Meeting friends outside - do we have to socially distance?

[noreenn]

I’m meeting four friends for a picnic tomorrow. As we’ll be outdoors, do we still have to socially distance or can we sit close together?

Social distance and masks

You do not need masks why would you say that?

You are supposed to stay apart. No masks

You are meant to social distance I doubt masks is required though outside.

I think social distancing within a group of friends is actually quite difficult as your natural human instinct is to want to interact on a closer level. I hope you enjoy your picnic with your friends .

Thanks - so are we all supposed to sit two metres apart? Surely people meeting friends in pubs don’t do that!

Maybe 1m would be OK if outdoors

No you don’t need to sit 2m apart unless you want to. Social distancing is a guideline/ recommendation not a law.

People are sitting 6 to a table in pubs, you can hardly socialise in a hospitality setting 2m away from the people you have gone out with. No one I know is worrying about staying 2m apart outside with virus levels as low as they are at the moment. 1 in 1000 people have covid at the moment and outdoor transmission is virtually impossible.

Hands Face Space

@noreenn

Thanks - so are we all supposed to sit two metres apart? Surely people meeting friends in pubs don’t do that!

Pubs and restaurants are supposed to be 2m if possible, or 1m+ if 2m isn't feasible.

Reality is that most friends and families meeting outside at pubs and restaurants are sharing tables and not 1m apart, let alone 2m.
One suggestion last time was if in couples than sit opposite your own household rather than the friend or family member,

@noreenn

Thanks - so are we all supposed to sit two metres apart? Surely people meeting friends in pubs don’t do that!

No pub benches I've seen have enabled 6 people to sit together 2m apart at one table think it's one of those urban myth type things 🤷‍♀️

2m away, no masks.

Are we allowed to share plates and food, I know at some point Chris Whitty wasn't keen on BBQs.

You are supposed to social distance. You can also talk to each other to see what everyone would feel comfortable with. No way am I still socially distancing from my healthy, young and happy to hug friends. I am yet to see one photo of my friends in the UK at the pub with 5 other people, 2m apart. Everyone is close together at the same table. Tables are 2m apart, but that's about it.

If your rates are low, you're young, healthy and/or vaccinated/tested daily, and all of you would be comfortable sitting closer together, go for it. We should be able to make our own risk assessments instead of blindly following 'government guidelines'.

You are allowed to do all of this. Whether it is sensible is another matter.

Masks not required outside. Keep apart ( at least out of spit range) and don't share food or utensils. It's not hard.

Do what you all feel comfortable doing.

And give everyone else the space they want without MN style sneering. Mutual consent is not just for sex.

@ThatIsMyPotato

Are we allowed to share plates and food, I know at some point Chris Whitty wasn't keen on BBQs.

Honestly, we're all adults and capable of making such decisions regardless of what Chris Whitty says. How would you feel about sharing plates and food?

@murbblurb

And give everyone else the space they want without MN style sneering. Mutual consent is not just for sex.

This is important I hate it when people think I'm silly for asking them to stand further away from me.

EileenGC I like to trust the scientists but don't know what the latest advice is. Maybe it would be best if I took my own food to the picnic im going to.

When we met for a picnic we had adjacent blankets and separate food but were only 1m (about, possibly less at times) apart. At 2m it would feel more like shouting at each other then a conversation. As long as you avoid physical contact and don't share plates/food, I think it would be fine.

Jesus wept. You don't need Chris Witty to tell you how to live your life. Meet up, set up a couple of blankets on the spot, and enjoy your picnic. FFS, 2m apart yelling at each other and wear masks. I'd leave if you invited me to a picnic and expected that.

Ah yes the masks are only for indoors and getting there on the bus. I won't have a mask on for the picnic. But I think sitting on rugs 2 metres apart sounds a good idea.

I hope you enjoy your picnic OP!

Heavens, are you 9 years old?
Use your common sense.

Chris Whitty is a man who looks like he has never had a days fun in his life.

I don’t SD outdoors with my friends. I behave as normal outdoors with people I know & I know feel the same. As far as I can see, outdoor transmission is vanishingly small. I meet up regularly with friends & our pre-school kids and we just stand chatting or indeed chasing after our kids 😂 went to the park for lunch today with two friends & we sat together on a bench eating our sandwiches & sharing a packet of kettle chips while the kids played.

I’ve also been for lunch with friends a couple times at restaurants (outdoors obvs) and we have literally been sat next to each other as normal.. 🤷🏼‍♀️

I don’t have any friends who are bothered about the 2m thing, not any I regularly see anyway, I have asked them all before we’ve met up. But we are luckily all young & relatively healthy. I respect others I don’t know & keep my distance.