Grandparents don't have to socially distance now? Confused

Well, whatever BJ said, or thought he said, or didn't say but thought he had, we had a family get together today.
We are moving out of our family home in 2 weeks, having lived here for 34 years, and moving 200 mile away to be near the younger set of grandchildren. Those grandchildren and their parents came down for the weekend---the first time we have seen them face to face since the beginning of March---to say goodbye to the house. Our other grandchildren and their mum came today for a visit to see the visitors. The planned garden lunch couldn't happen as it rained, so we had buffet style inside.
All very responsible, older grandchildren very aware of social distancing and hand washing, as are their parents.
Our daughters and SIL have all been working from home, and only shopping when necessary, and only the oldest and 2 youngest grandchildren have been back to school, though only recently.
If we can't use our common sense, be very careful, and try to lead as normal a life as possible, then its a poor show.
Yes, we take the threat seriously. DH hadn't been out of he house since lockdown started until 3 weeks ago when he had to go for an xray, and I have ventured out to local shops exactly 4 times since lockdown started.
As I say, we need to start to move forward with care , but with realism

Non I don’t think there is any science behind it - I though the bubbles were brought in to help the loneliness of grandparents living on their own and/or to help single parents with child care. We went to our dd this morning for coffee - we had to be inside because of the weather but were able to social distance easily. All of us find it very easy to do so and feel more comfortable doing it. DD works in NHS and sil and dgc go out and about a little so it feels the sensible thing to do for us in our situation. I think if anyone doesn’t want to do the social distancing, what matters is that everyone in the group feels absolutely fine with that and that it shouldn’t happen with too many people, especially if some of them are out and about a lot, going to work etc. I also think that if you don’t sd, you should think about your responsibilities to others outside of that group and be extra careful towards them.

I have written to my MP on the bubble issue four times as I would like to know what science is behind the bubble only applying if one household has a single person, either parent or grandparent. It can’t be a numbers thing as a single grandparent could be visited by her child, their partner and any number of children, while a couple of grandparents cannot be visited by their child, their partner and one child! Any ideas on how to get our voices heard so that couples could also “bubble” with one family without feeling like an outlaw?

My eldest daughter is coming down with my 3 year old grandson next week. They live 2.5 hours drive away, I haven’t seen them for over 5 months and I am NOT going to socially distance indoors. I fail to see why it’s ok for lone people to see their friends and family without distancing but I can’t see mine. Life is not risk free and we will be using our common sense and continuing good hygiene practices but I need to see my family.

I came across Dr Bharat Pankhania a couple of weeks ago. I agree. He does seem to know what he's talking about and his advice seems good, without any political agenda.

thank you the two posters about karol sikora.
i had no idea of his dodgy behaviour.
often heard him on the radio. learn something every day.
the one i do like is dr bharat pankhania, exeter univ med school. he does know about infectious diseases.
and is a mensch. he cooks 20 meals every week to give away.
twitter.com/doctorshaib?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

allule. Yes, it’s crazy. All we can do is analyse each situation and apply common sense.

One afternoon last week, my husband was in his wheelchair in our conservatory with me. Our daughter brought two children round, and our son came with one. First time since start of lockdown.

We opened the patio doors and they sat outside in socially distanced groups with their own drinks. We were still unsure if we were 'legal', discussing bubbles and whether we were actually indoors.

I suggested it might be easiest if we all went down the road to the pub!

grow is absolutely right about Sikora. He hates the NHS with a passion and wants an insurance based scheme allowing private provision to mushroom. His agenda is to knock the NHS and all associated with it. Imperial had to take legal advice to stop him claiming he was a professor of cancer medicine at Imperisl. He is not a virologist, epidemiologist or public health specialist. Why anyone listens to him about COVID is beyond me.

Sleepyamber

growstuff

EllanVannin

Is this after Professor Sikora's speech in which he'd said that deaths from the virus had been added to other deaths of a patient who didn't have the virus, thus looking as though everyone had died from Covid when this isn't how it was ?

The figures aren't a true count and could be a lot less than those given .

Professor Sikora is a fraud. He isn't a specialist virologist and he isn't even a proper professor, except of the university of which he is a director. People like him shouldn't be given any credence at all.

Professor Sikora is a world leading authority on cancer. Shame on you for calling him a fraud.

No shame on me! As you say, he's an expert on cancer (proton beam therapy to be precise), not epidemiology. For years, he claimed to be a professor at Imperial College, which he wasn't. He most certainly is a fraud.

Our son came round with our grandchildren today, aged 6 and 10, the children did come in the house after being in the garden and then they wanted a meal, so were both in and out for a while. Son stayed in the garden most of the time but came in to use the toilet. My son, whilst he's not out on the town socialising, I don't think he takes the distancing particularly seriously.

growstuff

EllanVannin

Is this after Professor Sikora's speech in which he'd said that deaths from the virus had been added to other deaths of a patient who didn't have the virus, thus looking as though everyone had died from Covid when this isn't how it was ?

The figures aren't a true count and could be a lot less than those given .

Professor Sikora is a fraud. He isn't a specialist virologist and he isn't even a proper professor, except of the university of which he is a director. People like him shouldn't be given any credence at all.

Professor Sikora is a world leading authority on cancer. Shame on you for calling him a fraud.

My daughter still wont let me see my grandchildren indoors.still have to sit on the front garden wall

True enough.

I was simply making the point that not all child care can be socially distanced - it depends on the age of the child obvs. Pity Johnson wasn’t aware of this - but then he’s never really had to worry about child care has he ?

Who's saying it's for a child under 4/5?

Socially distanced child care with a child under 4/5 ? Yeah right

It's just a 'shifting the blame' tactic. Initially it was teachers and their unions, now it's employers and their employees who will be blamed when or if there is another outbreak of the virus. Anybody but this clueless, incompetent government will be blamed.

I don't see the problem with socially distanced child care, if the child involved is old enough to understand social distancing. The three of my DGS aged between 5 and 7 seem to be coping well with it, so surely older ones, particularly those of secondary school age, will. Let's face it, they've had it drummed into them for many weeks now.

Even our 3 year old has kept his distance during our walks and garden visits, but we couldn't expect him to keep it up for more than an hour or so, so we won't be looking after him any time soon.

I don't think the Full Fact link is very clear. For starters it doesn't specify that a 1 metre plus distance means that masks should be worn. We still aim for 2 metres.

The full fact link is quite clear - and honestly who could do socially distanced child care? It’s a nonsense generally - it was a disgrace that Johnson got it wrong

My D is the boss where I'm concerned and she won't allow any contact with GS who works with others, some Eastern European or my GGC who are above 12 and were going to school. Least of all my GGD who'll be travelling from other parts-----so I've no chance. A sensible approach but not nice for me. It's me who feels as though I've got the plague or something.

@JoyBloggs I’m confused by your comment. BJ may say that grandparents can look after grandchildren but what he’s omitting is that you must all socially distance. So if your GC aren’t old enough to do this, my interpretation is that it isn’t advised. So, in other words, two households can be indoors together, even stay overnight, provided they social distance. The exception is if a lone person has bubbled with another household, and then everyone is treated as the same household. Please do clarify this, if you think I’ve got this wrong.

I was astounded to hear Boris's reply to the person who asked if 'grandparents' (as opposed to 'a grandparent') could provide childcare if she returned to work. His words were entirely contradictory to my personal understanding of the current government advice re grandparent 'bubbles'. The lady was not allowed to come back to pursue the issue (as is the norm at these sessions when an awkward question is asked which he struggles to answer). We don't know whether she is a single mother, which may be relevant, but my point is... Boris implied that grandparents (plural) could provide childcare. This is great news for grandparents such as me and my DH who have presumably misunderstood this government's garbled guidance and have not seen those of our grandchildren who live a distance away since February.

I found this info helpful...

fullfact.org/health/grandparents-bubble-covid/

I stopped listening to Boris’s babblings weeks ago. The man is an imbecile! I’m almost 81, and just do my own thing, though following the legal instructions about masks, etc.
I have a son who lives with me, and goes to work each day. He feels that his workplace is handling hygiene rules very well, but showers and changes as soon as he gets home.
My DD and DGD, who live nearby, both work. One from home and one in a supermarket. (Heaven knows what’s happening about my GD’s Masters degree) They call around with their dogs, and we go for a walk and a chat.
No hugging and kissing, but we aren’t a touchy-feels family anyway.
I go shopping when I need to but seriously miss engaging in my social activities. My choir is thinking of meeting in a large garden, in small groups, to practice. Sounds good!
Luckily, I don’t have to make decisions about small GC, as many of you do. Mine are out of reach on the other side of the world. I can’t even consider travelling for the foreseeable future.
I feel so sorry for those of you who have such dilemmas about contact with your various family members. It must be a nightmare, and the guidance is so confusing and contradictory that it makes your head spin!

I had my 2 youngest grandkids aged 10 & 5 to stay from Wednesday till Friday, 1st I had seen them since February. We did no social distancing and it was wonderful! We are in Scotland