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Original poster

Meeting indoors

124 replies

Dailywalk · 07/04/2021 12:23

Was due to meet friends outside this Thursday evening. The weather is freezing though so the plans are changing and friend just suggested we meet indoors. I’m the only one of the 5 of us who seems to be anxious about this. I’ve had Covid and they’ve had their vaccine but if we were able to meet indoors safely then why would the advice be not to until next month? I’m suddenly feeling really anxious about the whole thing and considering just staying at home. What would you do?

OP posts:
TristantheTyrannosaurus · 07/04/2021 17:45

[quote islockdownoveryet]@TristantheTyrannosaurus that too , also so many just like to pretend it’s just a cold while spreading this virus .
My poor dc has to isolate so much , it annoys that people are actually considering meeting up with several people inside .
Just wait until it’s a warmer day and meet outside or just leave it a few more weeks .[/quote]
But the hosts don't want to wait so they won't.

The real issue with the isolating is that sadly, employment rights are at an all time low and many don't get any paid time off so cannot afford to isolate every time.

OverTheRainbow88 · 07/04/2021 17:48

@Lalliella

So when will it be ok?

mummabubs · 07/04/2021 17:50

Personally I wouldn't meet inside for a few reasons, 1) It's currently illegal and I believe in sticking to laws as a general rule, 2) with covid I feel we have a wider societal responsibility to all try and help slow and prevent transmissions and 3) Having had covid and the vaccines may reduce the risk but they certainly don't eliminate it. I work in the NHS and have seen both colleagues and patients who've had confirmed cases of covid despite previous confirmed infection or the vaccine. It's all very well to say your friends or you might experience it as a milder case but that won't apply to anyone else you potentially come into contact with who hasn't got as many protective factors.

pixietinkdust · 07/04/2021 17:51

@Moondust001

I went. Yesterday. We are now at the stage - it doesn't matter any more. We have had over a year of this crap. And the bottom line now is that the vast majority of people are never going to accept further restrictions. You can already see it. People are "creeping" back towards normal life no matter what anyone says. We have either got the best handle on this that we can, or we will have to learn to live with it. I have mostly kept to the guidance / rules for over a year, but I have had enough of it now. I'll take my chances. Anyone who doesn't want to is welcome to stay at home.
This. 100%
TheOnlyKoiInAPondOfGoldfish · 07/04/2021 17:53

@sqirrelfriends

Mumsnet is the only place where people are obeying the rules. Literally no one I know in real life seems to be doing it.

That's not a good thing though. I'm obeying the rules but am becoming more and more reluctant to do so.

opposite for me - I only personally know one person not sticking to the rules. All my other family and friends are sticking to them. I'm only aware of how many people aren't sticking to them by reading MN 😏
QueenOfTheDoubleWide · 07/04/2021 17:59

@ThereIsIron

People are being ridiculous. The guidance is to cater for the lowest common denominator (i.e. stupid people). We had friends round at the weekend outside (based on 6 from 2). It was bloody freezing by 9pm so we all went inside. We know they don't have Covid, we know we don't have Covid - and we've pretty much stayed apart for a year, so there really isn't a problem. Common sense is all it takes.
Common sense is not all it takes. Some friends of ours, 2 professional couples had planned to meet in the garden but weather was shit and one of the wives was feeling very emotional and sick of it all (as we all are) so they agreed to meet in the kitchen but try to keep a distance. Following day emotional wife felt worse, unwell as well as tearful, so got a test which was positive. Two of the other 3 then tested positive as well. Luckily all recovering These are apparently intelligent people who did just what many on this thread think is ok so please don't claim this is without risk
bishbashbosh99 · 07/04/2021 17:59

It's not really about being worried about ourselves tho is it, it's about the fact you can still pass to someone else vulnerable- (yes yes they're nearly all vaccinated now we hear you- but not ALL are) not sure people are getting the reasoning behind it when saying they're not scared so they would do it. Like do whatever you want but understand it tho

TristantheTyrannosaurus · 07/04/2021 17:59

Too right, Moondust. I don't know anyone who is sticking to this anymore, either.

ShadierThanaPalmTree · 07/04/2021 18:02

In a month covid won't just disappear, personally I would go. However, if you are not feeling comfortable you shouldn't be pressured into it.

Original poster
Dailywalk · 07/04/2021 18:17

Thanks for all the responses.
Have read them all. It feels like a 50/50 split but I’ve given it some thought and I’m just not comfortable doing this just yet. The rules are to keep the virus from spreading before we have had chance to get enough of us vaccinated. Maybe by next month I’ll have had mine and perhaps I’ll feel happier to socialise then.
All my friends are mixing with lots of others either socially or through work or kids so I feel it’s pushing my luck really. It’s been 4months since I had Covid so potentially have zero immunity.

OP posts:
Oblomov21 · 07/04/2021 19:12

I too will be outside on Thursday.
I too think inside with patio doors open, lots of ventilation, would also be ok. I've had both my vaccinations, and everyone I know had had at least 1.

queserra2021 · 07/04/2021 19:16

I'm staying outdoors for the foreseeable. The risk remains, and I know too many people who've caught it and so I've seen the damage it can do, even to previously healthy people. We're so close to getting it under control and getting everyone access to vaccines.

Oblomov21 · 07/04/2021 19:20

What's the difference between outside rules on March 29th and inside on may 17th?
7 weeks.
What's going to be different in the next 5 weeks.

I'm thinking about seeing my mum next week.
I'm struggling to understand why we can't be inside now. Say my parents. Next week? They have had both vaccinations and are completely shielding. I've had both mine, haven't had covid as far as I know, and test weekly through work, even though I only go into my own individual office once a week. I'm struggling to see what the benefit is of sitting outside, rather than inside, facing outside, with both patio doors open.

Delatron · 07/04/2021 19:21

So we think the risk indoors on the 16th May will be significant but suddenly on the 17th it becomes safe?

What do we think it is about the 17th May that makes it all ok again? Especially as this date was decided back in Jan.

If you don’t want to be a rule breaker that’s a solid argument. The safety argument doesn’t really add up.

Arguably now it’s safer than in a month as more will be open then. Hmmm

poppycat10 · 07/04/2021 19:25

opposite for me - I only personally know one person not sticking to the rules. All my other family and friends are sticking to them. I'm only aware of how many people aren't sticking to them by reading MN

Yes, people still seem to be pretty compliant where I am. Although I did see an old-style non-socially-distanced race photo the other day (there was a race at Kempton Park which some friends did).

What is quite interesting is that when you are walking or running outside, some people still appear to be petrified are still insisting on a 10m exclusion zone around you, and others just walk straight at you four abreast as if nothing was wrong!

Buzzinwithbez · 07/04/2021 19:27

We're at the number of deaths now that we had on 10th July when everything was open and the vaccine program has been such a success that numbers are continuing to rocket down. I feel far more safe than I did last July..

Spied · 07/04/2021 19:29

Good call.
I'd not be comfortable meeting indoors either

Mojoj · 07/04/2021 19:31

Why would you not go? What is it you think's going to happen? When is everyone going to realise it's a virus. It's going nowhere. We need to learn to live with it. Enough now. Life goes on.

alexis4theppl · 07/04/2021 19:35

I'd go. I have plans to meet my family at the weekend 😀 I'm a rule breaker, each to their own and the risks individuals wish to take. Saw my Grandparents recently for the first time in months as they have had 2nd dose. We hugged and it was lovely. X

Original poster
Dailywalk · 07/04/2021 19:45

@Mojoj

Why would you not go? What is it you think's going to happen? When is everyone going to realise it's a virus. It's going nowhere. We need to learn to live with it. Enough now. Life goes on.
That I might get it again? That actually meeting indoors with patio doors won’t happen as if it was warm enough to do that we’d be outside and I won’t enjoy the evening for worrying?
OP posts:
JustJustWhy · 07/04/2021 19:46

Yup. Did this today. We've all worked together throughout with little to no assistance from BoJo. Not much difference being inside in a house or inside at work.

Original poster
Dailywalk · 07/04/2021 19:47

I’ve been cautious throughout this whole thing. As part of my job I’m in peoples homes but in a work capacity it does feel different. I’m not accepting drinks or sharing food, or using their loo etc. Also while it may be just 5 of us in a house what if her husband joins us? And the kids? Suddenly it’s 10...
What may change in a month is that hopefully a few more thousand people will be vaccinated including me.

OP posts:
BogRollBOGOF · 07/04/2021 19:50

I'm seeing friends tomorrow... supposed to be outside and it's for a meeting which needs to happen. We'll be together legally with our organised activity in 2 weeks. We've all been vaccinated, some twice.
Our neighbourhood's statistics are 2 or less cases. The risks are pretty darn low, symptomatic or not!

The dates were drawn up in the winter before we were seeing the practical benefits of the vaccine and its widespread delivery. Our area is now vaccinating people in their 30s and cases have plummeted rapidly.

Data, not dates wasn't it? Wink

Beans13 · 07/04/2021 19:53

Upto you OP. If you don't feel comfortable don't feel pressured.

I'm in my 20s, met friends last week initially outdoors, but it got chilly and we decided to move indoors. Everyone in my group had had the vaccine already minus myself.

If I was 50 I most likely wouldn't be taking that risk though.

Timeturnerplease · 07/04/2021 19:55

It is bloody galling I have to admit, that we’re finally allowed to meet in gardens and the temperature drops to 4C again.

This is the first ‘proper’ break I’ve had from work since August, thanks to isolations and key worker cover, and yet every play date the toddler and I have attempted this week has had to be abandoned after an hour due to shivering, grumpy small people. And yes, we do layer them up but the wind is a killer here!

I still wouldn’t meet inside though, mainly because my job (teacher) means that I’d worry about passing the virus onto someone.

If I did a different job and my friends were vaccinated, I’d really have a hard time saying no to an indoor meet.