Is it ok to meet with boyfriend who I don't live with and go on a socially distant walk?

[Shineonyou]

I haven't seen him in weeks. Thought about meeting and going for a walk in the very nearby countryside where we can walk at least two metres away from each other for exercise and a chat.

Is this allowed?

You'll get lots of No answers on here. Apparently you can see total strangers on a walk, and as long as they are two metres away it's fine. Anyone you know, and you're meant to run in the opposite direction.

The only question I would ask here, is are you going to honestly maintain social distance? If you can be trusted not to leap into his arms and maintain the distance, obviously it's fine. I see a friend once a week because we walk our dogs at the same place, shock horror we walk around and chat (shout at each other from about ten feet apart)

Mumsnet loves making up it's own rules about what you are and aren't allowed to do. If you maintain the appropriate distance of 2m, technically yes you are allowed to do what you propose as per the government website. Will you be able to stay 2 metres from each other, that's the question.

Being 'kindly asked' sounds patronising at hell. Perhaps that's the problem

These threads though. No, it's not ok as per the guidelines, but they also say no gatherings of more than 2 people etc. I bumped into my childminder and had a chat for a while the other day, while keeping 2-3m apart. 🤷‍♂️

The rationale for the policy is, I think, that you're very unlikely to catch the virus from passing someone at a 2m distance - but if you walk alongside someone chatting for some time then you're at greater risk, especially as it is easy to get closer to each other without noticing.

So if either of you has been physically close to anyone else in recent weeks (at home, at work or otherwise) then it is very possible you could have picked up Covid and could pass it on.

@ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal how is it a made-up rule to not meet up with people you don't live with?

@Shineonyou - is this the same boyfriend you just spent a week with?

I've been doing this and have managed to not leap on him. Whilst I'd love a cuddle from him, we'll wait. We also do our food shop at the same time, maintaining distance between us. We then go to our respective homes and wash our hands immediately. I'm expecting to be lambasted now, but I don't care, we're not taking risks.

I never meant to sound patronising.

I’m trying to point out that it’s clear rule that nobody is allowed to meet up with people who don’t live In their home.

Even if you are planning on staying 2m away from somebody on a walk, it’s still not a good habit to get into. Any contact with other persons at this time is risky. the 2m rule is only really meant for when you have essential contact with other people, non essential contact should be avoided at this time.

I know ‘the rules’ can be confusing but for me they basically boil down to this. Avoid contact with anyone outside your household where possible, where this is not possible for example at work/shopping/daily exercise then you must maintain social distancing of at least 2m.

So no, you should not be spending time with him because he is not a member of your household and it is avoidable.

I am a frontline NHS worker and my manager has just tested positive so this very real for me at the moment. Please, please stay home, protect the NHS, save lives

It depends. If you each only have a five minute drive to somewhere where you can walk in the same place, I can't see a single logical reason why you shouldn't. You're both driving a short distance for your daily walk. Which is allowed.

No. It's unnecessary social contact which is banned. Have some video fun :)

Personally I’d do it if you can stay the 2m apart

I don't see the problem should you both walk to the same place and then meet up but keep 2m apart.
DP came round with something I needed the other day and we had a cuppa 2m apart in the garden.

Yes I meet mine to walk our dogs together .
No different to walking my dog alone or with a stranger . We don’t have to drive to do so either .
I think the people who all say no probably live with their partners so don’t understand how difficult it is to be apart .

If you are within walking distance of each other and social distance during the walk Id consider it. If either of you need to travel to the other I'd say no.

Question to ask yourself is could you both justify your actions if required to do so by a police officer.

no

but i have seen people the last few days out "together", 2 meters apart (friends not living together)! walking.

To me its no issue if you dont touch each other. But no, reallyyour not supposed to

no

but i have seen people the last few days out "together", 2 meters apart (friends not living together)! walking.

To me its no issue if you dont touch each other. But no, reallyyour not supposed to

I hate it on these threads when people say “ nobody will know” . That’s not the point. We all are in this shit together and we need to trust each other to comply cos it’s the right thing to do..not see what you can get away with.

is this the same boyfriend you just spent a week with

Presumably as it was within the lockdown period so can’t have been that long ago.

Why is this not allowed but it’s okay for the many people I see out and on here having across the driveway chats with their friends and family?

@MadameJosephine hope your manager is ok and you too.

I'm not going to see my DH for 14+ weeks as he works in the NHS and I'm vulnerable. It sucks for everyone.

Perfectly OK for people to stand shoulder to shoulder at 8pm on a Thursday though

I’d do it OP, provided you’re sure you can maintain your distance.

Technically it's against 'the rules' but from a common sense risk assessed point of view, there isn't really a problem with doing this. So long as you can actually keep apart of course!

I am assuming it's just you and him, no kids to try and keep apart or anything?