Using toilets during garden visits

[Gardenvisits]

I know, I know-it’s a while off but I haven’t seen my parents since August as they live a 4 hour drive away.
Last year (June?) when garden visits were first allowed people were allowed to walk through the house and use the loo.
Has anyone read anything that says this will be allowed this time round from (hopefully) 29th March.
Last time they drove here and back in a day on the first day they were allowed to and they’ve said they’ll do that again.

It would also be great if they could stay over night (they have a camper van they could put on drive) From my reading this could be just about allowed from 12th April but again, toilet facilities would be an issue.

I’d happily let them use toilets and, if I’m honest would be happy for them to visit indoors and stay in usual spare room but they have followed all rules and are still a bit wary even though they’ve been vaccinated now.

That was in response to "but no decrease in instruction to clean surfaces and wash hands" btw from JanFeb

@Gardenvisits

I know it will be fine but they like to stick to the ‘rules’.

Then they can decide whether to come or not

Seriously- this isn’t rocket science.

Give them the choice, let them decide and deal with it

Who on earth will check up on you if you let them use the toilet in your house? What utter madness!!

Nothing useful to add, but this thread reminds me of last summer when a male friend was invited to another friend’s garden for a drink. It was on the understanding that he would piss into a bottle that he needed to provide, if necessary. He declined the invitation.

I would go inside a home of vaccinated and careful people to use a loo long before a public loo.

Are you seriously expecting and waiting for the government to give you guidance on of you are allowed to use a toilet in someone’s house? How will we ever cope with being self reliant functioning adults again with this level of spoon feeding still being expected

Just use the toilet in the house and use good hygiene measures, you can use one in a National trust garden for example which are open, I'm sure you have much more control over the cleaning of yours at home. Just check first that the local police helicopter isn't flying above checking folks toileting habits.

No but you can catch it from things like door handles or the flush handle they may have touched on the way. That's like saying you can't catch it off a sofa so let people in

It really isn't. And fomite transmission has been shown to be a very tiny factor in covid transmission. It's more important to keep the windows open.

I can’t believe we are debating over letting someone use your loo.

My parents will be coming in the house. My baby is due a few days after March 29th and then we will be in a support bubble with them - so a few days make zero difference.

Designate some bushes in the garden for visitor use. Don't forget to provide a spade for number twos.

If everyone is vaccinated it's a complete non issue

I should think so too.

Just tell a white lie and tell them you've read that it's legal!

@Gardenvisits

Yeah they can even use a different loo. It’s literally the legality of stepping inside the house that I’m querying

Sounds to me like they can either use your (separate) loo or, if they are really hung up on the rules, use their camper van loo. It's great they have that and could even stay overnight

Katie517 has it right. You are all vaccinated. Are you waiting for an instruction manual from Boris before you make a deduction about toileting

OMG I can’t believe that actual real people are giving the government the power to decide if they can visit their parents and briefly enter the house to use the loo.

Resist, for the love of god.

@HermioneWeasley

OMG I can’t believe that actual real people are giving the government the power to decide if they can visit their parents and briefly enter the house to use the loo.

Resist, for the love of god.

Yes, I know, I am kind of shocked at this!

What do people think is going to happen if they cross the threshold of someone else's house and the government haven't 'officially' said its OK?

Honestly do some people need permission for everything. If garden visits are allowed then you can use the toilet . What do you think will happen the Covid police will jump through the 2nd you go to the loo .
Stop overthinking everything.

Great thanks all. No need to be scathing. It’s been a surreal year and the fact that it’s currently against the law to see people socially is kind of a big deal.

I don’t know what they think will happen if they break the rules. Tbh I’d pay a fine just to see them properly. I guess they don’t want to cause us any issues with neighbours etc. but I’m beyond caring what they might think/do.

Just do it!

You're right with the word surreal, op.

Enjoy your visitors.

Oh for goodness sake, where’s your common sense. Come the end of March this is not going to be an issue. As PP have pointed out, right now you can use communal public loos so how can one in your house be less safe? And you’ve all been vaccinated. 🙄

You'll only be in the loo one at a time and it's somewhere you'd routinely wash your hands (one hopes) so I can't see a risk.

The window could be left open and you could make sure you allow, say, 10 mins between people using the loo or even wear masks into the loo to minimise risk even further if you are worried.

We were allowed to use private toilets last time.

I wonder what the actual risk is of catching it from surfaces?
I don't know anyone who is washing parcels, mail, shopping or anything.

How many people have caught covid from touching a 'contaminated' surface I wonder.

Aghh. None of the ‘rules’ are about common sense! I know the risk/non risk.

I’m asking about the law. It’s the worry (again-wrongly placed) about what my neighbours will say or do.

And also, I guess a small part of me thinks, wrongly/stupidly, that if someone did get covid (and I also know that it probably wouldn’t be a big deal), we’d feel less guilty if we’d done everything ‘right’.

Anyway. They are coming ASAP. They will use our loos and stay in the van. At some point they will probably shelter from the rain indoors next to the patio doors. And we will all be very pleased to see each other again.