prolonging the whole thing for everyone else?

I'd love to see my family who are all over the UK but can't partly as hotels are closed but also I'd not want to risk giving them the virus if I had it, or caught it en route.

I wish people would stop thinking of only themselves because the more people break the rules, the more we all have to wait for this to end.

It's just sickening to read comments here.

Irrelevant if people are sick of it or not. Rules may be relaxed by then. Those prepared to take risks with their own and others health will be on here complaining about restrictions again if virus numbers increase again, and complaining if they become unwell for any other reason and can't get NHS treatment due to backlogs.

Speak to those working in the NHS, who will explain the reality of this "mere mild flu like illness" and knock on effects.

The glib " well we never have and are having friends over" comments don't impress anyone. I'm sure those reading whose lives have been shortened/quality of life diminished due to lack of treatment due to others selfishness will be absolutely delighted. Wonder how their mental health is doing?

But probably a wasted message to the self centred.

You didn't answer the question red

Covid is not the problem here, it is people wishing to live in a sanitised risk free bubble with no dangers whatsoever around them. They want to mitigate every last risk, and will stop at nothing. It is driven by fear I assume or they have been brainwashed to an inch of their lives.

I suspect those that believe the lockdown should be endlessly extended belong to the teaching unions, and they have a very obvious and striking reason why we must all remain locked down until all nine groups are vaccinated, it aids the argument to keep the schools closed.
They hope another mutant strain will be along in the meantime to give them another good reason... it is all about keep schools closed in many cases on here. Same as last spring.

For others it is pure fear based on nothing, they are often the most statistically likely to be completely fine with covid!

I utterly despair. In a few months from now they will be the same ones devastated by job loss or the loss of their house, because they did not think it would happen to them.

It leaves large numbers of people who have had it VERY seriously impaired for what might be YEARS. We know it can affect people for months - I know two people who are still unable to function normally, having had it during the first wave, one is a GP with a young family who was previously fit, a runner. He struggles to breathe after even mild exercise.

A friend in her 50s who was healthy, fit and active with no underlying conditions has developed epilesy and other long term conditions after being ill with covid. She can't work. She's in a really bad way still. Nearly 12 months on.

Another 'friend' who is thoroughly in the denial about covid (and the fact that him being overweight, over 50 and a prime candidate for being hospitalised and being seriously ill - and has turned down the vaccine even though he's been offered it!) has been going around behind her back saying its her fault she was so ill and its all because she did lots of drugs in her 20s (She didn't. He's making up shit).

The psychology of the pandemic is utterly fascinating.

No option but to stick to the rules when family don't live nearby and travel is restricted.

I've been thoroughly screwed over by the pandemic - my business has been made illegal, and I have been denied financial support because I went self employed the best part of a year before covid hit.

It doesn't make me motivated to follow the latest diktat from government. If they want my support they should be supporting me.

I drove to the beach and walked the dog a few days ago - currently illegal in Wales. I have no regrets.

DF decided he wanted to come over for the day and I didn't stop him. He's more vulnerable than me and can make an informed decision to take that risk.

If the other person wants to meet up with me then I'm up for it, but I also respect that there's some people who don't want to - hence I haven't seen DM since Christmas 2019.

yes but have been anyway. Enough of the lockdowns as people have to live their lives and are getting serious mental issues.

Yes. Haven't seen any of my family in over a year now.

When does Spring begin?

I think the messages from the scientists is cautiously optimistic so I'm feeling positive that we are close to many areas of our lives re-opening. I'm sure CV will still circulate and mutations come and go but at more manageable levels and with the vaccines tweaked in response.

I've had a number of friends hospitalised with CV, all younger than me (49) and no underlying conditions. One had it last March and has had it a second time this year. It wasn't like flu for them. No brain washing here thanks.

Personal risk assessment. You never had to social distance it's guidance.

We saw friends and family as soon as we could.

My family is small and friend meetings were also small.

So glad I did with what's happening now.

If it feels right do it. If your worried judge the risk. Who have they been seeing, work, risk level etc and vice versa.

I have a horrible feeling social distancing guidelines will be remaining for a while yet...

Your personal freedoms are NOT more important than public safety.

My 50 year old colleague just died. In younger people Covid causes strokes and multi organ failure. Their lungs filled up and they suffocated to death.

Just like you, this person had a name, they had friends and colleagues, they had children and siblings and parents.

Whatever your personal circumstances you are not, and will never be, more important than anyone else.

No buts.

Yes you are being unreasonable. You need to get the f**k over yourselves.

I'd love to see my family who are all over the UK but can't partly as hotels are closed but also I'd not want to risk giving them the virus if I had it, or caught it en route.

That’s your issue then. If you want to put your life on hold indefinitely even after your older family members have had the vaccine, then crack on. Others don’t and won’t be doing that.

When does spring begin? 8th of March this year.

My young and healthy mum developed pneumonia after flu and was very ill.
What precautions did you all take back then to prevent that happening to anyone else?

Or rather what precautions should we as a nation have taken.
The vaccines prevent the majority of deaths and severe disease. What more are we aiming for now?

Yes. I don’t live near any of my family, much as I’d love to see them, and my parents are both vulnerable, so I’ll be following the rules.
Of course it’s hard. I feel that, and it’s probably even harder if you’re living alone, or your kids are disabled and you can’t access your usual support, or are a lone parent, or have no outside space. But “it’s hard” isn’t a reason to endanger others.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

I agree. It took me months to get over Glandular fever a few years ago....not once did any medical professional refer to it as "long glandular fever".

Well that's partly because glandular fever is known to have a long recovery period 3-6 months is pretty normal.

A long recovery period after illness is usually known as post viral fatigue or post viral syndrome. Long covid is is a specific subset of this and is much more common that for any other specific viral illness.

You endanger yourself and others every time you drive on the roads. Are you planning to stop driving?

Or do you accept that we as society live with a low level of risk for the convenience of many