How safe is this 'bubble'

We aren’t allowed to bubble in Wales. YET. When we do I’m going to get my ancient aunt to stay with us for a while. Although she has excellent neighbours, she is 88 and lives alone. I might tell her to start packing. Thank goodness she also lives in Wales. If it was England we might not be allowed back in .

I heard yesterday that you now have a 1 in 1,700 chance of catching the virus. Seems like pretty good odds to me. Last week it was 1 in 1000. How they work all this out I don't know and can we trust it? I do think that if you're outside with people the risk in minimal though.

Who do we bubble with ?
We have a daughter who is single, works from home and only out for walks on her own or with her sister, BIL or a friend keeping social distance. We are very close and in normal circumstances spend quite a lot of time together.
Also have Mother in Law. Lives on her own. Has not been out but has friends and family calling and chatting in the garden. She seems to have assumed that she is in a bubble with DH and I.
Whichever I decide I’ll feel guilty but to be honest, I would far rather have Dd at my home or hers. Lots of fun, lots of talk about thing we both enjoy.
No real problems with MIL but not any great connection.
DH says as neither of them are out and about where there are any particular risks, we could have both( not at the same time).

Any thoughts to help me along we using my own feelings?

Very good odds indeed grannyrebel7 especially as at its height the risk was one in 40 !

Go at your own pace. If you’re not comfortable suddenly to abandon your caution, why not make it incremental? Let him in the house, but maintain social distancing to start with, for example

Was very wary at first thought of a bubble. Then thought how many times I have woken middle of the night with massive panic attacks & feeling so lost & alone. So as my DS &DDiL both work & use PPE at work we started our bubble yeterday as they both had the day off. They came to mine as I do not drive. Very quick hugs with DGC & as my chairs are spread out I guess you can say we were being fairly safe. I had the best nights sleep for ages last night & feel a lot brighter today just having had company. Told them that at my age (75) I am going to 'pop my clogs' before to long. So I think I would rather be a little more sane than I have been lately if I do. We have to all get out & get on with some sort of life before too much longer anyway so this is my start. Am I wrong or right?

My DD was keen for me to bubble up with her and her family but as DGS has now returned to school I think the risk is too high. I am waiting for a hospital appointment and after that plan to bubble up with a friend who, like me, hasn't been out or seen people. Of course I could still be waiting in six months' time but I do feel there's a bit of light at the end of a long and lonely tunnel.

A number of my friends have not understood the idea of this bubble thing - or is it me who is confused? I thought that as I live alone, I could form a bubble with another household but that household then cannot mix socially with anyone else? I guess it's ok for someone in the two households to mix with people at work or when shopping though.

I was talking to a friend on the phone last night and she was so happy that her son had been round for his tea with her. She is recovering from cancer and her son works as a delivery driver so for me the risk was too high but it's her decision and I was pleased that she felt more upbeat. But then she said that her son was going to spend the weekend with his dad as his dad also lived alone. Then she is planning to see her son again next week. The conversation then went on to her WI friends who all seem to be visiting each other again if they are single people, having coffee etc in each other's house. That seems to be OK as its only one person at a time!

I didn't say anything but I couldn't help feeling one of us has misunderstood the concept of a bubble! I'm not creating a bubble at the moment as neither my son nor daughter live close enough and I don't think they would want to restrict themselves to only seeing their mum!

My DD asked if i would like her to come round with her son - I know she would go through Hell and high Water to protect him so I felt it was probably safe. Her son has Down Syndrome and yes, he did want a cuddle - a cuddle that would cure all ills. He did go to school for a day and was so upset and, of course, no one could cuddle him, so she has kept him home.

With you on this, listen to the scientists(which fortunately, we do seem to be doing more of this in Wales.)

This 'bubble' is going to be mis-interpreted and cause quite a lot of friction. From what I understand it is meant to be for a person who has been living on their own during lockdown to give them the opportunity to engage with one of their families household. But this person may have a partner, a parent, more than one child - how do you choose? It all seems a bit sudden, it's only a very short time ago when they lifted the restrictions on meeting up with people outside that they said it would be a long time before we could meet with our families and friends inside!! It was safer to meet in the fresh air!

Sometimes they move the goal posts so quickly, one minute people who are shielding can go out for a walk with another person. A couple of days later shielding is extended until Aug.16th! They are still saying in some case that we should keep to the non-essential travel rule. I appreciate the concern with the economy but peoples' lives matter. Lots of people I talk to are afraid to go out. Will be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of weeks after the close proximity of the protesters!

I appreciate that our daily lives contain a certain amount of danger but I do not feel that there is any need to go looking for trouble. Yet this way of life and social distancing is becoming the norm so do we embrace it with caution?

The University of Copenhagen has finished testing a vaccine on mice and is starting tests on people. If this works then the vaccine is not months away.

Oxford is making headway too.

Our son lives alone so I asked if he'd like to be in a bubble with us. He was keen but also visits friend at their houses. We decided that we'd just keep on meeting in the garden which has been lovely. Just hope the weather improves. We visit DD and the DGSs too in their garden. It's OK and at least we see them.

You’ve got to start somewhere and it is strange and worrying. Our lives won’t move forward unless we take the first step. Just enjoy !

I agree. We have to start somewhere.

Whitewavemark2

Personally I’m ignoring all the governments nonsensical advice. They appear absolutely clueless.

I’m listening to the science, and am delaying any easing until the R is much lower. Being near 1 is too high imo

I'm with you! I now have NO trust in ANY advice this Government give on Covid-19. It has become clear that it's up to individuals to assess their own circumstances and decide, for themselves, how to stay safe. Wait until the "R" comes down.

I’m now in a bubble with may DD, SIL & lovely little granddaughter. I have been on my own since before lockdown and they came round for the first time today. We have all been cautious none of us going out except for essentials. They are both working from home and we all feel well. So today we had a lunch and a little drop of wine in the garden. We’ve all just had a good time together. We will stay in our little bubble as long as we are allowed. It’s just so nice for all of us. I can go to their hpi

'How safe is this 'bubble'?' - not very safe at all. It's far too early to take any risks unless you consider it essential.

We've had over 63,000 excess deaths - and having coped since the 23rd of March, it makes sense to wait a little longer.

I have met DD a couple of times since restriction was lifted on meeting family/friends but keeping 2m apart. Next week I am going over to see DD, her OH & DGSs at their house, this will be our "family bubble".

Other than that I will not be changing my behaviour at all, shopping in my small Town with a monthly trip to a large Supermarket. I drive so no need to go on Public Transport. I will wear a mask but rarely gloves using hand sanitizer in preference

I read in the paper today that the next step is to allow two families to bubble provided this single person bubble doesn’t cause a spike in cases. How will anyone know what has caused a spike if it happens? People are going back to shops, hundreds of people are demonstrating on the streets, teenagers are meeting in large groups without social distancing, and some children are going back to school. I’m no scientist, brut I do remember something about ‘fair testing’

We're humans not lab rats. If we don't start emerging from our cocoons we'll never know if it's safe to try to resume some sort of normal life.

I had hoped we in Scotland could 'bubble" but it looks like the plan is that we will be allowed in peoples houses but still have to social distance, so no hugs from small GC

So, basically, it’s going to be herd immunity from now on.

I live on my own and would like to bubble with my son and family but they are bubbling with the other gran not me. I thought I might bubble with my mil, but she's booking with her daughter. Bubbles haven't helped me at all, in fact they've made me thoroughly miserable.

* I just don't get it, it seems like too much at once. He is not happy that I am not keen to do this, it doesn't feel right to me*

Just go with your gut - at the moment.
However, moving forward, perhaps commit to doing some risk/benefit analysis factoring in the fact he is voluntary?
Why?

HollyMolly That’s so sad. I felt for you when I read your post.