Good news for those living alone.....but

Those of us who share our lives with a partner are very fortunate. MawB is right, be careful what you wish for mollypussy - I'm lucky, my husband is still alive, unlike close friends and family who were widowed recently, one just two weeks before lock down.
We all need to remember, it isn't all about ME - and this strange time is tough for everybody.
Shielding or not shielding, those of us in our late 60's upwards, are more likely to be very sick and possibly to die, than younger people. that's why most of us are trying to make the best of the positives we have in our lives and missing our loved ones. I yearn to see and hug my daughters and grandchildren. I've seen the children over a garden wall every couple of weeks, and very briefly. I count my blessings, as other grans live too far away to be able to do that
I'm with other posters who say we have to look at the science ,read and listen to the advice and decide what we do to keep ourselves safe. For most of us, that means things won't change much for a good while.

Hetty I never spotted that trick. Of course, that’s the motivation. And there was me thinking that Boris cared about the old and lonely (except those in care homes).

I live alone and have family living nearby, but DD is a school key worker so I am not prepared to take the risk. I am immunosuppressed and over 70 but not shielding. I have chopped my own hair recently, but when it has grown again I might ask DD to trim it back into shape (she trained as a hairdresser). However, I shall ask her to do it in the garden, and there will be no hugging of her or teenage GCs.

DD does a supermarket shop for me once a week and leaves it at the door, when we have a short chat at a distance. I am plucking up the courage to do an Asda shop for myself soon, with a face covering, but am very apprehensive. Local small shops operate a 'one in one out' policy so I currently use small Co-op, butcher and bakery.

I am not a needy person and used to being alone. I can honestly say I haven't been at all depressed or anxious to see anybody.

The virus isn't going anywhere soon!

Kate1949 that is correct it was absolutely clear.

This is exactly how it feels! So frustrating as my son and his family are struggling but my husband and I can’t separate and he is in a vulnerable category. But now we look like we’re being pedantic! My son feels the science is the same for one person or is as a couple. It’s creating friction and stress. Grrr!

There are those who think older people were shut away but now think letting them out is a ploy. Those who say lockdown was too soft and now desperate to ease it. Those who follow the ‘rules’ and those who make their own. Those who listen or read what is actually said and those who cobble together bits that they have heard.

Yes that is right Kate1949 One single person chooses one household only permanently during Covid19until further notice. They can mix with that family as if they lived in that household. Both sides cannot have any other contacts indoors. (I take it that is "except for work and school" if that applies to the family the single person chooses)

I am doing what's right for me, whatever the Govt says about relaxing rules. I am doing everything to safeguard myself as I am 72 with many longterm health problems, including asthma.

I went into lockdown 2 weeks before the official date because it seemed too risky for me personally to wait any longer.

I'll come out of lockdown gradually when it seems right for me, no matter what rules are relaxed. My daughter is a key worker and I might see her this weekend, depending on the weather as she takes the rules very seriously and won't risk my health by coming into the house. If we are not able to stay in the garden, she won't come. As she will have a 4 hr round trip to visit, she will even bring a camping loo so that she won't need to use the toilet.

Very sadly we won't risk a hug even though I haven't seen her since Christmas. She won't bring the grandchildren. My son lives closer and he has visited twice recently but both times in the garden, 2m apart, no hugs, no toilet visits.

I am used to being alone, but it has been hard as I usually go to several classes and also sing in a choir, but I make sure I have a conversation every day with friends/family on the phone or zoom, and I have to admit that the time has flown, even though I have had 14 weeks now of solitary confinement. I am very lucky in that I have a garden and a very loving pet.

That's what I took from it too. A single person can join a larger household. Of course I'm not paranoid and looking for hidden motivations like some...
My concern is that our DS lives alone but is a very friendly soul. I don't want to 'baggsy' him for our bubble as his friends are bound to be of more interest to him. We're quite happy to go on meeting in the garden with him at our place and with DD and DGSs in their garden.

I didn't see the briefing, Lemongrove, but I have listened to that bit of it since, and I really don't hear Boris say anything that clearly supports either interpretation.
I wonder if he also referred to it in other parts of the briefing that I haven't heard, perhaps making it clearer?

From the Gov.uk website
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

'Form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household if you live alone or are a single parent with dependent children - in other words, you are in a household where there is only one adult. All those in a support bubble will be able to act as if they live in the same household - meaning they can spend time together inside each other’s homes and do not need to stay 2 metres apart. Support bubbles should be exclusive - meaning you should not switch the household you are in a bubble with or connect with multiple households'

This is the official advice on the Gov.uk website, though it is not that easy to find! Could have been worded better, but to me it is clear that one single parent household can meet with another household. Designed to help single parents with childcare, and single grandparents to see one set of grandchildren without social distancing, in that case purely to relieve loneliness, though frustrating if you have grandchildren in more than one household and have to choose.

It was never going to be easy to come out of lockdown, you have to release in stages and see how it goes, and there will always be people who would have voted for different stages.

If you have the funds, you can now find out if you have made antibodies to the virus and will therefore be safe to go out and to have contact with others. Research says the risk of getting it a second time, or being able to pass it on when you have defeated it and made protective antibodies is minimal.

If you are not prepared to take any risk at all, then you will have to stay inside, possibly for years. It has to be an individual risk assessment.

Are you going to risk having the vaccine if one becomes available, it might have side effects? I'm prepared to risk it. When Covid-19 has disappeared, and it will, like SARS, you could still catch a cold which turns into pneumonia. I'm prepared to go out and take that risk. You could trip, break a hip and not survive the surgery. Yet I am still happy to go out for walks.

If your grandchildren have a greater chance of being struck by lightning than dying of COVID-19 from attending school, would you still want them to stay at home?

I think we need to understand each other's points of view, some will be terrified of stepping outside their front door, they have every right to feel that way, and if the risk is greater for them because they are shielding, then let's give them every bit of help.

But let's not come down like a ton of bricks on those who have decided that for them the risk is small and they need to get their lives going again.

I think... (not too serious here) that Boris deliberately makes it all so complicated or vague, so as to give us all something to natter and chat about, and take our minds of all of this.

I am recently bereaved, (yes I am practicing all this death and dying words) never lived on my own, 50 years with my dead husband, (more death words) and before I met him, my mum lived with me.. so finding this "alone" stuff

well LONELY!

got gks, not a hugging lot, so don`t miss their hugging, but we do love one another, well I know I love them... but they have their lives to get on with,, not easy for them.... 2 youngish ones, missing school and friends, one missing his Uni stuff, the eldest,, well self employed and living it up.

so who wants to see me? I am over 70, not shielded, confused here, what applies to me and what doesn`t

ok. chatter over.... Boris is keeping our minds active!

Can someone please enlighten me as to the rules of the “ bubble” , I just can’t get it clear in my head, ok I know I’m old (79) so someone please HELP ME. Because of my age I’ve been self isolating since 23rd March, talking to family on the doorstep. No shopping, just for a walk and Salsa lessons, free online. In case anyone interested in the lessons they start off with beginners and progress. It’s easy and good exercise. I await someone’s help re “ bubble” T.I.A

I’m fed up with people wanting every decision tailored specifically to them. We are given the information and it is up to us as intelligent human beings to interpret the new rules sensibly and carefully.
The rule is the bubble is with one other household ONLY.

My daughter lives on her own so she is coming to us next weekend for a meal, stay over and a big hug. We are her bubble. However, the following day she is going to see her dad but sit in his garden at 2m as he is not in her bubble. Now we can go and stay at her house overnight as we are still her bubble and it has not burst. Hope this makes sense. You can only choose one household to have your bubble with and one of you must be a lone person or single parent with children under 18. I think it is straightforward apart from having to make choices

Oh dear this things dont get any easier and this could cause a lot of heartache. I'm single but high risk but under 60. Son in laws parents over 70 but in a lot of ways fitter than me. Daughter and family live 3 hours drive away. Other GP also live near me and have 4 GC via their daughter. Looks like they cant hug etc because 2 of them, I may be able but dont think so as daughter married?.
My immediate thought was not how lovely to think of lonely people but ah so schools not now opening so need childcare!
Madness. I've seen no evidence that anything has changed to make this suddenly safe. Deaths are reducing,which is good,but statistics vary depending on where look.
Not enough is known about this virus,its very early days.
All we can do is use common sense and evaluate our own circumstances as to how safe certain actions would be. There are now hints that to help economy government considering reducing social distancing to 1 metre, heaven help us!

Aepgirl- spot on!

What do you want to know Silver?
If you are on your own you can join up with one other household of any size and even stay the night. You do not need to distance with them.
Having chosen the household you have to stick with it. You cannot change. Difficult for those with more than one child.

I don’t see from current death rates what it is suddenly safe for an older person to visit a working couple with children ? it doesn’t make sense. Unless Boris’ dad wants to see Wilfred ?

Hi all, here is the transcript from the gov.uk alert email. Spells out what can/could be done if you are eligible to do so...I have not tweaked it in any way, just copied and pasted. Hope it helps rather than confuse further!

‘The government recognises how difficult it has been for people to be cut off from their family and friends in recent months. This has been necessary to help us all stay alert, control the virus and save lives. This guidance explains how you can now see people you do not live with, while protecting yourself and others from coronavirus.

In England, there are 2 ways that you can do this:

meeting outdoors in a group of up to 6 people with those you do not live with, whilst observing social distancing guidelines and keeping at least 2 metres apart
from 13 June, single adult households – in other words adults who live alone or with dependent children only – can form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household. All those in a support bubble will be able to spend time together inside each others’ homes, including overnight, without needing to stay 2 metres apart. We are making this change to support the loneliest and most isolated. It is a targeted intervention to provide extra support to some of those most impacted by the most difficult effects of the current social restrictions, while ensuring we continue to keep the rate of transmission down
You must not:

meet other people indoors – including in their home or your home – unless you are in a support bubble (from 13 June), or for other limited circumstances listed in law
meet outdoors in a group of more than 6 with people who are not in your household or (where applicable) support bubble, or for other limited circumstances listed in law
form a support bubble with another household if neither you nor they are in a single adult household
stay overnight in another household that is not in your support bubble, unless it is for the limited set of circumstances outlined in law.’

I feel really sad today. If my son and family lived in the UK I could go to their house - and sleep over. However my only son and family live in France. As it’s dangerous to fly or even go on a train, I can’t imagine when I’ll see them again! If we have to wait for a vaccine, it won’t be for another year! ??

Kate1949 you have it right. There is a coronavirus podcast each day that explains any announcements and last night it said -its 1 single ( non shielding person) and 1 other (of any size) household. So yes there are anomalies, but lets just be grateful we are moving forward against the virus. If it has been done so mum's can go back to work who cares as long as it doesn't raise the R rate. We have to take some calculated risks to give us confidence to get back to normal life.

Sod that!
I am still just keeping away from everyone......

Oh no, are you ok? x

I also misunderstood this at first but realise now after reading up on it, it means if (and only if) you live alone, (and aren’t shielding) you can go to one other household and act as if you’re living there...so indoors with no distancing etc. You can stay overnight if needed. It’s termed a support bubble. Why they keep referring to a single household, I don’t know, when it would be clearer to say one person living alone. You can only choose one household...so it could be a girl/boyfriend, parents, adult children, etc. But you can’t keep changing it. In practise, I think, people will just move in....I would, if it was a long term boyfriend for example. ...or I would have an adult child come back to live here, if they had been living alone.its obvious what will happen.