Meeting one other person in a public space

Baby has not been counted as another "person" in the rules so far, so I assume would not count now. I would, however, also assume that baby's mother would make sure that the minimum number of people picked up the baby and cuddled and kissed him/her!

Thanks, Elegran. Did babies not count in the rule of six either? I had missed that.

Nonnapeg yes, babies counted, in England’s rule of 6.

Nonnapg I think I was wrong to say they didn't count! You would be best to read the latest rules in detail. They are all set out at www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november

Maybe it will become clearer but I wasn't sure if this meant I could walk with one friend only, or a different friend on another day. Anyone know?

I'm not sure about that, cangran. Walking with a different friend each day would mean a lot of contacts, wouldn't it?

NotTooOld

I'm not sure about that, cangran. Walking with a different friend each day would mean a lot of contacts, wouldn't it?

That's what I was thinking too so best to limit it!

Why is a public place safer than a private garden??? All those crowds of pesky gnomes??

It is impossible to write rules for every scenario when people look for ways to get round them - not that anyone here is suggesting that! We need to use our common sense really about the reasoning for the lockdown, which is to stop the spread of the virus and not overload hospitals.

So maybe technically we could go for a walk with one other person for an hour, then meet a different person for another walk and so on. But we are then exposing ourselves and these other friends to an increased risk of spreading the virus so obviously we should not do this.

I was not on the shielded list but have really been careful to reduce my risk of catching covid by not going to the shops unless it's urgent ( use click and collect for groceries and online shopping for most other things), only socialising with people outside and with people who were also taking care and so on. Yes, it's a bit lonely as I live on my own but I use Zoom and WhatsApp a lot to keep in touch.

Let's all be sensible and think for ourselves instead of trying to think of ways to push the boundaries. Take care everyone.

Outside---in the cold damp atmosphere.? You'd get pneumonia standing/sitting talking with the cold air hitting you and making your nose run

Our resistance is lowered in the winter which is why there are so many colds.

SusieFlo

Why is a public place safer than a private garden??? All those crowds of pesky gnomes??

As not everyone has easy access to gardens, ( might need to go through the house or only have a small space) the government simplified things by banning garden visits. Otherwise they would need to put too many stipulations ie minimum square footage, access etc.

Also would it be fair to allow garden visits when not everyone has a garden?

We're having difficulty understanding what exactly defines a support bubble.

We have an 80 year old relation who lives on his own, and visits us regularly. He is healthy and fit, and definitely needs no support.

When we look at the information defining with whom you can make a support bubble, it says -

You can form a support bubble with another household of any size that is not part of a support bubble with anyone else if you:

live by yourself – even if carers visit you to provide support
are a single parent living with children who were under 18 on 12 June 2020.

Implying that unless you need support, which he doesn't, you are unable to make a support bubble with him.

Also, he lives about 10 miles away, and drives here, so he isn't local.

We need some clarification.

I agree, we must use our common sense. It won’t be forever 🙏🏻

libra A support bubble is about support in general and was brought in to address the practical and emotional issues of people living on their own (and single parents). As you say, a single person can only be in one support bubble but within that bubble everyone behaves as if they were one household

Teacher absolutely brilliant post - if people in general spent more time trying to understand the spirit of the rules and the underlying logic rather than trying to find a way to interpret them as loosely as possible, we’d all be better off.

Often quoted ‘the virus doesn’t move, people do’ so, minimising contact is the best thing to do.

As I understand it, a single-person household can bubble with another household of any size, indoors or out, provided that neither household is part of another bubble. This is the case now and B. Johnson stated yesterday that this would continue during the new lockdown, but it’s not being highlighted in news bulletins I’ve heard today.

The thing to remember about the bubble is that it is treated as one household so anything a household can do, a bubble can do.

Unfortunately suziewoozie, not everyone HAS common sense.
An aquaintence of mine recently went to buy a coat. She saw the signs that asked people not to try on any of the items in the shop. However she said " but l had to, or l wouldn't have known if it fitted" she stressed the word "l" . She also went on to say that she tried on varius pairs of boots.
Some people seem to need to have things explained each and every day,
4 or 5 times a day at the point of breaching, as to why the rules are in place, also a step by step account of the way in which the Virus can spread by simply trying on a garment.
What is infuriating is, that this particular person would be the first to vocalise, in no uncertain terms, if she were to CATCH the Virus in this way.x

Better not chat to anyone whilst queuing outside stores, may be construed as your "one person outside" for the day.

I'm off to visit family tomorrow as won't see them for a month.
Sadly I think as soon as they open it up again numbers will rise, and the virus will just have to run it's course for however long it takes.
But we will obey the rules and support the government's efforts in the meantime.

My daughter has just shared a tweet from Nadine Dories, Health Minister, stating that pre-schoolers will not count towards the limit on two people meeting outside if they are with a parent, thank goodness. This means a parent can meet up with a friend or family member for a walk, we will certainly take advantage of this to get us through.

libra, that sounds more like socialising than support.
i think your pal would be well advised not to go about unnecessarily, and certainly not enter other people's houses, nor have anyone in his.