Social distancing could last for years

[Donotfeedthebears]

www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-56475807

So much for removing restrictions on 21st June then!

@bellagogosdead

The link in the op's post is a month old! Why are they posting it now?

No, it's from today.

@Donotfeedthebears

Would people really not see their friends and family for years? The article doesn’t say that, I’m wondering if that counts as social distancing. Do single people not go on dates, form relationships and get married and have babies?

No, social distancing just means standing a bit apart.

Which thread is that @Thewiseoneincognito ? I can't find it.

People need to read up a bit more about variants, vaccines and the complex nature of immunity.

No, social distancing just means standing a bit apart.

It doesn't. It means not being allowed to comfort someone at a funeral, give a hug at a wedding, have a nurse put a hand on your shoulder when you get bad news etc

It also means not being able to go in a friend's car.

Amazing that, a year on, people still think 'social distancing' just means standing on yellow lines in the Tesco queue. In reality, it means the ruin of whole swathes of the economy and the impossibility of social and family life as we know it.

Darn it! I only clicked on the link in the second post- I just assumed the first one didn't work. Ignore me.

@ChameleonClara social distancing means pubs/cafes/theatres/venues being unable to make a profit and therefore close for good. It means the loss of cultural venues and jobs. It means tiny weddings or none at all, and funerals where the majority of mourners are 'attending' via video link. It means being unable to hug parents and friends. It means exactly what it says - being distant, socially. And humans are social animals.

It's not sustainable for years. It simply isn't.

I thought Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance had said about masks and social distancing being a probability for next winter but had hoped this summer would be much more relaxed.

Mmmm, actually, I think social distancing will probably go out the window unless enforced in shops , public transport etc.

Selfishly, I'm more concerned about mask wearing . I'd happily social distance if it means if I can have a conversation with someone...anyone

In a general sense I think it would be a good thing if some of the covid measures continued. I hope people are no longer expected to go to work with filthy colds and people just accept that its going to be passed round this office. I hope mask wearing is seen as less odd, as it is in Asia, on public transport/shops etc. Social distancing as in people keeping out of my personal space would be well welcomed by me but I don't think we can continue on as we are now

Many businesses aren’t viable with 2m social distancing - restaurants, bars, theatres, love music venues.

No, social distancing just means standing a bit apart

Social distancing meant that I could hug no-one and no-one could hug me after the death of both parents last year. It meant I was expected to stand 2 meters away from my DD as she broke down at my dad's funeral. It meant that there were only 3 people at my Mums funeral in April last year.
Social distancing is not "standing a bit apart", it's being denied basic human interaction when you need it the most.

". I hope people are no longer expected to go to work with filthy colds and people just accept that its going to be passed round this office. "

So much agree with this! Many decades ago I used to work in a big, busy shop and was very much frowned upon to take time off for ill health. Having visible head colds was obviously fine to display to the public!

I think a lot of people won't comply. Even I hate it and am not prepared to comply indefinitely.

@trappedsincesundaymorn

No, social distancing just means standing a bit apart

Social distancing meant that I could hug no-one and no-one could hug me after the death of both parents last year. It meant I was expected to stand 2 meters away from my DD as she broke down at my dad's funeral. It meant that there were only 3 people at my Mums funeral in April last year.
Social distancing is not "standing a bit apart", it's being denied basic human interaction when you need it the most.

That's so emotionally horrific. And has happened to so many people. So sorry you had to go through this.

My poor old dad had a heart attack last September and no one could go and comfort him, an 85 year old, and he suffered from something called hyperactive delirium as a result (it would seem).

I'm not social distancing for years, no way in hell.

I always thought we were going have to continue it until next spring?

It's been mentioned so many times by Whitty et al.

Restrictions on social contact are not the same as masks and SD in public spaces.

It's not that restrictions won't be lifted - it's that people assumed nightclubs opening meant packed as before. When they opened last year it was social distanced table service.

I'd rather have freedoms to go out and about and SD from strangers and wear masks than risk another total lockdown where I can't even visit family.

Bloody pointless, stupid article - depends what “social distancing” means, really, doesn’t it? Clearly it doesn’t mean no hugging or kissing anyone ever, no pubs or restaurants open, no nightclubs, no weddings, no funerals. If it means encouraging allowing people to work from home, masks on public transport, not letting people on already crowded buses and trains, limits on numbers entering indoor public spaces, then I wouldn’t be hugely surprised, but beyond that...

@Thewiseoneincognito

Who’d have thought people would be as accepting as they are now, 1 year later? We have adapted.

Remember the shrieking ‘I’m not wearing a mask’ brigade when it became mandatory in the summer? Where are they all now?

See, people have accepted in general that for the greater good we must do this. If that means long term we do this, then so be it. Social distancing is the normal now, I don’t want you near me when I’m in the shops or walking down the street, I didn’t before covid and I certainly don’t now.

The alternative to no social distancing is lockdowns. Think about that for a second. All the bravado in the world of I’m not complying will ultimately result in lockdowns because the virus will continue spreading and mutating.

Honestly the naivety of some people is astounding.

No. Social distancing must NEVER be normal, we are SOCIAL ANIMALS, we cannot and will not live like this much longer.

@trappedsincesundaymorn so sorry xxxx

@IcedPurple

Amazing that, a year on, people still think 'social distancing' just means standing on yellow lines in the Tesco queue. In reality, it means the ruin of whole swathes of the economy and the impossibility of social and family life as we know it.

So true !!! People are dumb Business are running at 50% capacity and won't survive

Honestly see people just not complying for much longer.
Where I am i know lots of people just quietly getting on with so-called rule breaking 🤷‍♀️ it's just human nature!
Even natural followers of rules will make their own justifications for all the little infractions.

Its only on MN I hear of people still rigidly sticking to all restrictions now.

No. Social distancing must NEVER be normal, we are SOCIAL ANIMALS, we cannot and will not live like this much longer.

Agree