"you should only be leaving the house for essential reasons"

[RaspberryCoulis]

Says Jeanne Freeman and Sturgeon and Jason Leitch every day at the briefing.

But nobody's doing that, are they? This isn't one of those threads where a poster moans about people being in parks or Asda being busy. It's more a general recognition that the message being sent out - stay at home, do not leave home - just isn't reflecting reality any more.

Most people I know are stretching the definition of "essential reasons" to leave the house and quite right too. Seeing elderly relatives they've been banned from seeing for a year. Allowing teenagers to meet in each others houses. Meeting friends for a social wander and a takeaway coffee and not "exercise". Kids playing football in large groups in the park. I even texted my hairdresser (who comes to the house) last night to tell her the very second she was back to work I wanted booked in and she texted back "well actually I've started doing wee sneaky cuts/colours so just let me know when suits" - she's not a selfish covidiot, she's just a self-employed worker who has had her income slashed for a year and has 3 kids.

So the messaging needs to change quickly, doesn't it? Because it really doesn't reflect the reality of the situation and the more out of touch the government appears, the less we'll all comply.

I am not yet visiting anyone indoors but have walked for non exercise purposes and with more than one person. My kids have still been playing with other kids but that is allowed as they are under 12. However, in order for them to see other kids they need me to take them/drop off and that inevitably means I see/talk to/hang out with some other parents. Fine with that too.

I don’t think I can continue not going indoors for much longer, already under a lot of pressure from parents who have had first vaccine to visit indoors. I’m happy to see them outdoors but it is cold for them for an extended period and they feel more relaxed indoors.

Will have a rake for the actual wording Polarisation. Many public sector worker could be facing a disciplinary process if they were charged with a Covid Breach.There were plenty of police officers and nurses given trial by the tabloids last year after social media photos were shared that showed being in groups of more than 6 or not distancing.

I would leave my local authority area if getting a fine did not mean instant dismissal from my job... believe me! This nonsense has got to stop. Just thankful homeschooling is almost over 🙈

Polarisation sorry I can't do links . But GTCS (easy to find) Code of Professional Conduct Part 1 section 1.3 and also the Honesty and Integrity subheading refers to public order offences.

Thanks @Lidlfix.

I think on balance we were right to think that going to our friends' dinner parties with multiple households might potentially have got us in hot water if we'd been really unlucky, but I figure leaving our local authority isn't going to have him up at a FtT panel 😅 it doesn't seem to meet the criteria of things they tend to investigate, and I don't think fixed penalty notices are reported to the GTCS?

The GMC says doctors have to report "road traffic offences (speeding, parking fines) except where the matter has been dealt with by way of a 'fixed penalty notice' as such matters do not constitute a criminal conviction" so it sounds like anything FPN-worthy is therefore not criminal?

Anyway hopefully only a few more weeks of being a criminal for leaving the house (I do all my shopping in the next local authority 😱) and then hopefully we won't ever have to think about it again!

@Sturmundcalm

I haven't had anyone inside the house or been inside someone else's house since the day of my dad's funeral (which was in the current lockdown). I have looked after my DN to give my single-parent sibling a break, the only reason we're not now in a bubble is because my DH's sibling has had a cancer diagnosis in the past month and we need to support them too.

Having lost both my parents to non-Covid reasons in the last 5 months I feel quite bitter when people say things like "sacrifice this Christmas for all the future ones" because actually none of us know how long we've got - had two more (extended) family deaths in the past week.

I'm stretching the rules rather than breaking them but am getting very close to breaking point... I feel like there's nothing but bad news and if I can't even give or get a hug then what's the bloody point in being alive? I feel as though the governments (both UK and Scottish) have prioritised the economy over mental health, and I understand the reasoning behind that but I don't agree with it - and I'm very aware that I have been one of the lucky ones because (a) I was in level 2 for a chunk of last year and (b) I could afford to go out for a cup of tea.

Given the huge deficit, millions unemployed, thousands of businesses collapsed, I don't think the Govt have prioritised the economy over health at all. It's ALL been about health, and the economy will take decades to recover.

Polar sounds reasonable. My union warned us that some of the more vocal usforthem voices would be looking to "catch" teachers and police etc and making pics public. And that it would be very difficult to defend a bringing the profession into disrepute allegation but as you say world of difference between a house party and a supermarket. I am lucky as most of my friends are teachers, police, civil servants , council employees etc so all bound by fairly similar codes of conduct. So keeping fingers crossed and purchasing a gazebo and patio heater in anticipation of outdoor visits when permitted.