Is anything changing after ‘freedom day’?

[DefinitelyNotAHastyNameChange]

Pretty much every pub, shop and restaurant in my town (Wetherspoons excluded) has made a statement that they will continue with mask wearing, one way systems, ordering at the table and no bookings of more than 6.

I do live in the SW, in an area that now has a peak almost double that of the previous highest infections. Is it like this everywhere? This is just going to go on forever, isn’t it? I had a table booked for 10 for my mum’s 75th for next weekend and now we’ll either have to cancel or have less people go. It’s a pita.

I thought most places were only encouraging masks, not making them a condition of entry. Most people I speak to don't plan to wear them anymore.

You can also gather in any size group indoors or out, go to a gig or nightclub. Weddings and funerals can happen with any number of people. Can you try a different restaurant for a meal? Surely they aren't all sticking to rule of 6? I am also in the SW and really looking forward to Monday.

a few refusals of entry and complaints to their head office will change all that.....they need the money they lost last year

I have seen a couple of places advertising no one has to wear masks.
No 'freedom day' for me I will be stuck at home with isolating school children. 🤦🏼‍♀️

I feel like not much is changing. Actually it’s worse because I won’t have any idea what’s accepted anymore. I have more anxiety about things now to be honest.

No freedom day here now isolating with youngest dc as nursery bubble went and after displaying symptoms awaiting a test result. Even if negative will be at home with him as isolating until next midweek. Been trying to book a few school holiday trips and all seem to be maintaining booking, numbers and masks. Or maybe they don’t trust the government to not make a u-turn before Monday.

Freedom day is a nonsense. Always has been unfortunately.

I'm going back to work with absolutely no mitigations in place at all. Boris says it is ok after all.

brokenrecord3006 the only place in town allowing bookings of more than 6 is Wetherspoons. In the next town about a 20minute taxi drive there’s another Wetherspoons or an Indian that are allowing it but everywhere else I’ve phoned is sticking with 6.

It’s mostly independent places round here and they’ve all released pretty much identical statements to the one I’ve attached

I suspect that the reality will be lip service in maintaining signage encouraging masks and little else.

Local leisure centre is diversifying their activities closer to the normal range and it will be possible to turn up casually in addition to pre-booking. Changing facilities/ showers re-opening.

No restrictions on gathering at home.

Mass events like parkrun and races, and theatre become viable rather than hypothetically allowed.

It's going to take a week or two for many businesses/ organisations to adjust their plans and see what they're prepared to relax.

Freedom it ain't but hopefully some dafter rules and impractical restrictions can be removed. It does concern me that this kind of devolving of responsibility will make it far harder to drop requirements long term in organidations that love a meaty risk assessment out of pure love of beauocracy.

I don't know anyone who's planning on ditching the masks, tbh. Thankfully!