Rule of six doesn't mean social distancing is over

[givemushypeasachance]

A lot of people are looking forward to socialising with friends and family in gardens from 29 March. With some nice weather on the way, some BBQs and picnics and drinks in the garden sound great. Outdoor socialising in fresh air is safer than indoor socialising, but it's not 100% safe. Particularly if you're sat close together in a gazebo or tent! Ventilation and distancing are still things to think about if you have vulnerable people visiting, haven't been vaccinated yet, and just want to try to keep cases in the community low. At the local primary school 4 of the 7 year groups are isolating with multiple cases right now - it's still circulating, and passing on cases can put entire year bubbles and workplaces out of operation.

From the govt roadmap: "As soon as possible and by no later than Step 3 [May 17th], we will also update the advice on social distancing between friends and family, including hugging. But until this point, people should continue to keep their distance from anyone not in their household or support bubble."

My childs birthday is soon very soon. She will she family members and she will likely hug them she’s four about to be five. She’s so scared to leave me she cries to go to school every day and is an emir all mess all morning before school.

I don’t care about her social distancing. She mental health is worth more to me. I will personally stay away from people but she’s a little girl who hasn’t been able to form bonds and trust with her school, make friends. She’s missed her fourth birthday she’s missing a big at school fifth birthing. She’s getting her family.

I went out for lunch with a friend today. He gave me a massive hug afterwards and it was so amazing to feel that touch.

I’m concerned people saying “they’ve been vaccinated” is good enough? Have they had both doses with enough time for top level immunity to develop?

My mid 70s parents have had their first dose. Will get their second mid May. I’m happy to wait a couple of months to hug them if it protects them. Having come this far, I’d hate them to fall in the final furlong.

Yes I get that as I said in my pp. We had one family member who we wanted to keep safe from covid. She ended up lonely. Her health declined from lack of mobility. She died. Alone and lonely. She'd told us days before she was lonley. I found her passed away when she wasn't answering her phone.
We can never get that time back. And I think about that every day! Which is why I'm done with it all. I shall live my life and do what's right for my own household and those who want to be part of it.

@MiddleParking

'Agoraphobic cranks'

You vile person

@MiddleParking

I couldn’t care less. These people need told.

Oh do fo

I will do what I like when I like.Much the same as the rest of my village has since this lockdown began after Christmas,no sign of any rules being complied with.

Oh do fo

Another one who’s forgotten they’re not in charge 🤣

@Fifthtimelucky

At the end of this month my 21yr old daughter will be seeing her boyfriend for the first time since the beginning of December, to celebrate his 21st birthday.

The plan is for them to stay in the garden (they have a gazebo in case of rain). They know they are supposed to socially distance. Whether they will or not remains to be seen, but I will not be enquiring before letting her back in the house.

Similar thing here. My daughter has only seen her boyfriend a couple of times this year (socially distanced). She will be hugging him in April too - they are waiting until we and his family have been vaccinated. There’s still a risk of transmission, but the case rates in our area are lower than the end of September (when there were no vaccinations) and they were legally allowed to hug then, as they’re in a long term relationship. So they have my backing. Mental health is just as important as physical health.

@TreeDice

While I believe it came from the best of intentions, I can agree the OP could be taken to be a little patronising. However, I'm struggling to understand the mentality of many on this thread.

1. People are struggling mentally and emotionally with the lockdown restrictions. Financially, people are worse off due to businesses being closed, furlough etc.

2. Things are going well from a vaccination programme perspective and in terms of cases, hospitalizations and deaths reducing.

How does that equal "fuck it, I'm going to do what I like now"?
Surely, if point 1 is the case you'd want to get a million miles away from anyone talking about needing restrictions and therefore not want to risk causing another surge and another lockdown? Surely, you want to help those individuals stuck on 80% pay and the businesses that are struggling? They can only open if Govn sees cases and hospitalisations remaining low.

If point 2 is true (which is certainly appears to be looking at the figures) why would you want to risk that amazing progress by pushing too far too quick?

If it's a disagreement with the lockdown lifting plan (e.g what activities are allowed when, what opens first etc) I can understand that a little more but this thread seems to be more "I've had enough so I'm not following any sort of restrictions at all".

Do people honestly believe that if we unlocked everything, with the current vaccination rate standing at it is, with no social distancing etc that cases and therefore hospitalisations wont rise?

This. Some proper uncalled for nastiness directed at the OP too.

I’m concerned people saying “they’ve been vaccinated” is good enough? Have they had both doses with enough time for top level immunity to develop?

In my case, yes. But even if they haven't, you don't need to be "concerned" on anyone's behalf. The first dose confers a high degree of immunity (around 85% for Pfizer i believe) the second tops it up. Many people are happy to take that level of risk, others are not and that is their choice to make as social distancing is guidance, not law.

I personally would not be happy to wait another 3 months (on top of the 6 months it has already been) to see my grandparent who is 96. She might not even be around then and I would absolutely kick myself if we didn't see her to "protect" her when she wants to see us and is happy with the risk.

o can understand that a little more but this thread seems to be more "I've had enough so I'm not following any sort of restrictions at all
I don't think "I'm going to hug my mum" equates to "I'm not following any sort of restrictions".
The majority on here have said they're going to break the guidelines in a limited and specific way I.e. hugging one or two relatives. They haven't said they're going to start hugging strangers, attending big parties and having multiple one night stands. And in any case, we have no choice but to follow the majority of restrictions because businesses are closed.

My eldest daughter has gone through the break up of her marriage. She’s been fast tracked for suspected cancer.

My youngest daughter gave birth during lockdown.

My heart has been ripped in 2 every time my elderly parent have said goodbye on a phone call.

Nobody will stop me hugging them when we meet.

@ChocOrange1 nice reference to the UK Govn and international law there?

I understand that people are struggling, I really do. I've been in a 1 bed flat this whole time with no garden - trust me, I get it. But dont you think if everyone hugs one or two people, that that increases the risk of transmission? If cases start going up again, things will close again/stay closed.

All I'm suggesting (and I believe the OP was too) is we're doing so well, let's hope we can get to the finish line without yet another lockdown being necessary.

But dont you think if everyone hugs one or two people, that that increases the risk of transmission? If cases start going up again, things will close again/stay closed.

We have a vaccination programme that will make a rise in cases manageable. That is the ONLY way out of this. Lockdowns and social distancing measures of this length and repetition don’t work. They’re pointless.

If cases start going up again, things will close again/stay closed.
Not if nobody is being hospitalized because the vulnerable are mostly vaccinated.

@MiddleParking I totally agree! Hence why I support s lockdown plan that roughly coincides with the vaccination programme. The more people vaccinated, the more we can unlock right?

@ChocOrange1 oh, I agree - seeing the hospitalisations fall has been a huge relief for everyone I'm sure.

The issue is at the moment that not everyone is vaccinated. Cases are low and therefore hospitalisations are low. Do we know what happens if cases get back to previous levels? We hope vaccination will stop deaths (which it looks like it will, thankfully!) but the impact on hospitalisations for those not vaccinated e.g. over 50% of the population is not going to be significant, I'd have thought?

Ultimately, we have made great progress with the vaccination programme, all we're saying is let's keep that progress going and not throw it all away when we're so close to opening up society for good, reducing social distancing requirements and letting businesses and individuals get back to some semblance of normal.

Thanks OP but people can assess there own risk. I'm going to see my parents and family I havent seen in months/a year and will high them were all vaccinated at least once

[quote TreeDice]@MiddleParking I totally agree! Hence why I support s lockdown plan that roughly coincides with the vaccination programme. The more people vaccinated, the more we can unlock right?[/quote]
You totally agree that lockdowns are pointless so you support lockdown? Weird.

@treedice the demographics which have been vaccinated account for over 90% of hospitalizations

@MiddleParking I agree vaccination is the way out and therefore I support a phased to leave lockdown in line with the vaccination programme

Sorry to sound like a broken record but what percentage of those most at risk (in terms of hospitalisations and deaths) have already had their first vaccination? If the percentage is high and the first dose is 85% effective then I cannot understand the reasoning behind another two months of not being allowed to meet indoors, much less hugging people?

[quote TreeDice]@ChocOrange1 oh, I agree - seeing the hospitalisations fall has been a huge relief for everyone I'm sure.

The issue is at the moment that not everyone is vaccinated. Cases are low and therefore hospitalisations are low. Do we know what happens if cases get back to previous levels? We hope vaccination will stop deaths (which it looks like it will, thankfully!) but the impact on hospitalisations for those not vaccinated e.g. over 50% of the population is not going to be significant, I'd have thought?

Ultimately, we have made great progress with the vaccination programme, all we're saying is let's keep that progress going and not throw it all away when we're so close to opening up society for good, reducing social distancing requirements and letting businesses and individuals get back to some semblance of normal.[/quote]
But most of the people who were hospitalised/died in the higher age groups have now been vaccinated. The hospitals weren't rammed with the 20-30 year olds were they.