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 fully we will see family who are vaccinated fully. We never know how much time we all have left, and cannot see the reason to keep isolating once we are vaccinated. If we can’t be released then, I don’t see when we can ever be released. There might be an endless cycle to new variants...

@findingschools4myboys

Once we are vaccinated fully we will see family who are vaccinated fully. We never know how much time we all have left, and cannot see the reason to keep isolating once we are vaccinated. If we can’t be released then, I don’t see when we can ever be released. There might be an endless cycle to new variants...

My thoughts exactly.

What about transmission though? And teachers/people who work in shops who haven't been vaccinated?

Are teachers and people who work in shops not low risk?
Once the majority of the vulnerable are vaccinated how and when will it end if people keep saying "but what about..."

@RC000 well what about them ? What about....a thousand different variants on the theme ?
I'm done with it like millions of other people. If people are worried they need to lock themselves away I'm afraid
Millions of lives cant be ruined because of the very small proportion of vulnerable people.
And yes lives will be ruined because real people need to leave the house to work , they work in industries affected by lockdown ..people need childcare, interaction and all sorts of things to survive . It might not be your situation but while you are all banging on about empathy , how about some for people who's livelihoods and homes have been lost? Or they dont count ?

@StealthPolarBear

Are teachers and people who work in shops not low risk? Once the majority of the vulnerable are vaccinated how and when will it end if people keep saying "but what about..."

Exactly! What about long covid? What about mutations? What about people who refuse the vaccine?

What about..?

What if we don't get down to zero covid and I die from it in my mid nineties in fifty years time. That'll teach me.

I think most people won’t follow the rules or will bend them. Especially if the media keep pushing the ‘vaccinated off on holidays’ agenda. I think, realistically, this is the last lockdown we could have as I just think people are exhausted from it all!

I'll get my great grandchildren to update the thread.

I don't see how the cases are dropping in the USA yet they have superbowl events with zero social distancing. No wearing masks (until recent chnage about transport), are far behind on vaccinations,

Yet there cases are dropping! How??

You can’t really blame teachers, doctors, nurses, refuse collectors, transport workers and delivery drivers for making their own decisions and refusing to work then, can you? If they are more at risk because of your decisions, it is entirely reasonable they go on strike or look to better their conditions. That would impact on you even if you find it ‘boring’ and ‘not your responsibility’. No man is an island and all.

I think it all depends on what place you are starting from. If you have a secure job and your life is not really affected then it’s easy to be sanctimonious and tell others ‘what they should be doing’ I think we need to understand that we aren’t all in it together. Everyone’s situation is different.

Yes of course! If pandemic criminal laws are based on proven science then for the extended temporary inconvenience I will gain from the health and safety benefits and will do whatever it takes to make the difference and do my bit to help us all get to the new post pandemic normal. If others disobey the laws they put themselves at risk and are a part of the cause not solution. However we do need sensible joined up coordinated approach with weekly health statistics targets etc and a clear route map out including not just a systematic vaccination programme but also an integrated social economic program for ongoing collateral damage limitation.

No man is an island and all.

It’s quite ironic to use this quote to defend prolonged social isolation.

LibraryGhost it’s easy to sit safely ‘working from home’ or gallivant around when you have been safely vaccinated and put others at risk. That’s selfish.

I don’t know what the rules will be so can’t decide yet.
I hope schools, retail etc will open. Restaurants but not pubs unless eating. Museums etc with limited numbers and masks. Gym and swimming with limits on numbers, distancing and cleaning.
I would like to see one other household at a time, ideally inside if weather bad. Once we can do that I can live with the rest.
I really hope we can holiday within England if abroad isn’t possible.
Once my parents are 3 weeks post second jab I will be going inside their house again (I had vaccine before them) but will stay distanced- I sit by the open patio doors.

ClaudiaWankleman
Even now you can meet another person outside for exercise. You are not exactly having to live like Tom Hanks in Castaway.

As usual you can see that many people are uniquely concerned with their own situation. Lots of people saying that once their family is vaccinated, they will do what they want. What about others who are not vaccinated? I assume that these people are basically saying they don't care and feel they have no responsibility.

Are you honestly finding exercise outdoors with one other person fulfilling @BustopherPonsonbyJones ?
I don’t think I am alone in finding it completely inadequate, especially after 11 months without seeing the people I want to see. I feel isolated.

All those saying that if we don't stick to the rules throughout spring, we'll be back in lockdown by summer - you do realise that as soon as restrictions are eased, cases will increase anyway, whatever happens? The difference is that by late Spring all of those who are most vulnerable will have been vaccinated, so only those who are unlikely to become very ill will be at risk. Do you expect everything to be restricted to protect them, too? How log do you want restrictions to go on for, exactly?

As far as I'm concerned, once most people are vaccinated, there's no need for restrictions. Wash your hands reguk9, wear masks if you want to (but not if you don't), don't lick people in the queue at Sainsbury's. Other than that, crack the fuck on. Over a year is long enough.

'Even now you can meet another person outside for exercise. You are not exactly having to live like Tom Hanks in Castaway.'

Exactly! Ring people up, zoom, factetime. No, not the same but it is contact. It isnt solitary confinement.

One day you’ll have a flashback to writing that and realise how awful it is to mock people for wanting to show love and affection to their parent.

Don’t you think I have parents or children who I desperately want to hug? Well I do, but I put other people’s health before my own selfishness.

It isnt solitary confinement

It fucking feels like it. Especially for people who live alone.

Ring people up, zoom, factetime.

It sounds more when you separate out zoom etc but it’s just one thing non to digital contact.

I think many are teaching the limit with it as the substitute.

Reaching