Are you still sticking to ALL of the rules?

[CallTheSheriff]

Our family has followed all rules to date but with two weeks left until social contact restrictions are lifted I see more and more people using a ‘common sense’ approach for their own risk.

My DC go to school (primary), attend swimming lessons, attend dance classes and indoor football classes but we decline the offer of play dates with other DC in their class.

DH and I have not mixed indoors with any other adult since last March. We both WFH and are both partially vaccinated. We do not attend gyms etc as we didn’t pre covid anyway.

Our friends and family think we are being OTT, especially in not allowing DC to visit others after school but allowing them to attend classes.

It made me wonder how others are doing it?

Yes, still sticking to the guidelines here. We live in an area which has had low numbers throughout. Literally everyone I know sticks to the guidelines, colleagues, friends, neighbours, family and it's rare you see anyone breaking the rules, it really helps.

I am part of a childcare bubble for my grandson so I have seen my dd and sil indoors at handover and collection and on Sunday they came here for lunch as we see them so often and we have all been vaccinated three of us with both jabs.

I haven’t seen my sons since one came in August and the other son has been abroad since last year.

Apart from this I have followed all the rules.

No apart from wearing a mask when I have to I have not followed a single rule either from the beginning .
I’ve visited family gone away on overnight trips and visited family in other cities

Most people I know have bent them in one way or another, even small ones.

First lockdown we stuck to everything and worked at home March-May. I then went back to work in person in June, seeing mental health patients face to face most days. Some patients chose to stay online, but we’ve seen those who either can’t do remote sessions for privacy or communication reasons or are higher risk, and privately I’ve offered face to face sessions to anyone who wants them since last summer. Never done masks in my consultation room either - most of the people I see would be exempt anyway.

Since then, my fear of Covid has massively diminished and come the second and third lockdowns, I didn’t retreat back behind the screen again. Didn’t change my practice at all, I still saw people in person and hey presto, never caught the virus (can be pretty certain about this as LFT been used now at work since last autumn).

Personal life - been in childcare bubble with my sister. Socially, not been to any mad house parties, but been to visit friends who live alone and stayed over a few times with a close friend who was struggling with her mental health. No way was I leaving my friends to struggle alone when I was perfectly safely able to see patients at work. Most of my friends also work in health and social care so we had a vaccine in Jan and access to LFTs. It’s been valuable to me too, because it was a bit crazy making at one point, the only face to face contact I had with other people was with people in distress, suicidal, needing help. Positive, helpful contact with my friends helped balance that and stopped us needing time off work for stress. Now over a year working in complex mental healthcare during a pandemic, huge waiting lists and large caseloads - that takes its toll. I had come to feel like all I existed for was to contain the distress of others, and that wasn’t a nice place to be. So yes, by lockdown 3, I judged that mental health was equally as important, and honestly did make a conscious decision to say sod the rules.

Mainly sticking to the rules but we have had MIL and FIL over inside the house for a couple of hours recently a few times. They live on our road anyway and just seemed ridiculous sitting in the garden. They’ve had both vaccines, me and DH have had our first, me & DCs take lateral flow tests every week so I think the risks are pretty low. Apart from that have been pretty much sticking to the rules.

Nope!

[quote CallTheSheriff]@Wellbythebloodyhell was that directed at my OP?

If so, I absolutely understand life is not so plain sailing and I don’t judge anyone for making their own minds up at this point. I wish I was brave enough to do it myself, but I care too much what others think [/quote]
It's to anyone in general who berates others and throws the selfish word out like confetti out of smugness and superiority. We all lead different lives in different circumstances with different needs, none of us know what goes on behind closed doors.

Yes we are. I think this 'what difference does 2 weeks make?' argument is annoying. The scientists decided a date on which more freedom could be allowed. It's like taking a test with a 75% pass mark, getting 68% & deciding you've passed. Exceptionalism. And if you think I'm being over cautious, take a look at India.

@Wellbythebloodyhell I see your point. I myself received a roasting on here for questioning the logic of a rule . The words ‘selfish’ , ‘snowflake’ and ‘special’ were a frequent theme of the thread.

My experience in RL is the opposite though. People do question the logic of rules that are in place but carry (in their opinion) a low or negligent risk to themselves or others; they are living their lives but not taking it to the extremes. I find it hard to judge people for this after a year of restrictions , vaccinations well under way , numbers so low and lots of places opening up. On here though, people are deemed irreversibly selfish for not waiting until 17th May to do these things. These kind of threads make interesting reading (if you’re thick skinned!) .

@sunsetsand

"Not unless she’s in a bubble with them. She’s bubbled with her mother. Both she and her son are frightened to go outside. Neither of them had a garden."

No, the rules have explicitly stated she could meet him for a walk or a meal or a picnic regardless of bubbles. Being afraid to go outside is a separate issue.

My point is that all the fear mongering has affected her so much she is afraid to go out for a walk . If anyone gets too close she is very nervous. I know it’s irrational. Those with poor mental health, little support and no gardens have really suffered. I have a son with asthma and he has gone nowhere for a year but walks . He is still very nervous if anyone gets too close. It’s the media screaming about death and quoting statistics constantly.

@luckylavender

Yes we are. I think this 'what difference does 2 weeks make?' argument is annoying. The scientists decided a date on which more freedom could be allowed. It's like taking a test with a 75% pass mark, getting 68% & deciding you've passed. Exceptionalism. And if you think I'm being over cautious, take a look at India.

The UK is nothing like India and we aren't going to end up in the same situation, the comparisons are pointless.

Not really no - have had DS friends in the house for extended periods of time one two occasions over the last couple of weeks. These are kids he's in school with. I went inside my mum's house at the weekend to have my hair done - same, or possibly less risk, as going into a salon.

But otherwise, yes.

@luckylavender. You believe UK could become as severe as India? Im intrigued to understand how you believe a country with approx 1.4 billion people, 800 million of those are estimated to live in poverty / classified as poor, a health care system which is estimated to spend approx 15 gbp per capita or around 1.25 GDP is comparable to the NHS? India rates were spiralling beyond control and the non essential shops, cinemas etc were still open.

No. I drove my son’s friend in my car at the weekend. They are doing LFTs, wore masks, are allowed to sit next to each other in school, I’ve been vaccinated

The government are bent so I’m not interested in their stupid rules any more.

@sunsetsand

"At one point we were 30% of clinical staff and 90% of administrative staff down."

That's a long long time ago now (pandemic lifespan wise) and it isn't the case anywhere in the uk anymore, nor will it be since we now have vaccines.

You can roll your eyes all you like but honestly, those "things called meetings" aren't representative of what is actually happening. You haven't seen it with your own eyes and your experience working remotely isn't the same.

Once the zoom is ended people go back to their natural state, once their shift is over they go back to their natural state. You're seeing a false reality and you obviously believe that your front line colleagues are sticking to the rules.

They really aren't anymore.

You're being left behind in your remote working, socially distanced bubble

Who do you actually think you are?

I wasn’t a “long time ago” at all. This was in 2021. Last year things weren’t too bad in this area - things have been very different this year.

And yes, speaking to the heads of department getting status updates weekly, I am very aware of the current situation, thanks. How would this “not be representative of what’s actually happening”? It’s literally a weekly touchpoint on what’s actually happening. You have absolutely no clue what you’re talking about and I will continue to roll my eyes at your rubbish.

Good people comply with the law. If you don’t like the law/rules then don’t vote conservative!

I’ve never voted conservative in my life.

Do you think that someone needs to follow the laws imposed by a corrupt government to be a good person?

Is it never not OK not to follow rules imposed by a corrupt government?

@SausageBee - that's not what I said. Nobody is safe until everyone is safe. While the virus rips through India, the real risk is mutations. And borders are notoriously porous.

People sticking to the rules and following "over the top" self imposed restrictions are probably the people who stop the virus spreading even more. I didn't think for one moment that gyms or restaurants were a good idea last summer.

Just because it was OK doesn't mean it was sensible.

We're still sticking to the rules. Most people we know are too, with just small aberrations - maybe seeing one family indoors rather than a single person household, or hugging family but staying outside. I don't know anyone who is ignoring all the rules, everyone has massively reduced their social contacts and is doing most of their socialising in parks and outdoor cafes.

We're bubbled with my widowed MIL who is fully vaccinated, but other than her we haven't had anyone in our house since last March, and won't do until we're fully vaccinated (most likely August). I won't be eating out indoors, using public transport or going to the gym until then either. It is limiting but I still don't want to get Covid, thanks.

Still sticking to every single rule here. I want it all to be over quickly and the better everyone is at sticking to the rules the sooner it will be over.

"Who do you actually think you are?

I wasn’t a “long time ago” at all. This was in 2021. Last year things weren’t too bad in this area - things have been very different this year.

And yes, speaking to the heads of department getting status updates weekly, I am very aware of the current situation, thanks. How would this “not be representative of what’s actually happening”? It’s literally a weekly touchpoint on what’s actually happening. You have absolutely no clue what you’re talking about and I will continue to roll my eyes at your rubbish."

No, you think all of your NHS colleagues are sitting at home, sticking to the rules like you are. They're not, they aren't advertising the fact on your weekly updates. They're just quietly getting on with life.

Suggesting people should not question the NHS if they've been to a BBQ with 3 households or popped inside with their parents is "rubbish".

Blaming the "rule breaking" for the NHS being on its arse is "rubbish".

Being completely unaware of what most of your colleagues are doing thanks to your remote working bubble, yet coming onto a thread to smugly chastise others is "rubbish".

Being utterly ignorant of the real reasons the NHS is in complete disarray despite being employed by them is "rubbish".

🙄

I don’t think anyone is sitting at home. I think they are doing their best and are all vaccinated or shielding as appropriate for them. They however are not the ones simultaneously breaking rules and complaining about how strict restrictions are or why services are under so much pressure.

Of course everyone will get treated regardless, but there have been multiple times this year in many units across the country where services were on the brink of closing altogether because they didn’t have enough staff to run safely.

Every single person thinking “oh, going to this barbecue won’t cause any harm” is part of the problem. I’m not smug, but I am rather sick of all this while seeing the impact on public services and staff.

I’m not sure what “real reasons” you’re referring to. Perhaps you’re referring to under funding, an issue I’m very vocal about myself. That doesn’t absolve the responsibility we all have to protect the services we rely on, however.

It’s pointless talking to you, you have no idea what you’re talking about.

@megletthesecond you realise gyms and restaurants are owned by people and have people working in them don’t you? I’m sure you would have thought differently about them not being a “good idea” last summer if your income depended on them. Such a stupid attitude and there has been next to no evidence of transmission in either of those settings but sure let them shoulder the blame because they are not important to you. You can take your “just because you can doesn’t mean it’s sensible” attitude and keep it to yourself if you want to stay in indefinitely go ahead but let everyone else live!

@sunsetsand

"Who do you actually think you are?

I wasn’t a “long time ago” at all. This was in 2021. Last year things weren’t too bad in this area - things have been very different this year.

And yes, speaking to the heads of department getting status updates weekly, I am very aware of the current situation, thanks. How would this “not be representative of what’s actually happening”? It’s literally a weekly touchpoint on what’s actually happening. You have absolutely no clue what you’re talking about and I will continue to roll my eyes at your rubbish."

No, you think all of your NHS colleagues are sitting at home, sticking to the rules like you are. They're not, they aren't advertising the fact on your weekly updates. They're just quietly getting on with life.

Suggesting people should not question the NHS if they've been to a BBQ with 3 households or popped inside with their parents is "rubbish".

Blaming the "rule breaking" for the NHS being on its arse is "rubbish".

Being completely unaware of what most of your colleagues are doing thanks to your remote working bubble, yet coming onto a thread to smugly chastise others is "rubbish".

Being utterly ignorant of the real reasons the NHS is in complete disarray despite being employed by them is "rubbish".

🙄

I know several NHS workers who aren't following the 'rulez'

"They however are not the ones simultaneously breaking rules and complaining about how strict restrictions are or why services are under so much pressure."

Yes they are. But they realise that rule breaking isn't causing the collapse of the nhs.

As for the "it was this year". Well yes, pandemic wise, January was a long time ago. I take it you know how many people have been vaccinated since then?

Services are not on the brink of collapse with 90% of the workforce off with covid. They're just not.

As for not being smug