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Covid

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Original poster

When does stay local end?

43 replies

guiltynetter · 01/04/2021 13:51

I feel like I've read the road map out of lockdown so many times but I'm not getting it! I've just skimmed over the latest publication and I can't really see it...

I know we are allowed to go out and meet one household now in a park, etc. Are we still having to stay in our local area? My sister lives 1.5 hours away and I want to go and take the kids to play in her garden over Easter. I'm scared of getting fined? Help!

OP posts:

RingtheBells · 02/04/2021 08:37

@Watsername

I thought it was Stay Local until 12th April.

That is only mentioned to put the fear into people travelling, seems it has worked judging by the OP. You can travel as far as you want as long as no overnight stay

Lubiluxe · 02/04/2021 09:12

Stay local ended on Monday didn't it?

moochingtothepub · 02/04/2021 09:24

You need to be able to return home, also there are limited public toilets - otherwise do what you want. I'm off to my parents later

DumplingsAndStew · 02/04/2021 09:36

26th april

TheUnquestionedAnswer · 02/04/2021 10:38

I need to travel 250 miles to visit parent in a care home (by train). I will also need to stay overnight. Will I be fined for this? I wish there was a helpline on gov.uk you could ring for exceptional circumstances. It's not a holiday and not end of life but dementia patient and declining fast.

GravityFalls · 02/04/2021 11:34

@TheUnquestionedAnswer Not only will you definitely not be fined, a trip like that is - and always has been - permitted in the guidance.

TheUnquestionedAnswer · 02/04/2021 12:27

@GravityFalls

Topseyt · 02/04/2021 17:45

Just do it. This is guidance rather than law anyway.

The way some people are talking you would have thought there were roadblocks everywhere questioning people about their journeys. There aren't.

I've travelled hundreds of miles throughout the country during lockdowns to be with my parents when one or the other was in hospital and the other needed support (vulnerable elderly people). I live a three hour drive away from them and had to stay overnight with them for weeks at a time too. Nobody checked at all.

I would have used the "checking on vulnerable people" exception if I had ever been asked, but I wasn't asked. Not even once.

Topseyt · 02/04/2021 17:50

@TheUnquestionedAnswer

You will not be fined. You are visiting a vulnerable person and that has been permitted since very early on in all of the lockdowns. I've done plenty of it myself and will have plenty more to do since my Dad has recently died leaving my elderly, fairly immobile mother (wheelchair user and no longer able to drive) on her own.

As you say, it is hardly a holiday.

Topseyt · 02/04/2021 17:52

[quote TheUnquestionedAnswer]@GravityFalls

thank you, I must be very dim as can never find it...hoping the overnight stay will be ok as well, but I can't do it in a day and it would be better to see her as much as possible over a few days. Not seen her since August.[/quote]
I have to stay overnight with my mother. I have just done it without questioning because the alternatives would have been to leave her unable to get her own meals and potentially at risk of falls etc.

celiafforcandle · 02/04/2021 18:06

It may be necessary for me to visit someone.

Can you tell me if Motorway service areas are open? M3 is main problem.

Caffeine and loo will be required.

celiafforcandle · 02/04/2021 18:08

Just to add, Dd went from London to Bournemouth by coach yesterday.
No probs

Topseyt · 02/04/2021 18:15

@celiafforcandle

It may be necessary for me to visit someone. Can you tell me if Motorway service areas are open? M3 is main problem. Caffeine and loo will be required.

I used the M11, A14 and M6 on my recent journeys. Although I didn't stop at any service stations, cars were going in and out of them as far as I could see.

Hcolhcsra · 02/04/2021 18:25

Just go. We did similar journey today. Stayed mainly outside but retreated to indoors when it got cold. All adults vaccinated and used lateral flow before travelling. Boris can do one if that's not acceptable. It's not going to get any better.

Original poster

guiltynetter · 03/04/2021 08:52

Very grateful for all these posts but I feel it does show there is a lot of confusion over 'the rules' due to conflicting advice from different sources.

My council website very clearly states stay local.

I did end up doing the journey yesterday and all along the motorway were signs saying stay local and some said essential travel only. This was within England and not to Scotland or Wales. Obviously we didn't get stopped and we had a great time but it's still worrying I think. I've been quite relaxed during covid and am not usually worried or scared about the 'rules' but this one I find confusing.

OP posts:

Inthevirtualwaitingroom · 03/04/2021 08:57

it is just guidance now
so travelling is fine.

Kitkat151 · 03/04/2021 08:59

Matt Hancock said he was travelling to Norfolk from London this weekend to see friends for the day ( in the friends garden) ..... it’s fine to travel just no overnight stays.....driving on the motorways yesterday I noticed that the ‘stay home’ lighted signs have been replaced with ‘minimise travel’..... but you are absolutely fine to do day trips

TheUnquestionedAnswer · 04/04/2021 07:32

Thanks all and sorry for hi-jacking thread. I am also lateral flow testing twice a week and have had 1st vaccination.

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