Will the new variant affect your socialising plans?

[User135644]

After things looking promising, the panic is back over this new variant which is causing devastation in India; and has been allowed into this country, some might say due to laxity from the government.

Although things are going ahead as normal on Monday, will it affect your plans at all? I'm not sure i'll feel comfortable in an indoor pub or restaurant yet, but i'm due a vaccine soon so in my case what's a few more weeks after 14 months?

Not a chance. We’re in greater Manchester and made the mistake of waiting during the few weeks of freedom we had last summer only to be under restrictions again and we’ve never come back out. I will be making the most of it while we can thanks very much.

No, it won't affect mine. We've been seeing family for a while indoors anyway so will continue that, and have a number of things planned with friends and wider family who haven't yet met our baby DD so will still go ahead with those. I've had my first vaccine and most of the people we are seeing have also had at least one vaccine. I've had enough of being isolated and won't do it anymore.

It won’t affect my plans. I’m in Scotland and pretty confident the government have got things right - the two places with outbreaks won’t allow indoor socialising on Monday, other areas (including mine) will and the islands with hardly any cases are even more open. Feels right to me.

No, we shall continue to see people outdoors and shop online. The date doesn’t mean much, the virus is still with us.

Didn’t go to pubs anyway and although I enjoy eating out occasionally it doesn’t feel worth the risk so won’t bother yet.

No.

We have a CEV person in the household (with the sort of immune issues that mean they might not form the intended vaccine response)

So we weren't going to be doing anything indoors anyhow

My husband manages a pub, no point us not going anywhere if he’s going to be in a pub anyway.
We are in a part of London that has very low rates

Not a chance.
Bolton should have dealt with their own issues locally.
As should the London areas with the Indian variant.

This has really hacked me off. It's not a uk issue. It's localised. So deal with it. Thus scaremongering is damaging to businesses and the uk economy.

I’m quite happy with meeting in outdoor cafes but not ready for indoors yet - with or without the variant.

No way.
If anything it makes me want to socialise and go out more because who knows when the government will snatch our freedom away again?
Making the most of it while I can

Yes. I'm in Glasgow and we're not allowed out of our local authority area again for a week at least 😭

@Missfelipe

Not a chance. We’re in greater Manchester and made the mistake of waiting during the few weeks of freedom we had last summer only to be under restrictions again and we’ve never come back out. I will be making the most of it while we can thanks very much.

True. I did the same last summer. Started going out again end of August and within weeks we were screwed and started locking down (also north west).

I think from a person point of view I just want the vaccine first after being stuck away so long, a few more weeks is neither here nor there to me.

@Somepeoplemightthink

No way. If anything it makes me want to socialise and go out more because who knows when the government will snatch our freedom away again? Making the most of it while I can

Absolutely this! Must book some things in!

I haven't made indoor plans yet. Only just had my first vaccination yesterday so will be very careful for at least the next 2-3 weeks and then see how things look like.

My family is abroad anyway so visiting them is not on the cards for quite some time yet.

No, I won’t be changing my plans at all. I’m more than happy to mix socially with friends and family. However there’s no chance I’ll be going on public transport in the near future.

Absolutely not. I'm unvaccinated (30 with no underlying health conditions) and I live in Erewash which currently has the highest Covid rates in the country. Couldn't care less, I'm off to the pub next weekend with friends and cannot wait.

Nope. Had two jabs, in an area of very low cases. Two indoor restaurants booked in the next couple of weeks, drinks at a friend's house next weekend, weekend away with friends mid June.

If anything I'm thinking - do MORE things now before we're not allowed to.

Nope looking forward to eating and being inside with people again. Not quite the same seeing people outside in the rain.

In that I think they only have "wait until its spread then lockdown!" As a plan, im trying to get months worth of socialising into the next few weeks just incase we lockdown again.

Would love a Sunday lunch indoors that hasn't been cooked in my kitchen and I walk away from the mess. (Its been too cold here since we were allowed to eat outside)

Nope. Making hay and all that. In all honestly, compliance is shot now, so good luck to them if they try to row back on any easing.

I’m going wild. I lost most of last summer to regional restrictions so I’m socialising for ALL it’s worth! I’ve got several softplays booked, our local aquadrome for a few weekends in a row, inside lunches, dinner, two holidays (U.K.) & a trip to the in-laws. I can’t bloody wait!

The don’t really understand the panic about the Indian variant. It’s not more deadly, it’s the same as every other version. We aren’t India, a significant portion of population are vaccinated, in particular the most vulnerable. All the evidence suggests vaccines are holding up against it.. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Yes caution but not blind panic..

Well, a friend has just rung and suggested staying at mine for the night a fortnight from tonight and I have said no. I don't think it is particularly because of the variant, but that does seem a big step to me.
I need to work up to it more slowly after 14 months of no one in the house.

No. Dh and I both had our second vaccine this week. DH got his early due to a gp computer issue but we aren't complaining!)
I also had covid last year.

Our parents are double vaccinated too.
All our friends have had at least one vaccine now.

So we both feel happy to go ahead with all our plans together, with family and with friends.

No I plan to make the most of it, life is short and no one knows what is around the corner. Next week we have a table booked for dinner inside a restaurant and will be having a family member stay over for a few nights too as we haven’t seen them since early September as they live 4 hours away. On rainy weekends (which seem a lot at the moment) I’ll be taking my kids to soft play, swimming, museums and any other indoor attractions. We are all vaccinated (apart from the kids) so lucky in that respect.

Nope, indoor restaurant table, hotel stay and cinema tickets all booked for the next week. Visiting my parents on Monday and having some friends round for dinner as well next weekend. Had enough of this enforced separation from friends and family to last a lifetime.

Not even the tiniest bit, I’m done