Why aren't people social distancing anymore?

I'm similarly bewildered. We continue to wear masks in shops and on transport and we socially distance but many others don't. Last week we, DD and her family went to GlowWild at Wakehurst garden and ate dinner early at a nearby pub. We were the only family eating outside ( there were inadequate heaters) but we had to order inside a very crowded pub where no one was wearing masks, were talking loudly ( more aerosols ) and we noticed much amusement and smirking at our masks. I felt very uncomfortable. Yes, we'd have loved to have been in the warm butbarrnt intending to risk it. I don't get why there's so much apathy.

I believe social distancing was dropped back in July
I don't go into crowded situations that often but in our local shops people still tend to keep their distance
But in social situations pubs restuarants ect this is no longer obligatory for obvious reasons

I believe both measures are vital to stop the fast transmission of the new variant but people often seem to behave as though it's all over.

I guess it's perhaps the triple jab which is perhaps encouraging a false sense of security?

It varies here. Most locals wear masks but not so in some other areas apparently. The shops also vary but mostly they are pretty good.

Rowantree

I'm similarly bewildered. We continue to wear masks in shops and on transport and we socially distance but many others don't. Last week we, DD and her family went to GlowWild at Wakehurst garden and ate dinner early at a nearby pub. We were the only family eating outside ( there were inadequate heaters) but we had to order inside a very crowded pub where no one was wearing masks, were talking loudly ( more aerosols ) and we noticed much amusement and smirking at our masks. I felt very uncomfortable. Yes, we'd have loved to have been in the warm butbarrnt intending to risk it. I don't get why there's so much apathy.

Pubs dropped social distancing in July. Pubs restaurants needed to run at full capacity without restrictions to keep themselves solvent
It’s now down to personal choice It is not mandatory to wear masks in pubs

I guess in general humans have the sort of brains that try to block out the inconveniences and resrictions that are put in place temporarily. We move on quickly and revert back to usual behaviour. Most people never got to the stage where social distancing and mask wearing were their new normal forever. Clearly there's far more people bustling around in the shops this month and their minds are fixed on other things than getting out of people's way. Also the triple jab makes people feel they have done all they possibly can. Theresa May was right in what she said yesterday.

I think it is because keeping that distance is abnormal and while we did it with great conscienceness, when the pandemic started and every aspect of life was abnormal, as life returns to normal, we return to normal human practice.

I do not think it is done consciously - and people are not standing all huddled togetether and virtually touching, but space has closed up because it is instinctive to stand close to people.

Yes, the advice on social distancing changed, at the same time as the CEV advice said we weren’t CEV any more but should continue to act as though we were.
Consistently inconsistent advice from our glorious leader

I couldn't say as I don't actually go anywhere. My DD had to go to London at the weekend and said that you would think that there was no pandemic at Stratford, no distancing at all and s real scrum. Most people seem to consider Covid as about the same as a cold. Which is all well and good unless you end up in ICU. I am fed up with it all.

Teresa May was right in what she said yesterday Spot on.
What I’ve noticed now is that people are thinking for themselves particularly with with reference to Omicron.

Teresa May is most definitely spot on! Amazing she can be so sensible now she is not PM anymore.

LoveOc
Aren’t they all when they’re not looking for votes.

Unfortunately the only one that matters is me crowd, will do exactly as they please, and always have done. Nothing the gov says will alter that fact. No sense of community, the old and the young from where I’ve been shopping, no mask weraing, shops taking the ‘it’s not my job’ to deter non mask wearers, the Gov letting people print off their own exemptions, even if people are not really so, sick and tired of their irresponsibility, anyone getting close to me gets short sharp shrift.

Because people aren't as afraid as you are, it's that simple. It's not natural or normal to distance yourself from others. Not everyone is in great danger from covid. My neighbour is triple jabbed her husband isnt, they've both got covid and are isolating but have spent three days in the garden putting up a shed! That's how ill they aren't!!!

It's so disappointing, isn't it, when people only comply (reluctantly) with 'the rules' instead of using their common sense (I'd like to believe that most people do have it)?

I'm hoping 'the symptoms', so woefully inadequate and outdated on the NHS website (just temperature, cough, taste/smell) are updated soon. Otherwise, people with Omicron may believe they just have a cold.

With Christmas, I expect an inevitable surge in cases by February, a busy time for hospitals every year.

I have always continued to wear masks and keep at least 2 metres distance...In the shops you are still asked over the tannoy to keep your distance from others.
Did anyone see the Lincoln Christmas market on the news the other day.....no distancing or masks worn. shocking disregard by the public.

I live in Wales where mask wearing was never taken off the "menu". This didn't stop the number of covid cases rising. At one time, Sept/early Oct the number of covid cases per head of the population was higher than England's.
This does make me wonder if wearing masks is that effective.

I think people are just 'over it' and getting on with living life. I do hope that people are still good about staying home if they have any symptoms of anything though.

maytime2 I was in a freezing cold butchers yesterday everyone had masks on and you could see the vapour of everyones breath, masks just makes it look like you are behaving

I’ve been triple jabbed. I wear a mask when asked to but certainly not outside! That’s just daft in my opinion. I am aware of keeping a distance wherever I go. A sensible precaution. But we do need to be less frightened I think. Hospital admissions are not only down but (sadly) are mostly the unvaccinated in there.

That said if I had underlying conditions I’d be more wary. Each to their own. I’m happy with what I do to mitigate transmission.

You're gas lighting, Biscuitmuncher, with your use of "frightened" and "afraid". Nobody wants to be seen as a coward. Some people would prefer to take sensible precautions to mitigate risk, but to suggest they are cowering behind a closed door in isolation is silly.

maytime2

I live in Wales where mask wearing was never taken off the "menu". This didn't stop the number of covid cases rising. At one time, Sept/early Oct the number of covid cases per head of the population was higher than England's.
This does make me wonder if wearing masks is that effective.

There are other factors in Wales.

Biscuitmuncher

maytime2 I was in a freezing cold butchers yesterday everyone had masks on and you could see the vapour of everyones breath, masks just makes it look like you are behaving

No! It would be unethical to experiment on real people in an enclosed space.

However, there is enough evidence to show that masks do prevent some droplets being propelled directly into people's faces. The fine droplets which escape from masks do linger in the atmosphere, but at a lower concentration than if people weren't wearing masks and, thus, the viral load is reduced.